SQUIDs and Their Quest in the Biomedical World
Peter Singer, Editor-in-Chief -- Semiconductor International, 2/1/2002
SQUIDs — no, not those sea creatures with tentacles; superconducting quantum interference devices — can measure any physical quantity that can be converted into a magnetic flux such as magnetic fields, electric currents and voltages or magnetic susceptibility. Since the SQUID sensor is the only magnetic sensor able to detect the most diminutive magnetic signal, it is an essential part in any type of biomagnetic device.
According to a new report from market research firm Frost & Sullivan (San Jose), SQUID sensors, which have been used primarily in magnetoencephalograms (MEG) and cardiograph equipment, are evolving. Daniela Carrillo, research analyst for Frost & Sullivan's Sensors group, sees ongoing research to implement low-temperature (LTS) SQUID sensors into biomagnetic liver susceptometers, a non-invasive diagnostic instrument that rapidly measures iron stores in the liver.
"Although the SQUID sensor market had been experiencing a slow growth since it was first commercialized, manufacturers, research centers and universities have recently produced more accurate, high-technology and smaller SQUID sensors. These developments will further extend the applications of these sensors to a broad range of emerging markets," Carrillo said.
It is expected that revenues will continue increasing throughout the forecast period at a compound annual growth rate of 10.1%, reaching about $6.1M by 2004. From 2002 to 2004, the revenue growth rates are expected to decline from 11.1% to 10.3% because of the high concentration of market players offering reliable SQUID sensors at competitive prices and the emergence of new end-user markets. A main reason for SQUID systems' high cost is that they are almost always bought in small quantities, and production runs in quantity are necessary to decrease costs. Therefore, one of the main challenges most SQUID manufacturers face is to develop specific applications and demonstrate that there is nothing cheaper (or easier to handle) that can compete with the corresponding SQUID system. It is expected that, during 2003-2007, LTS SQUID sensors will be used in other areas besides the medical field. This may include non-destructive testing, geophysical and military applications.
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