There is an increase in purchases of smaller magnet MRI units and we pride ourselves on adopting new methods of working to keep up to date with relevant changes in the market

Esaote is one of the top ten medical imaging companies in the world, specialising in MRI and ultrasound technology - use of which has been growing for many years, helping to speed up and improve diagnosis.

Stephen Kennedy, Managing Director, Esaote

Faster diagnosis makes for faster treatment, which can ultimately mean a patient can get back to work or a normal life faster.

Esaote has been channelling a lot of investment into the UK as it is seen as a key market and this has included appointing me to further expand its business model into the public and private healthcare markets.

Low cost but greated efficiency

I joined Esaote in September 2013 from PENTAX where I’d spent 28 years, latterly as director of sales in the group’s medical division. One of my first actions was to increase our customer facing headcount with the appointment of five new positions, with more roles to come soon.

I also introduced the role of MRI business development manager to handle increasing demand for our range of dedicated MRI products. By dedicated, we mean MRI units with a specific focus, for musculoskeletal applications.

Esaote’s O-Scan is an extremity scanner for imaging upper and lower limbs. The G-Scan Brio is an open, upright MRI scanner that can tilt, for imaging all MSK applications in supine and upright positions.

We like to think we are stirring things up a little within the MRI market because we offer MRI products with far lower costs - and greater efficiency.

‘The one (big) size fits all approach to MRI procurement can be far less efficient in today’s healthcare environment’

Thus we see strong growth in purchases of our smaller magnet MRI units - partly to free up the hospital’s large magnet machines for when they are really needed, but also because customers are catching on fast that the images produced are more than adequate to enable diagnosis.

Paradoxically, the one (big) size fits all approach to MRI procurement can be far less efficient in today’s healthcare environment.

When hospitals and clinics are considering an MRI purchase, naturally, their radiologists and consultants are keen to try out our technology, so we have also invested in new demo stock.

Indeed, we pride ourselves on adopting new methods of working to remain highly customer focused, and we keep our finger on the pulse for relevant changes - both in the market and in the clinical arena.

Stephen Kennedy is UK country manager for Esaote

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