Heart failure is a leading cause of death worldwide. One of the key methods for diagnosing the condition is through cardiac ultrasound exams, which use sound waves to inspect the heart's structure. A new AI-enabled ultrasound technology now allows a broader range of healthcare professionals to conduct important cardiac exams using real-time guidance at the point of care.

GE HealthCare’s (Chicago, IL, USA) Venue Family of point-of-care ultrasound systems now features Caption Guidance, AI-driven technology which offers real-time direction to users for obtaining high-quality cardiac images. The Venue Family is the first GE HealthCare ultrasound product to integrate this scanning support technology, following the company’s acquisition of Caption Health earlier this year. As an optional feature, Caption Guidance supports medical professionals across different settings including emergency rooms, intensive care units, and anesthesiology departments.

Caption Guidance instructs healthcare providers step-by-step in capturing ultrasound images for evaluating cardiac conditions. This support is especially beneficial for clinicians who may not specialize in ultrasound, breaking down educational and skill-related obstacles to the broader use of ultrasound technology. The aim is to facilitate early identification of heart disease symptoms in individuals at risk. Early intervention based on these findings could potentially slow down the advancement of the disease and reduce hospital admissions. Currently available in the United States, Caption Guidance will soon be incorporated into other GE HealthCare ultrasound platforms, including handheld devices, with the aim of further broadening the availability and application of ultrasound-based diagnostic care.

“Venue Family ultrasound systems support clinical decision-making at the point of care, including the emergency department, offering simple, fast and precise solutions. With the integration of Caption Guidance AI-driven software, these devices can enhance cardiac care and reduce the burden on sonographers and radiology departments by giving more clinicians the ability to perform scans and triage patients,” said Dietmar Seifriedsberger, Global General Manager, Point of Care and Handheld Ultrasound at GE HealthCare. “The AI software is expected to increase the number of clinicians who can successfully and confidently conduct cardiac ultrasound scans, which is especially useful in emergency or critical care settings where demand is high and accuracy is essential.”

“We recognize the potential of Caption Health AI in revolutionizing ultrasound access and have worked quickly to deliver on integrating this promising technology to improve patient care,” said Karley Yoder, Chief Digital Officer, Ultrasound at GE HealthCare. “Within a few months of the Caption Health acquisition, we have successfully launched Caption Guidance as a powerful new guidance tool on our Venue Family ultrasound systems, enabling efficient and confident use of ultrasound at the point of care and strengthening our integrated products and solutions. We remain committed to making an impact with this technology and plan to expand its use to maternal, fetal, and pulmonary diseases.” 

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