Brain Imaging Technology: An Advanced Technique to Detect Brain Diseases
Over the last few years, neuroscience has progressed a lot. This has been made possible due to the adoption and discovery of several new brain imaging technologies.
In 2021, the market value of the global brain imaging modalities was $12,334.2 million. As per BIS Research reports, the market is expected to reach $20,209.2 million by 2031, growing with a compound annual growth rate of 5.06% during the forecast period 2022–2031.
What Is Brain Imaging Technology?
In 1924, humans marked the first-ever electroencephalography (EEG) discovered by Hans Berger, a German psychiatrist. This EEG technology was able to scan the electrical waves inside the brain that fall and rise when different brain cells communicate.
Since then, brain imaging technologies have constantly advanced. Also, it has become an essential tool worldwide for neurologists to detect issues in the brain or check an individual’s mental health.
Following are some latest advanced brain imaging technologies being used by neurologists globally.
- Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)
- Computerized tomography (CT)
- Positron emission tomography (PET)
- Electroencephalography (EEG)
- Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS)
Brain imaging technology uses easy and simple procedures steps without involving any invasive or complicated steps, which is one of the significant advantages of this technology. A patient needs to lay down and be still while the process of scanning is getting accomplished.
This modern and advanced technology supports doctors in scanning the issues in the brain in a non-invasive method.
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What Is the Use of Brain Imaging Technology?
Brain imaging technology plays a crucial role in making the life of diagnosticians easier. Some common uses of the techniques related to brain imaging include:
- Identifying the stroke effects in the brain
- Locating tumors and cysts
- Finding bleeding and swelling inside the brain
Generally, doctors use specific brain imaging procedures based on what disease or problem they are scanning or detecting in the brain. For example, for patients who have multiple sclerosis (MS), experts take the help of MRI scan technology. Meanwhile, if experts want to locate the broken bones, CT scan technology is used.
Advanced Brain Imaging Technologies
Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)
Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) helps experts detect the oxygen levels and blood flow inside the human brain. This technology takes the help of the magnetic field from the scanner to impact the magnetic hydrogen atom, which helps to measure and convert them into images.
fMRI helps measure metabolic functions, and MRIs help display the presence of anatomic structure. The common uses of this technology are as follows:
- Evaluating brain activity
- Discovering brain abnormalities
- Making pre-surgical maps for the brain
Computerized Tomography (CT)
Computerized Tomography (CT) scan refers to several X-rays images converted into cross-sectional images of a patient’s brain. Different X-rays are combined to form a 3-D model of the patient’s brain, which helps experts get a detailed image of the inside brain.
Some reasons for using CT scan technology by experts are as follows:
- Finding specific types of injuries related to brain
- Identifying cancer
- Locating brain bleeding or swelling
- Demonstrating structural changes of the brain from schizophrenia
Positron Emission Tomography (PET)
A positron emission tomography (PET) technology takes the help of the radioactive tracer, which relates to glucose in the patient’s bloodstream.
Since the human brains take the help of glucose as the primary source to perform different brain activity, PET technology helps experts detect the tracers and their movement inside the brain. This helps doctors scan the spots in which the movement of glucose is not accurate.
PET technology can help to evaluate seizures, Alzheimer’s disease, and tumors
Electroencephalography (EEG)
Electroencephalography (EEG) helps in measuring the patient’s brain waves. Before the test begins, electrodes are attached to the patient’s scalps connected to wires. These small electrodes help detect the brain’s electrical movements and pass the information into the computer in the form of graph-like pictures.
Common issues detected by ECG are anxiety, head injuries, epilepsy, and sleep disruption.
Market Insight of Brain Imaging Modalities Devices
The global brain imaging modalities devices market is witnessing massive growth with a constantly rising quantity of modalities devices for imaging different brain parts to detect neurogenerative disorders and mental diseases.
The rising number of neurological disorders (NDs) is the main reason for the high growth of the global brain imaging modalities market.
Mental disorders and neurological diseases have become serious health concerns and resulted in different challenges to overall healthcare systems. Common causes related to neurological problems are genetic disorders, infections, brain injury, cord injury, and nerve injury, among others.
Due to the rising neurological illnesses, the adoption of technologies such as CT is increasing, further accelerating the growth of the overall global brain imaging modalities market.
Conclusion
Brain imaging technology helps in several ways and does much more than just uncovering brain issues. These technologies are getting advanced and providing support to experts in detecting several brain conditions like schizophrenia, anxiety disorders, and many more. In the upcoming years, the adoption of this technology will rise to get more detailed images of the inside human brain.