Summary: GE HealthCare has agreed to acquire Intelligent Ultrasound Group PLC’s clinical AI software business for approximately $51 million. This acquisition aims to integrate the company’s AI-driven image analysis tools into GE’s ultrasound portfolio, enhancing workflow efficiency, usability, and AI innovation across GE HealthCare’s ultrasound devices.

Key Takeaways:

  • Strategic Acquisition: GE HealthCare’s $51 million acquisition of Intelligent Ultrasound’s AI software business aims to integrate AI-driven image analysis tools, improving ultrasound workflow and usability.
  • Expert Team Addition: GE HealthCare will incorporate Intelligent Ultrasound’s R&D team to drive AI-enabled image recognition and innovation across its ultrasound portfolio.

GE HealthCare announced it has entered into an agreement to acquire Intelligent Ultrasound Group PLC’s (Intelligent Ultrasound) clinical artificial intelligence (AI) software business. The deal totaled approximately $51 million.

AI-Driven Image Analysis Tools

Intelligent Ultrasound makes integrated AI-driven image analysis tools designed to make ultrasound smarter and more efficient. GE HealthCare plans to incorporate these solutions across its ultrasound portfolio, strengthening its capabilities with technology to improve workflows and enhance usability.

Executive Statements

“We are pleased to bring innovative technology from Intelligent Ultrasound into GE HealthCare’s Ultrasound portfolio, allowing us to fully integrate these solutions into our systems to help clinicians improve workflow, reduce repetitive tasks, and simplify exams,” said Phil Rackliffe, president and CEO of ultrasound and image guided therapies, GE HealthCare. “This technology and the experts who developed it will help enhance our portfolio of AI-enabled devices and accelerate our pace of development of next-generation AI tools.”

AI Technology and Innovation

Intelligent Ultrasound has pioneered the ScanNav Assist AI technology, which powers SonoLystlive and SonoLyst X/IR, available on GE HealthCare’s Voluson Expert and Voluson Signature ultrasound devices. SonoLyst is also currently available on the Voluson SWIFT. By acquiring this business, GE HealthCare also adds an AI innovation pipeline that serves to help advance future development and realize long-term efficiencies.

Expert Team Integration

GE HealthCare plans to welcome the team of research and development experts from Intelligent Ultrasound, who will help drive AI-enabled image recognition and innovation for GE HealthCare Women’s Health ultrasound devices as well as across the broader portfolio. This agreement follows GE HealthCare’s acquisition of Caption Health in 2023, which added new capabilities in AI-enabled image guidance and AI development expertise to aid in early disease detection in other areas.

Future of AI in Medical Imaging

“I really believe that we are at the start of a wave of AI making a profound difference to medical imaging, and especially ultrasound,” said Nick Sleep, Chief Operating Officer, Intelligent Ultrasound, who will join GE HealthCare. “Becoming part of the GE HealthCare family will help speed the adoption of this technology and make ultrasound even easier for customers to use.”

Strategic Goals

The acquisition is intended to strengthen GE HealthCare’s portfolio of AI-enabled devices and supports the company’s precision care strategy to solve for inefficiencies in the clinical care workflow and improve patient care quality.