GE HealthCare (Nasdaq:GEHC) announced today that it launched its now FDA-cleared Sonic DL MRI technology.
Chicago-based GE HealthCare developed Sonic DL as a state-of-the-art deep learning-based technology. The company designed it to accelerate image acquisition in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
This platform could enable new imaging paradigms, including high-quality cardiac MRI in a single heartbeat, the company says. It marks the latest addition to the growth AI-enabled product portfolio at GE HealthCare.
GE HealthCare said in a news release that lengthy exam times limit the global adoption of cardiac MRI. Current methods take too long to capture the heart’s contraction in real-time, the company explained. This requires several heartbeats and multiple breath-holds to acquire images.
The time-consuming process also faces limitations in image quality, with degradation playing a role. GE HealthCare said Sonic DL scans up to 12 times faster than conventional methods. It enables rapid cardiac MR functional imaging in as fast as a single heartbeat. The advancement minimizes or removes the need for repetitive breath holds and simplifies procedures, the company said.
Sonic DL could reduce MRI scan times by up to 83%, also enhancing productivity in radiology departments. GE HealthCare said it streamlines workflows, alleviates backlogs and reduces staff burden.
Dr. Gianluca Pontone called Sonic DL “a game-changer in the field of cardiac imaging.” Pontone serves as director of perioperative cardiology and the cardiovascular imaging department at Centro Cardiologico Monzino.
“Sonic DL is a paradigm shift for MR enabling high-quality imaging in a single heartbeat,” said Jie Xue, president & CEO, global MR, GE HealthCare. “It greatly expands patient access and improves diagnostic value for patients who need it the most but previously couldn’t be scanned successfully. Our industry-leading deep learning technology, AIR Recon DL, has already benefited more than 10 million patients. We expect Sonic DL to further extend the lead of GE HealthCare in leveraging AI to advance healthcare and benefit patients around the world.”