Last week, GE HealthCare said it would acquire Intelligent Ultrasound Group’s clinical artificial intelligence business. The companies said the software purchase price was about $51 million.
WHY IT MATTERS
Intelligent Ultrasound develops AI-powered image analysis tools that integrate with ultrasound to enable more efficient diagnosis. GE says it will incorporate these technologies into its portfolio of ultrasound tools – streamlining workflows and improving ease of use for clinicians.
For example, Intelligent Ultrasound’s ScanNav Assist AI technology already powers SonoLystlive and SonoLyst X/IR, which are available on GE HealthCare’s Voluson ultrasound devices. By acquiring those tools, GE HealthCare “adds an AI innovation pipeline that will help drive future growth and realize long-term efficiencies,” the company said.
GE said it will bring on board Intelligent Ultrasound’s team of R&D experts, who will help the company advance image recognition technology and innovate AI applications for GE HealthCare Women’s Health ultrasound devices and other tools.
The transaction, which GE HealthCare will pay in cash, is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2024. Following the sale, Intelligent Ultrasound said it will continue to operate, focusing on high-fidelity ultrasound simulation technology designed to enhance ultrasound education.
THE BIGGER TREND
This new acquisition, which comes after GE HealthCare acquired Caption Health in 2023, continues to add to GE HealthCare’s AI-enabled device portfolio — which the company notes is at the top of the list of FDA-cleared AI-enabled devices across health tech companies.
GE points out that such technologies are “critical to easing the burden on sonographers,” noting that more than 80% of hospitals report shortages of radiologists — and 90% of sonographers report work-related musculoskeletal disorders due to workload and repetitive motions, among other factors.”
The goal is that more streamlined and automated imaging workflows could reduce manual processes and provide “greater reproducibility between users, while allowing clinicians to focus more on patient care.”
ON PROFILE
“I truly believe we are at the beginning of a wave of AI that will make a profound difference in medical imaging, especially ultrasound,” said Nick Sleep, CEO of Intelligent Ultrasound, who will join GE HealthCare. “Becoming part of the GE HealthCare family will help accelerate the adoption of this technology and make ultrasound even easier for customers to use.”
Phil Rackliffe, president and CEO of GE HealthCare’s Ultrasound and Image Guided Therapies, added that adding Intelligent Ultrasound software to GE’s ultrasound portfolio will “help clinicians improve workflow, reduce repetitive tasks and simplify exams.” “This technology and the experts who developed it will enhance our portfolio of AI-enabled devices and accelerate our development of next-generation AI tools.”
Mike Miliard is executive editor of Healthcare IT News
Email the author: [email protected]
Healthcare IT News is a publication of HIMSS.
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