The demand for MRI systems is solid as procedures reached 21.9 million in 2002 - a 22 percent jump from 18 million in 2001, according to a new report from IMV Medical Information Division of Des Plaines, Ill.

The IMV forecast projects that MRI installations to exceed 1,000 units per year for the next five years.

"2002 was a record year for MRI orders and installations, and developments in clinical applications plus MRI technology advances are fundamental drivers to sustain MRI market demand at high levels," said Lorna Young, senior director of Market Research at IMV.

Young acknowledges that 1.5 Tesla systems -- "the bread and butter MRI scanners" -- are furthering cardiac and vascular applications in routine clinical settings. "The 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," she said.

For additional information on IMV's 2002/03 MRI market report, visit the company's Web site at www.imvlimited.com.