Fast, Clear, and Efficient: GE HealthCare Launches Groundbreaking MRI 'Heart' Technology – IQ Engine

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April 11, 2024,The 89th China International Medical Equipment FairUnveils at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai).GE HealthcareHeavyweight Appearance: Focusing on Four Areas—Precision Diagnosis and Treatment of Critical Illnesses, Development of Grassroots Healthcare, Promotion of Integrated Diagnosis and Treatment, and Construction of Smart Hospitals—18 Boundaryless Innovative Achievements Unveiled. Siyu was pleasantly surprised to discover that GE Healthcare has become a...Deep Cultivation in ChinaChinese medical technology enterprises, solidly solving Chinese problems, especially targetingPrimary HealthcareThe pain points have led to multiple products and innovative solutions.

• GE Healthcare develops solutions tailored to the characteristics and needs of different regions in China, with a particular focus on primary healthcare — the field closest to people's livelihood and capable of benefiting a wide range of patients.Improve the accessibility and availability of medical services.For example, innovative products like the IQ Engine Smart Imaging Engine, which is making its debut at this exhibition. (The press conference will provide more details below.)

• GE Healthcare Utilizes the Latest Intelligent Technology, AdoptingEmpower UpgradeIn a way that helps hospitals optimize the investment in existing equipment. It not only delivers highly efficient economic benefits but also rapidly enhances the performance and service quality of medical devices, enabling grassroots hospitals to significantly improve diagnostic accuracy and efficiency without substantially increasing costs.

• GE Healthcare Implements Tiered Medical Treatment System with Concrete Actions. ThroughOptimize Resource Allocation, enabling patients to receive high-quality diagnosis and treatment services at community and primary hospitals, thereby alleviating the pressure on large hospitals.

GE Healthcare, innovative not only at the technological level but also committed and devoted to improving and enhancing grassroots healthcare in terms of social responsibility. Today, Siyu's reporter will focus on introducing the newly launched "IQ Engine 智影擎(hereinafter referred to as IQE)". It integrates cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence and deep learning, promising to bring a whole new qualitative leap to magnetic resonance imaging. For this reason, we specially interviewedVice President of GE Healthcare China, General Manager of Customer Service BusinessMr. Zheng Jieming, please let him give us a detailed introduction to this intelligent renewal platform for imaging equipment, which has been fully upgraded from both software and hardware levels.

# IQE Intelligent Image Optimization: Revolutionizing Clinical Pain Points

In the modern healthcare environment, MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) scans are a crucial diagnostic tool, especially playing an irreplaceable role in diagnosing nervous system diseases and screening common and frequently-occurring diseases of the digestive system and cardiovascular system. "In traditional MRI scans, doctors and patients often face a difficult choice:Either complete the scan quickly, sacrificing image quality; or wait longer for a clearer image."President Zheng explained in detail this industry challenge and analyzed some of the pain points currently existing in MRI applications: "This challenge is particularly prominent in situations where...Especially prominent in emergency situations requiring rapid diagnosis. For example, every minute is crucial for stroke patients. In addition, in elderly patients, any slight movement possibly caused by physical conditions may lead to artifacts during scanning, which significantly affects the accuracy of diagnosis."

To address this clinical pain point, GE Healthcare has launched IQE, introducing deep learning technology into existing hospital equipment. After being empowered by the platform, scan times are significantly reduced. The uniqueness of IQE lies in itsHigh Speed and High Precision——Two birds with one stone. IQE integrates GE Healthcare's years of innovative R&D achievements in artificial intelligence and imaging. Compared with traditional MRI scans, IQE has three significant advantages:First, the image is ultra-clear.Based on the deep learning of over a million original data from GE Healthcare's global imaging equipment, IQE canEquipment achieves 4x improvement in image signal-to-noise ratio, the contrast between the lesion and surrounding tissue is more pronounced, the images are finer, providing a more accurate basis for clinical evaluation.Second, the scanning speed is ultra-fast.With the help of intelligent optimization,IQE can increase scanning speed by 30% to 50%., reducing repeated scans of conventional sequences, greatly improving work efficiency, and alleviating the physical and mental burden on patients.Third, the diagnosis is more accurate.In terms of the ability to detect minute lesions,The diagnostic capability of IQE has increased by 35%., effectively reducing the risk of clinical omission and missed diagnosis.

In order to more intuitively demonstrate the advantages of IQE, General Manager Zheng shared a clinical application case: "A stroke patient at a certain tertiary hospital in Hebei Province needed emergency treatment. If traditional methods were used to scan each cranial sequence, it would take about 10 minutes. However, after installing IQE, it basically...Within 3 minutes"can be completed."

# What Does the Launch of IQE Mean?

• From the manufacturer's perspective:The threshold for medical imaging technology has been further raised.

