High-Intensity Focus

High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is a highly precise medical procedure that applies focused ultrasonic waves to locally heat and destroy diseased or damaged tissue through ablation. Through this technique, ultrasonic waves are focused on the target tissue, which leads to increase in temperature with increasing intensity of tissue vibrations. Once the temperature increases beyond 60 degrees Celsius, protein denaturation and coagulative necrosis occurs leading to irreversible cell death. HIFU products offer several advantages over traditional ultrasound systems such as low procedural time and less bleeding. Furthermore, surgical procedures using these devices are typically cost effective, minimally invasive, and less painful.

High prevalence of cardiovascular diseases and cancer cases, rapidly growing aging population, rising number of new product launches, growing number of clinical studies regarding the applications of HIFU, and increasing focus of key players on the development of technologically advanced systems are the key factors driving the market growth. In addition, the increasing recommendations by healthcare organizations (such as the European Association of Urology, and the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence) on Focal therapy using HIFU system for localized prostate cancer are fueling the market growth. Moreover, emerging applications such as gynecology & obstetrics, neurosurgery, urinary disorders imaging, and removal of excess subcutaneous fatty tissue using high-energy sound waves would further propel the growth of the high-intensity focused ultrasound market in the coming five years. However, the stringent government regulations for the approval of HIFU system in U.S. and unfavorable of reimbursement scenario are the key factors restraining the growth of this market.

In this report, the high-intensity focused ultrasound market has been segmented on the basis of applications - cancer, gynecology & obstetrics, cardiovascular disorders, urinary disorders, and others. Furthermore, the geographies covered in this report are North America (including the U.S. and Canada); Europe (including Germany, France, the U.K., and Rest of Europe); Asia-Pacific (including Japan, China, India, and Rest of Asia-Pacific); and Rest of the World (including Latin America, Middle East, and Africa).

The global high-intensity focused ultrasound market is marked with intense competition due to the presence of large number of both big and small firms. New product launches and partnerships and collaborations are the key strategies adopted by market players to ensure their growth in the market. Some of the key players in the market are Medtronic, Inc. (U.S.), Accutome, Inc. (U.S.), SonaCare Medical (U.S.), Koninklijke Philips N.V. (The Netherlands), Johnson & Johnson (U.S.), Stryker Corporation (U.S.), SuperSonic Imagine (France), Ultrasound Technologies Ltd. (U.K.), and Blatek, Inc. (U.S.).