Acuson paces growth of WDI index

Profitability growth in the imaging devices segment for the second quarter of 1997 bested all other healthcare markets in a survey of corporate net income conducted by WDI Healthcare Markets Group of Hilton Head, SC, and KPMG Peat Marwick's Health Ventures practice of Atlanta. Most of the imaging segment's 466% increase in profit was due to sharply higher net income from ultrasound vendor Acuson, however.

Without Acuson, imaging device companies posted 22% net income growth and 18% revenue growth for the second quarter, putting the segment in the middle of the healthcare pack. Besides Acuson, the components of the index are ADAC Laboratories, ATL Ultrasound, OEC Medical Systems, Trex Medical, Lunar, EndoSonics, Fischer Imaging, Hologic, and Elscint.