Latest IMV Study Shows Continued Strength in MRI Market as Product Portfolio Broadens.

Business Editors/Health/Medical Writers

DES PLAINES, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 13, 2003

Based on estimates developed by IMV Medical Information Division, the fundamental demand for MRI systems is solid, with unit installations in the U.S. projected at 1,000+ units per year for the next five years. This demand is sustained by continued growth in MRI procedures, with an estimated 21.9 million performed in the U.S. in 2002, up 22% from 18.0 million in 2001.

"2002 was a record year for MRI orders and installations, and developments in clinical applications plus MRI technology advances are the fundamental drivers to sustain MRI market demand at high levels," observed Lorna Young, Senior Director, Market Research at IMV. "Cardiac and vascular applications are growing in routine clinical settings, which is facilitated by the versatility of 1.5 Tesla systems. These are now the bread and butter MRI scanners, accounting for over two-thirds of MRI installations, replacing older units in both hospital and non-hospital settings. Meanwhile, the recent availability of high field open systems (0.5 to 1.0T) plus the optimization of very high field systems (over 1.5T) in academic settings have broadened the product portfolio available to MRI customers, ranging from sites currently using mobile MRIs to research institutions."

IMV's 2002/03 MRI Census Database is a powerful tool that can be used by equipment and consumables vendors to focus marketing and sales efforts. It provides comprehensive profiles of 80% of the identified MRI sites in the U.S. The database can be licensed by qualified subscribers and includes contact and site-specific information including procedure trends, use of fixed or mobile MRI, fixed MRI installed base by manufacturer and equipment capabilities, purchase plans, brand loyalty, workstations, networking, film printers, power injectors, contrast media utilization and budgets. Applications of the database include market development, target marketing, lead generation, installed base marketing programs, sales territory deployment and competitive analysis.

IMV's 2002/03 MRI Market Summary Report is available with the database license or as a separate purchase. It provides a valuable overview of the MRI market, illustrating market insights useful for business planning and sales strategy. The report compares nationwide trends with the prior census surveys that IMV has conducted since 1993. For more information about the MRI Census Database and Market Summary Report, visit the corporate website at www.imvlimited.com or call 847-297-1404 to speak with a representative.

IMV Medical Information Division, Inc. is a marketing research and consulting firm founded in 1977 specializing in medical imaging and other advanced healthcare technology markets. IMV's proprietary marketing consulting services, in combination with its census databases of 80% of all U.S. imaging sites with selected modalities, provide vendors valuable assistance in strategic planning, customer satisfaction, product development and sales initiatives. Current census databases include interventional angiography, radiographic fluoroscopy, cardiac catheterization, CT, MRI, nuclear medicine, echocardiography, PET, radiation oncology and RIS/PACS.