GE Healthcare acquires Wales-based Intelligent Ultrasound Group for $51 million. The US company has been integrating Intelligent Ultrasound Group's artificial intelligence (AI) into its portfolio for some time. The acquisition now gives the company ownership of this technology.
Intelligent Ultrasound Group is a company focused on developing AI for medical application. Specifically, the company aims to make the analysis of medical images smarter and more efficient using AI. GE Healthcare and Intelligent Ultrasound Group are no strangers to each other. For instance, GE Healthcare has been using technology from the Wales-based company for some time.
Technology already integrated for some time
Specifically, this includes the ScanNav Assist AI software, which enables real-time analysis of medical images using AI. This software has long been integrated into SonoLystlive and SonoLyst X/IR, software available on Voluson ultrasound systems. With the acquisition of Intelligent Ultrasound Group, GE Healthcare aims to support the development of these solutions and realise long-term efficiencies.
As part of the acquisition, Intelligent Ultrasound Group's research and development team will join GE Healthcare. As part of the US company, they will focus on further developing AI-assisted image recognition and GE Healthcare's ultrasound systems.
Caption Health also acquired
GE Healthcare also acquired Caption Health last year. This company focuses on supporting ultrasound using AI. Caption Health is the developer of Caption Care. This solution deploys AI for faster detection of heart disease on ultrasound images. In this way, Caption Health aims to simplify treatment and make it more cost-effective.
Caption Health's solutions also make ultrasound imaging easier. This will allow a wider range of healthcare professionals to take basic ultrasound images. This should relieve radiologists - who often face a high workload.
'Making a difference in the field of medical imaging'
"I truly believe we are at the beginning of a wave of AI that will make a profound difference in the field of medical imaging, and especially ultrasound," said Nick Sleep, chief operating officer, Intelligent Ultrasound. Sleep joins GE Healthcare as part of the acquisition. "Becoming part of the GE HealthCare family will accelerate the adoption of this technology and make it even easier for customers to use ultrasound."
Author: Wouter Hoeffnagel
Image: Tung Lam via Pixabay
