MR sales plunge in the U.S. market

U.S. MRI sales for all vendors are expected to drop dramaticallythis year, according to figures presented by GE Medical Systemsat the Economics of Diagnostic Imaging conference in Washington,DC, late last week. The value of new MRI systems sold in the U.S.this year should amount to $450 million--or almost half the volumeof $830 million seen in 1992, said Paul J. Mirabella, MRI generalmanager for GE.

This downward trend in U.S. MRI revenue will continue into1994, with a projected market level of $330 million, he said.As the U.S. slows, Europe will pick up worldwide share. More importantly,however, Asian MRI sales will soar.

"Asia will become the world's biggest (MRI) market overnight,"Mirabella said.

Asia's share of worldwide MRI sales of about 1700 units in1992 was 27%. Out of about 1300 systems expected to be sold in1994, Asia will grab nearly half. The U.S., meanwhile, will sinkto nearly the same share level as Europe.