GE HealthCare has signed a $44 million federal contract to develop AI ultrasound technology to help clinicians diagnose and treat injuries during mass casualty incidents.
Specifically, the company will focus on AI to support clinicians of all skill levels in diagnosing lung pathology and traumatic injury, which could prove especially valuable during situations when facilities experience an influx of patients requiring swift evaluation and treatment, GE HealthCare said.
The contract was signed with the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), part of the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
The proposed devices will cover indications for multiple injury types: blunt and penetrating trauma, head trauma, lung injuries (including blast lung), as well as multiple lung pathologies encountered outside trauma care, such as those seen in infectious diseases, the company said.
“Point-of-care ultrasound is an essential tool in emergency situations to help clinicians quickly get the answers they need when treating patients,” said Roland Rott, president and chief executive officer, Ultrasound, GE HealthCare, in a news release.
