GE HealthCare has agreed to acquire the British medical device company Intelligent Ultrasound Group’s clinical artificial intelligence (AI) software unit for up to $51m.
Intelligent Ultrasound provides integrated AI-driven image analysis tools that help make ultrasound technology smarter and more efficient.
GE HealthCare intends to integrate Intelligent’s solutions into its ultrasound portfolio to enhance workflow efficiency and usability for clinicians and patients.
Also, a team of R&D experts from Intelligent will work on AI-enabled image recognition for GE HealthCare’s women’s health ultrasound devices and its broader portfolio.
The deal follows GE HealthCare’s acquisition of Caption Health last year and is expected to be closed in Q4 2024, subject to customary conditions.
GE HealthCare president and ultrasound and image-guided therapies CEO Phil Rackliffe said: “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.
“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.”
Intelligent Ultrasound has developed the ScanNav Assist AI technology, which powers its SonoLystlive and SonoLyst X/IR solutions.
Both solutions are available on GE HealthCare’s Voluson Expert and Voluson Signature ultrasound devices, while SonoLyst is also featured on its Voluson SWIFT.
Intelligent’s clinical AI software unit will strengthen GE HealthCare’s portfolio of AI-enabled devices and support its precision care strategy.
The proposed acquisition will provide the US medical technology company with access to an AI pipeline that would support future development and long-term efficiencies.
Also, it enables Intelligent to focus on its high-fidelity ultrasound simulation technology.
Intelligent Ultrasound chief operating officer Nick Sleep said: “I really believe that we are at the start of a wave of AI making a profound difference to medical imaging, and especially ultrasound.
“Becoming part of the GE HealthCare family will help speed the adoption of this technology and make ultrasound even easier for customers to use.”
