Small Animal Imaging Market — Global Industry Insights,
Trends, Outlook, and Opportunity Analysis, 2018-2026
Small animal imaging is a technique employed using devices and reagents for imaging biological
processes in animals such as rats and mice for drug development and gene expression studies.
Small animal imaging devices are similar to the devices used for diagnostic purposes in human,
due to the smaller size they are referred as micro devices. The system includes the whole body
scan of animals that is a cost effective method for regular validation and commercialization of
novel drugs. The analysis provided by using small animals imaging system can provide valuable
information in preclinical or phase I stage of clinical trials and to understand the activity of
pharmaceutical compounds. Small animal imaging is classification and measurement of
biological processes at molecular level which involves the study of targeted molecule that is
used in clinical research for drug development.
Various upgrade in the field of molecular imaging techniques is driving the small animal
imaging market:
Increase in market demand for small animal imaging techniques and technological upgrades in
the field of small animal imaging techniques are the major factors that are driving the small
animal imaging market. According to National Health Services (NHS) UK, diagnostic imaging
data showed that around 39.8 million imaging test were registered during 2015 in England.
Small animal imaging system has wide applications in oncology area and the increase in cases
of cancers globally and high investments in research and diagnostics centers for cancer is the
factor owing to growth of small animal imaging market. Various imaging modalities play a
crucial role in researches that includes the techniques such as magnetic imaging resonance,
computing tomography, micro ultrasound, PAT, and micro photoacoustic, this also helps in
studying the animal model longitudinally. However, the regulations by governments regarding
usage of animals in experiments and requirement of high operational and installation cost are
the factors that might hinder the growth of small animal imaging market. The limitations
regarding procedure and technological aspects may pose challenges in the small animal imaging
market.