Many people think of ultrasound as the technology that expectant parents use to see their unborn babies for the first time. Increasingly, it’s playing a role in more complex medical procedures, including brain and heart surgery.

At the same time, wireless handheld ultrasound devices are increasingly being seen as the new stethoscope – a handy, non-invasive screening tool to help doc-tors quickly and easily check a patient’s health in areas such as heart, abdomen and lungs.

The range and flexibility of the ultrasound technology is exemplified by some of the solutions offered by GE Healthcare’s most recent acquisition: BK Medical, which specializes in what it calls “active imaging,” which delivers real-time intraoperative ultrasound to help surgeons make critical decisions on the spot.

“They offer unique applications, including for brain, vascular and heart surgery, ex-panding GE Healthcare’s ultrasound portfolio to cover the full range of care, from diagnostics to treatment to therapy and beyond,” said Mohammad Mishmish, Mid-dle East Sales Manager for GE Healthcare Ultrasound.

“The ultrasound can check the brain nerves and blood flow, and has applications for prostrate treatment and interventional open heart surgery. As a result, our ultra-sound solutions can now be deployed both outside and inside the body.”

GE Healthcare ultrasound equipment is being used to help anesthesiologists to de-tect and block the specific nerves impacted during a surgery, thereby allowing sur-geries to occur while patients remain awake but without pain.

A stethoscope for the 21st century
Weighing as little as 200g and sometimes featuring dual heads to facilitate different types of scanning, these devices are being used across the Middle East for the convenience and benefit of patients and doctors.

“With both deep and shallow scanning heads, these handheld devices can be used in many different settings, from urgent care screenings in situations like an ambu-lance, or as a quick examination tool outside of hospital settings, such as a small clinic or monitoring the health of a VIP,” he said.

AI speeds assessments and assists diagnoses

Artificial intelligence is being integrated into ultrasound equipment to support oper-ations and diagnostics. With AI support, technicians and doctors can move through an examination more quickly and accurately, both through the auto calculation of organ measurements and by moving users automatically to the next measurement, based on pre-defined protocols set by the hospital or clinic.

“Given that ultrasound may be the most used machine in a hospital,” Mishmish said, “users need equipment they can rely on, and through a combination of AI and ergonomic design, our ultrasound devices reduce keystrokes and increase throughput – not only shortening exam times for patients but also allowing facilities to speed the return on investment.”

“We also are using AI to help clinicians diagnose medical conditions by using soft-ware and big data to compare a patient’s unique scan with a database of millions, thereby aiding clinicians with oncology-oriented image analysis to identify possible illnesses, and in this way acting like a second opinion,” he said.

Last year, GE Healthcare introduced AI solutions that support the identification of breast cancer, and this support is being expanded to also assist clinicians in the assessment of thyroid, liver and kidney cancer.

“There is a reason GE Healthcare is the top provider of ultrasound technologies in the region and global leader,” Mishmish said. “We are known for our innovation and for bringing new products and applications to our customers across the Middle East.”

Read more stories about GE Healthcare’s work to enhance healthcare across the Middle East, North Africa and Turkey.

General Disclaimer: Commercial availability of GE Healthcare medical systems is subject to meeting local regulatory re-quirements in a given country or region. Contact a GE Healthcare Representative for more information.