Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death across the world, with its prevalence set to rise further due to increasing life expectancy and population growth. The early identification of heart conditions is crucial for enhancing patient outcomes, although offering rapid echocardiographic assessments at the point of care remains challenging in settings with limited resources. Now, an advanced handheld ultrasound system integrated with artificial intelligence (AI)-driven software enables rapid cardiac echocardiographic assessments at the point of care.

GE HealthCare (Chicago, IL, USA) has launched the Caption AI on its Vscan Air SL handheld ultrasound, providing clinicians with real-time guidance for acquiring diagnostic-quality images and automating ejection fraction estimates, thereby aiding clinical decision-making in various cardiac settings. The compact Vscan Air SL delivers exceptional imaging depth, resolution, and sensitivity, thanks to its cutting-edge single crystal transducer technology. The device pairs with the Vscan Air app on Android and iOS platforms, enabling secure image viewing on mobile devices and ensuring that clinicians can utilize Vscan Air for patient examinations anywhere.

The integration of Caption AI with Vscan Air SL is intended to simplify the process of obtaining cardiac images and allow quick heart examinations to be performed even by healthcare practitioners with minimal ultrasound experience. Caption AI offers real-time visual guidance to assist users in probe positioning and features a quality meter to guarantee optimal image capture. After capturing an image, the system's AutoEF function automatically calculates the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), thereby streamlining the scanning process. The device also boasts AutoCapture and Save Best Clip features that allow the user to capture the best quality image from each view.

"The integration of Caption AI with the Vscan Air SL handheld ultrasound opens an entirely new chapter for cardiac screening. This technology empowers users with guidance and tools for high quality ultrasound scans and supports earlier detection of cardiac disease," said Roland Rott, president and CEO, Ultrasound, GE HealthCare. "The strategic acquisition of Caption Health in 2023 continues to expand the capabilities of our products and solidifies our leadership in ultrasound and the emerging artificial intelligence landscape." 

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