The Italian company Esaote, one of the main international producers of medical diagnostic systems, was the first to successfully develop a strategy in the sector of magnetic resonance systems for diagnostic examination of human joints: the key product in this field is “G-Scan”, an innovative magnetic resonance system for orthostasis of the spinal column. In the matter of just a few years, more than 1,500 dedicated magnetic resonance systems have been installed world-wide at large hospitals and private clinics, but also medical centres at sports facilities, rheumatology laboratories and traumatological wards.

G-Scan is a dedicated magnetic resonance platform enabling complete scanning of the muscular-skeletal system. The “open and rotating” permanent magnet support is the key to innovation in terms of positioning the patient, who can stand up or lie down. Inclination from 0 to 90° allows the patient to be analysed either lying down or in such a way as to view the organs and joints in their natural position, simulating normal daily activity. G-Scan makes it possible to examine the feet and ankles, knees, monolateral hips, lumbar and cervical column, shoulders, elbows, hands and wrists. The magnetic resonance system ensures the patient can be positioned correctly in real time: the small monitor on the magnet makes it possible to view an image of the area being examined in real time and guarantees fast and accurate positioning.

Founded in the early 1980s, Esaote has enjoyed constant growth resulting in a turnover in 2007 of 281.5 million Euros (+8.2% on 2006), about 60% of which on foreign markets. Nearly 85% of the Italian group’s revenue comes from competitive markets, including the main European countries, the United States and China. Esaote employs more than 1,200 staff, 40% of which work overseas (Maastricht, Paris and Shenzhen, the last opened in China). The research and development departments, employing more than 260 qualified technicians, can count on a network of collaboration with international research centres and universities. In 2007, Esaote invested 26 million Euros in research and development, equivalent to 9% of revenue and with a 5% increase on the previous financial year. The group has filed 90 international patents over the past eight years.

In 2007, Esaote was made part of the Venture Planning Group, an American company based at New York that compiles each year a classification of the ten best international companies in 21 strategic industrial sectors, the top ten in the “diagnostic imaging” (high-tech biomedical) sector. Esaote is the single fully Italian company to enter the Venture Planning Group’s classifications. The only other Italian company is STMicroelectronics, an Italian-French joint venture in the semiconductors sector. Esaote also won a contract this year to supply ultrasound machines to Nasa for carrying out cardiovascular examinations on astronauts returning from space missions.