GE HealthCare completes $53M acquisition of AI ultrasound business
GE HealthCare has completed its acquisition of the clinical AI business from Intelligent Ultrasound, the two announced Tuesday.
Based in Cardiff, Wales, Intelligent Ultrasound specializes in integrated, AI-driven tools to make scans “smarter and more efficient.” Chicago-headquartered GE plans to integrate the company’s solutions into its own ultrasound business line, aiming to enhance ease-of-use.
The transaction represents an enterprise value of about $53 million (USD). Products changing hands include ScanNav Anatomy (real-time highlighting for anesthetists carrying out peripheral nerve blocks) and ScanNav Assist. The latter is an AI-based, real-time image analysis software to support sonographers during OB-GYN ultrasound exams.
“I would like to thank our outgoing [Chief Technology Officer] Nicholas Sleep, who resigned as a director of the group on completion and joined GE HealthCare, for his drive and superb contribution to building such a successful clinical AI operation. He and his excellent team will all be missed,” Riccardo Pigliucci, chairman of Intelligent Ultrasound, said in an Oct. 1 announcement.
GE HealthCare first announced the deal in July. At the time, the manufacturer also touted the addition of a new AI innovation pipeline, with GE welcoming a team of research and development experts from Intelligent Ultrasound. The company sees great potential to relieve burdens placed on sonographers. About 81% of hospitals report rad tech shortages and 90% of sonographers surveyed are grappling with musculoskeletal disorders due to workload and repetitive motions.
"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,” Phil Rackliffe, MBA, president and CEO of Ultrasound and Image Guided Therapies at GE HealthCare, said in July.
Marty Stempniak has covered healthcare since 2012, with his byline appearing in the American Hospital Association's member magazine, Modern Healthcare and McKnight's. Prior to that, he wrote about village government and local business for his hometown newspaper in Oak Park, Illinois. He won a Peter Lisagor and Gold EXCEL awards in 2017 for his coverage of the opioid epidemic.