GE HealthCare to Buy Intelligent Ultrasound’s Clinical AI Biz for $51M

GE HealthCare has begun a deal to acquire Intelligent Ultrasound’s clinical artificial intelligence (AI) software business for about $51 million.

Intelligent Ultrasound’s AI-driven image analysis tools were designed to make ultrasound smarter and boost its efficiency. Its ScanNav Assist AI tech powers SonoLystlive and SonoLyst X/IR and is available on GE HealthCare’s Voluson Expert and Voluson Signature ultrasound machines. SonoLyst is also available on Voluson SWIFT.

GE HealthCare said it will leverage Intelligent Ultrasound’s R&D experts to drive AI-enabled image recognition and innovation within GE HealthCare Women’s Health ultrasound devices first, then extend the tool across its ultrasound franchise.

This announcement follows the company’s acquisition of Caption health last year, which bolstered its AI-enabled image guidance and AI development expertise for early disease detection.

“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.”

The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of this year.

“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.”

In May, GE HealthCare also celebrated its third consecutive year atop the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)’s list of AI-enabled medical devices.