GE HealthCare (Nasdaq: GEHC) has announced the CE marks for its Vscan Air™ SL wireless handheld ultrasound system, now integrated with Caption AI™ software, which uses artificial intelligence to enable rapid cardiac assessments at the point of care. Additionally, the company introduced ECG-less Cardiac CT scanning on its Revolution Apex™ platform, allowing clinicians to obtain cardiac images without relying on the patient’s ECG signal. Both technologies will be featured at the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Congress in London, from August 30 to September 2, 2024.
Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death worldwide, responsible for an estimated 17.9 million deaths annually. With over 60% of these deaths being preventable, early diagnosis is critical to reducing global cardiac mortality. To meet this challenge, clinicians need advanced tools and technologies to diagnose and treat cardiovascular disease more effectively, improving patient outcomes.
At the ESC Congress 2024, GE HealthCare will showcase its latest innovations designed to bring high-quality imaging directly to the patient’s bedside, cardiac catheterization labs, and other hospital settings. The ultraportable Vscan Air™ SL with Caption AI™ is a wireless handheld ultrasound system that enables more healthcare professionals, even those without expertise in cardiac ultrasound, to capture cardiac images. This technology supports earlier detection of heart disease and extends cardiac care into primary care and emergency settings. Vscan Air SL with Caption AI provides real-time, step-by-step visual guidance to optimize probe movements and includes a quality meter to ensure the best possible images. The AutoEF feature automatically calculates the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), a key measure of heart function.
During the ESC Congress, GE HealthCare will host three educational tutorials on Vscan Air SL with Caption AI, including live scanning demonstrations.
“Given that heart and blood vessel diseases account for nearly one-third of global deaths, advancing cardiac diagnostics and treatment is a top priority for us,” said Phil Rackliffe, president and CEO of Ultrasound and Image Guided Therapies at GE HealthCare. “The integration of Caption AI on Vscan Air SL is a significant step toward empowering more users to capture diagnostic-quality images with confidence, enabling timely clinical decisions. With the recent CE mark, we are excited to bring this technology to more healthcare providers worldwide.”
GE HealthCare will also highlight its ECG-less Cardiac CT solution, recently CE marked and FDA cleared. This technology allows clinicians to acquire cardiac images without relying on the patient’s ECG signal, making it particularly useful in scenarios where ECG signals are unavailable or where rapid access is essential. The ECG-less Cardiac CT is available on the Revolution Apex Elite platform, which features a 160mm detector and the capability to capture high-definition, motion-free coronary images in a single heartbeat, regardless of heart rate. The system also includes Effortless Workflow, an AI-powered tool that automates CT workflows from pre-scan to post-scan, enhancing efficiency, accuracy, and consistency.
“Rapid and flexible cardiac diagnostics at the point of care are crucial for patient outcomes, especially in healthcare systems under strain,” said Eigil Samset, general manager of Cardiology Solutions at GE HealthCare. “Our AI-driven cardiology solutions are designed to help clinicians quickly understand their patients’ heart conditions, delivering efficient and timely care when it’s needed most.”
These advanced cardiology solutions will be on display at GE HealthCare Booth #F400 South at ESC Congress 2024, where visitors can explore a fully functional cardiac catheterization laboratory featuring the latest image-guided platform, Allia™ IGS 5 Pulse. This platform is designed to improve workflow in interventional cardiology and includes the INTERACT Touch with AVVIGO+™ Multi-Modality Guidance System from Boston Scientific, the first third-party application available with this technology.
