GE Healthcare Secures $44 Million Grant from Gates Foundation to Advance AI-Powered Ultrasound for Maternal and Pediatric Care

Sep 20, 2023 00:23 CST Updated 00:23

GE Healthcare

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Source: Siyu MedTech

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On September 18, local time in the United States, GE Healthcare (NASDAQ: GEHC) announced on its official website that the company had obtainedFrom the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation$44 million (approximately RMB 320 million)Funding.It is reported that GE Healthcare willDevelopment of Artificial Intelligence (AI)-Assisted Automatic Assessment Tools for Ultrasound Imaging，Used to increase access to high-quality medical services around the world, with a focus on low- and middle-income countries.

Key Points:

Bill & Melinda GatesThe foundation's grant will promote the development of AI-assisted applications and tools, enabling less experienced healthcare professionals to perform rapid and accurate ultrasound scans to help address maternal and fetal health as well as respiratory diseases.
GE Healthcare to Develop AI-Assisted Ultrasound Algorithms for Use Across Multiple Ultrasound Devices to Expand Access to Quality Care Worldwide, with a Focus on Obstetric and Pulmonary Screening, Including Maternal-Child Health and Pediatric Pulmonary Care, Particularly in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs).

# Developed by Caption Health under GE Healthcare

The medical artificial intelligence company acquired by GE Healthcare in February 2023Caption HealthThis technology will be designed and applied to a series of ultrasound devices and probes, including lower-cost handheld ultrasound devices.As part of the terms of the acquisition at that time,GE Healthcare plans to integrate Caption Health into its broader digital ecosystem, with the first consideration beingNursingAndHandheld UltrasoundBusiness.

320 Million! GE Healthcare Receives Grant to Develop AI-Assisted Ultrasound Technology

Caption HealthFounded in 2013,Is a leader in the development of artificial intelligence (AI) technology in the medical field.The companyMainly using AI technology to assist echocardiographyImage acquisition was once rated by NVIDIA as one of the most promising AI startups.

In February 2020, itsCompatible Ultrasound Imaging SoftwareCaption GuidanceObtainedFDA Approval,This system is also the first to receive FDA approval as an AI-assisted cardiac ultrasound acquisition system.，Caption GuidanceAI can help healthcare professionals capture patient heart images with diagnostic quality.

It is worth mentioning that,Apart from ultrasound experts, this software is also suitable for medical professionals outside the ultrasound field—such as registered nurses in family care clinics or others. It should be noted that conducting ultrasound examinations has always been a complex skill, typically requiring years of training to master.

Caption Guidance can use machine learning to perform "quality control" tasks effectively.To distinguish between acceptable and unacceptable image quality, the system features an interactive service interface that provides real-time feedback on potential image quality, automatically captures video clips, and saves the best clips obtained from specific views.

In addition, Caption Guidance also utilizesThe method of intelligent video analysis can refine the study of an ultrasound scanning video and model users. It focuses on the uniqueness of each ultrasound data, greatly simplifying the entire process of ultrasound imaging technology in image acquisition and editing, as well as condition analysis.

In March 2020, Caption Health announced the official launch of its flagship product, Caption AI.Caption AIIt is a software solution that can be integrated into its compatible ultrasound devices and offered through a subscription pricing model.

As a transformative new ultrasound technology,Caption AICompared with traditional ultrasound examinationWith significant differences:Traditional ultrasound examinations rely on professionally trained sonographers to identify anatomical structures, while Caption AI achieves this through automatic quality assessment.Estimation and intelligent translation can help ultrasound physicians and other non-professionals quickly and accurately obtain high-quality echocardiographic images and perform image analysis.Caption AIMainly includes three modules: image capture guidance, intelligent translation, and automated quality assessment.

In additionCaption Health also has strong AI software development capabilities, including innovative technology development for lung ultrasound.

