The healthcare industry continues to be a hotbed of innovation, with activity driven by telemedicine, real-time diagnostics, smart hospitals and access to digital therapies, and the growing importance of technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), the internet of things (IoT), augmented reality (AR), robotics and data management practices. In the last three years alone, there have been over 106,000 patents filed and granted in the healthcare industry, according to GlobalData’s report on Innovation in Healthcare: CT-angiography image acquisition system.
However, not all innovations are equal and nor do they follow a constant upward trend. Instead, their evolution takes the form of an S-shaped curve that reflects their typical lifecycle from early emergence to accelerating adoption, before finally stabilising and reaching maturity.
Identifying where a particular innovation is on this journey, especially those that are in the emerging and accelerating stages, is essential for understanding their current level of adoption and the likely future trajectory and impact they will have.
200+ innovations will shape the healthcare industry
According to GlobalData’s Technology Foresights, which plots the S-curve for the healthcare industry using innovation intensity models built on over 443,000 patents, there are 200+ innovation areas that will shape the future of the industry.
Within the emerging innovation stage, specimen collection devices, ultrasound imaging system, and automated laboratory systems are disruptive technologies that are in the early stages of application and should be tracked closely. Biological sampling devices, endoscopic ultrasound tomography, and NMR imaging systems are some of the accelerating innovation areas, where adoption has been steadily increasing. Among maturing innovation areas are doppler ultrasound imaging and CT-guided surgery, which are now well established in the industry.
Innovation S-curve for the healthcare industry
CT-angiography image acquisition system is a key innovation area in healthcare
The CT-angiography image acquisition system allows for the imaging of arteries and veins by injecting a specific dye through an intravenous (IV) line to create images of blood vessels and tissues. This technology aids in the evaluation of disorders associated with blood vessels such as aneurysms or blockages, thus boosting diagnostic imaging and efficiency while providing better and faster results.
GlobalData’s analysis also uncovers the companies at the forefront of each innovation area and assesses the potential reach and impact of their patenting activity across different applications and geographies. According to GlobalData, there are 20+ companies, spanning technology vendors, established healthcare companies, and up-and-coming start-ups engaged in the development and application of CT-angiography image acquisition system.
Key players in CT-angiography image acquisition system – a disruptive innovation in the healthcare industry
‘Application diversity’ measures the number of different applications identified for each relevant patent and broadly splits companies into either ‘niche’ or ‘diversified’ innovators.
‘Geographic reach’ refers to the number of different countries each relevant patent is registered in and reflects the breadth of geographic application intended, ranging from ‘global’ to ‘local’.
Patent volumes related to CT-angiography image acquisition system
| Company | Total patents (2010 - 2021) | Premium intelligence on the world's largest companies |
| Heartflow | 247 | Unlock company profile |
| Siemens | 80 | Unlock company profile |
| Koninklijke Philips | 75 | Unlock company profile |
| Hologic | 43 | Unlock company profile |
| Shanghai United Imaging Healthcare | 29 | Unlock company profile |
| Xi'An Keruisheng Innovative Technology | 22 | Unlock company profile |
| Canon | 15 | Unlock company profile |
| Alcon | 14 | Unlock company profile |
| Medtronic | 13 | Unlock company profile |
| CathWorks | 12 | Unlock company profile |
| General Electric | 12 | Unlock company profile |
| Samsung Group | 10 | Unlock company profile |
| Pro Medicus | 9 | Unlock company profile |
| Accuray | 9 | Unlock company profile |
| International Business Machines | 8 | Unlock company profile |
| Mirada Medical | 8 | Unlock company profile |
| Dragerwerk | 8 | Unlock company profile |
| Terumo | 8 | Unlock company profile |
| Toshiba | 8 | Unlock company profile |
| Raysearch Laboratories | 6 | Unlock company profile |
| CommScope Holding | 6 | Unlock company profile |
| NVIDIA | 5 | Unlock company profile |
| Toshiba Medical Systems | 5 | Unlock company profile |
Source: GlobalData Patent Analytics
Heartflow is one of the leading patent filers in the field of CT-angiography image acquisition system. Some other key patent filers in the field include Siemens, Koninklijke Philips, Hologic and Shanghai United Imaging Healthcare.
In terms of application diversity, Medtronic leads the pack, followed by Samsung Group and Accuray. By means of geographic reach, Medtronic held the top position, followed by International Business Machines and Terumo in second and third spots, respectively.
CT angiography image acquisition system is non-invasive and results in fewer complications as compared to conventional angiography by providing more precise anatomical details. CT angiography analysis will replace traditional methods of diagnosis because it produces quick and accurate results. As technology advances and public awareness grows, this technology will supplant other options for radiologists.
To further understand the key themes and technologies disrupting the healthcare industry, access GlobalData’s latest thematic research report on Healthcare.
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GlobalData, the leading provider of industry intelligence, provided the underlying data, research, and analysis used to produce this article.
GlobalData’s Patent Analytics tracks patent filings and grants from official offices around the world. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.