With the introduction of IQE, other medical device manufacturers not only need to catch up with GE Healthcare in the application of deep learning technology but also consider how to effectively integrate this technology with their own equipment, which will intensify competition in the global medical imaging device market.

• From the perspective of medical services:The future medical service model may undergo a transformation.

IQE Improves Diagnostic Accuracy by Enhancing Image Quality and Scan Speed, But More Importantly, This Technological Innovation Could Shift Healthcare from Diagnosis to Prediction and Prevention. Through Deep Learning and Analysis of Large Volumes of Imaging Data, Physicians May Be Able to Predict Disease Progression Trends, Enabling Earlier Interventions and Treatment for Patients.

• From the perspective of partners:The partnership may change.

With the application of deep learning technology in the field of medical imaging, partnerships among medical institutions, equipment manufacturers, and technology providers may change. More cross-domain collaborations and resource integration will become possible, driving an overall transformation of the healthcare ecosystem.

• From the buyer's perspective:More cost-effective.

Compared with traditional hardware upgrades, IQE software updates are more cost-effective, significantly reducing upgrade costs while maintaining the equipment's advancement and accuracy. With the release of the "Action Plan for Promoting Large-Scale Equipment Renewal and Consumer Goods Replacement" in China, the demand for equipment renewal in medical institutions has been rapidly unleashed, especially in grassroots markets where equipment updates are less frequent.

I believe this market should be quite large, considering the dual factors of diagnostic efficiency and operational effectiveness—hospitals need higher-quality and more efficient equipment upgrade solutions. The IQE introduced by GE Healthcare represents the best practice in responding to the healthcare industry's high-quality development proposition with continuous innovations that integrate digital and physical technologies. From this perspective, a manufacturer like GE Healthcare, which offers highly humanized services, deserves praise.

# Empowering Grassroots Healthcare: Enhancing County-Level and Primary Medical Services

The launch of IQE not only drives industry transformation but also represents GE Healthcare's strong response to the challenges faced by primary healthcare. In the tiered medical system, although tertiary hospitals have a large number of patients and longer consultation times, their medical service quality is relatively outstanding. By contrast,Primary hospitals face the issue of varying professional levels among physicians.This point is particularly crucial; if the accuracy of diagnosis can be improved, this issue can be significantly resolved. Therefore, IQE'sApplicabilityIt becomes even more important. GE Healthcare, by launching innovative products and solutions like IQE and integrating cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence, is enhancing the imaging diagnostic capabilities of grassroots hospitals, especially secondary and tertiary hospitals, allowing more grassroots patients to access high-quality medical services.

Moreover, Zheng pointed out that all 18 new products are equipped with AI+, the integration of digital technology, front-end data acquisition in the imaging chain, post-processing, and full-process digital empowerment for advanced applications. These high-end medical devices are intelligent, easy to use, and accessible, aiming to enhance the quality and efficiency of diagnosis and treatment at the county and grassroots levels. In addition to showcasing innovative capabilities in top-tier institutions such as Class III Grade A hospitals, GE Healthcare places greater emphasis on extending the benefits of innovation to grassroots and county-level medical institutions. This patient-centered philosophy aligns perfectly with the empowering role of artificial intelligence and digital technologies.

#In Conclusion

Reviewing the recent development of GE Healthcare in China, it is not difficult to find its efforts in continuous innovation and technological leadership. The newly launched IQE this time provides the best upgrade solution for nearly 3,000 installed bases of GE Healthcare in China. It meets customers' needs for more, faster, better, and cost-effective solutions. From the early introduction of equipment to today's local R&D, GE Healthcare has always been committed to meeting the demands of the Chinese and even global markets through technological innovation. Especially on international platforms like CMEF, GE Healthcare continuously showcases its latest achievements in medical technology, accelerating technological innovation and development in the healthcare industry.

At this CMEF exhibition, GE Healthcare brought18 Boundaryless Innovation Achievements, It is worth mentioning that,More than 70% of the devices are innovatively developed and manufactured in China.This proportion is quite considerable." Mr. Zheng further explained GE Healthcare's overall layout strategy in China: "In China's major economic regions,Such as the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, the Yangtze River Delta, the Greater Bay Area, and the Chengdu-Chongqing region"GE Healthcare has already positioned itself as a local enterprise in China, committing to a comprehensive strategy of localized production in China to better adapt to and meet the needs of the Chinese market. Moving forward, GE Healthcare will continue to adhere to its strategy of boundless innovation through the integration of digital and physical technologies, further embedding itself in China while focusing on the development and deep cultivation of primary healthcare, creating value for doctors and patients. The company will closely collaborate with global healthcare partners, innovating cutting-edge technologies in line with the times, and continuously improving the quality and efficiency of medical services!"

Editor-in-Chief | Zhao Qing Reviewed by | Yi He