The KBC study concludes that GE Healthcare became the undisputed leader in worldwide HCU revenues, growing its sales 50% in this segment to $250 million for the year. Along with GE, Klein projects the market leaders in 2010 will be SonoSite and ZONARE Medical Systems, which grew 22 and 60% respectively during 2007.

"It continued to be a robust year for HCU system sales, which is still by far the fastest-growing market segment in ultrasound," noted Harvey Klein, president of KBC. "The three leading HCU companies alone accounted for more than 85% of overall revenues. We especially saw strong international sales [growth] of 49% and solid US growth of 33%, led by these three vendors."

For the purposes of the report, HCU systems are considered to weigh less than 11 pounds. Included in this category are products from Bard, GE, Medison, Siemens, SonoSite, Terason and others. Also included was the ZONARE z.one system, which is characterized as a convertible system, since it can be separated from the cart and used as a hand-carried device. The report excluded service and veterinary care revenues.

The report notes that the US continued to be the largest single HCU market at $239 million for the year, with SonoSite maintaining its lead position.

"The five largest HCU markets in the US were cardiology, emergency medicine, radiology, anaesthesiology and OB/GYN," said Klein. "These markets accounted for 60% of the US market. Ten new HCU products were shipped in the US during the year, including the first pocket-sized device from Siemens. This is the most in any single year."

The study predicts the worldwide HCU market will grow to $1.2 billion in the next five years. "The HCU market should remain dynamic over the next five years as clinicians face increasing demand for portable ultrasound exams," said Klein.

He continued: "We believe the growth rate for HCU will be approximately 20% in the US and 15% internationally over this time period, with an average of 17% worldwide. This should make the HCU market the driving segment for increasing global ultrasound revenues overall."

• The US Market for Hand-Carried/Handheld Ultrasound Systems: Challenges and Opportunities - 2007 Report is available now from KBC. Tel: +1 212 362 0579.