# Blooming Twice, AI Algorithm Gains Favor Again

As an important health care issue around the world,The health of pregnant women and maternal mortality rates have always been a major concern. In 2020, nearly 800 women died every day from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth, with about 95% of maternal deaths occurring in low- and middle-income countries. According to statistics, in 2019, 2.4 million children worldwide died within the first month after birth. Ultrasound technology is commonly used in maternal healthcare to assess key indicators and conditions of fetal health, such as gestational age, fetal presentation, multiple pregnancies (twins or more), fetal viability, umbilical cord blood flow, and ectopic pregnancy.

▲Roland Rott

GE HealthcarePresident and CEO of the Ultrasound DivisionRoland RottSay:"We are proud and excited to have receivedBill &Melinda GatesThe foundation's grant, thisMaking Ultrasound More Accessible in Low- and Middle-Income CountriesExamination."Ultrasound is an important tool for screening and diagnosing various medical conditions, including the health of pregnant women and the management of respiratory diseases.""However, one of the majorThe restriction is for thoseNon-professional physicians, theyWithin itsNursingIn the venueCannot be obtainedThere isEffectUse of ultrasound equipment。Company ObtainedThis grant will help GE Healthcare toMore User-Customized Caption HealthLeading Artificial IntelligenceCan technology, thereby helping to increase theirAccess to higher quality medical services.”

For children under the age of five, pneumonia is the leading cause of death worldwide. As symptoms of pneumonia can appear suddenly, early diagnosis is crucial for effective treatment and prevention of complications. Point-of-care lung ultrasound can provide physicians with a view of the entire lung, is easy to repeat, and compared to bedside chest X-rays, lung ultrasound can diagnose pneumonia more accurately.

Notably, in 2020, Caption Health received funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to support the development of innovative artificial intelligence lung ultrasound technology.

Karley Yoder, Chief Digital Officer of GE Healthcare Ultrasound and General Manager of Caption Health, said: "The Caption Health artificial intelligence application is designed to guide healthcare professionals step by step during ultrasound examinations, helping them capture and interpret high-quality ultrasound images." "We are very gratefulBill & Melinda GatesThe foundation's continued support has enabled us to expand the research and development of our existing lung ultrasound program and broaden the scope of this powerful new technology to provide care for mothers and children.Help。”

▲Karley Yoder

FutureInBill & Melinda GatesUnder the foundation's funding, Caption Health will develop various lung ultrasound and obstetric algorithms through clinical validation and regulatory submissions.

# About GE Healthcare

GE HeGE Healthcare is a global leader in medical technology, pharmaceutical diagnostics, and digital solutions innovation, committed to providing integrated solutions, services, and data analysis to make hospitals more efficient, clinicians more effective, treatments more precise, and patients healthier and happier.

GE HeGE Healthcare has been serving patients and healthcare providers for over 100 years, committed to advancing personalized, connected, and compassionate care while simplifying the entire patient journey.The company's imaging, ultrasound, patient care solutions, and pharmaceutical diagnostics businesses collectively help improve patient care from diagnosis, treatment to monitoring.GE Healthcare is an $18.3 billion business with 50,000 employees dedicated to creating a world where healthcare knows no limits.

On January 4, 2023, GE Healthcare (Nasdaq: GEHC) announced that the previously announced spin-off from GE Group (NYSE: GE) has been completed. GE Healthcare will begin trading on the Nasdaq Stock Exchange as an independent company with the stock code "GEHC," effective at market open. GE Healthcare became the first company in Waukesha, Wisconsin, USA, to remotely ring the Nasdaq opening bell for its IPO.

On July 25, 2023, GE Healthcare released its second-quarter financial report. The company achieved revenue growth across all segments, surpassing market expectations, with total revenue of $4.8 billion, a year-over-year increase of 7% and organic growth of 9%. Net income attributable to GE Healthcare was $418 million, with a net profit margin of 8.7%. Driven by sustained global customer demand, the company's total orders organically grew by 6%.

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