Caption Health

History

2023: GE HealthCare bought Caption Health

On 9 February 2023, GE HealthCare announced it had signed an agreement to acquire the firm Caption Health, which develops artificial intelligence systems for ultrasound (ultrasound).

Technology Caption Health uses artificial intelligence to help carry out ultrasound scans The system allows a wider range of health professionals to perform basic research, which helps to more effectively identify signs of diseases such as heart failure. In addition, the company is developing AI-based software for the use of ultrasound in pulmonary examinations.

GE HealthCare bought the developer of AI systems for ultrasound Caption Health

The AI apps Caption Health help to perform reliable and consistent ultrasound examinations to make more accurate diagnoses, speed up treatment decisions and ultimately improve patient outcomes. We are very happy to partner with the Caption Health team as part of the development of ultrasound technologies, GE HealthCare said in a statement.

The financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. But it is noted that GE HealthCare intends to finance the acquisition with cash. After the merger is completed, Caption Health will continue to provide services to affiliated providers. GE HealthCare plans to integrate Caption Health solutions into its wider digital ecosystem It is noted that ultrasound examination of the heart is the main method used to detect heart failure. Combining AI Apps Caption Health with GE's own HealthCare technologies will help improve the effectiveness of early-stage disease detection. Regulatory approvals will be required to complete the deal.^[1]

2020: Receiving a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

At the end of November 2020, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation awarded Caption Health a grant of $4.5 million to develop an AI system that will allow medical professionals with no experience in ultrasound diagnostics to perform ultrasound of the lungs. This decision should help HCWs diagnose pneumonia in a timely and accurate manner, the leading cause of death for children under 5 years of age, in low-resource settings and a shortage of highly qualified doctors.

Caption Health has already launched an AI platform that allows doctors with no experience in ultrasound diagnostics to perform ultrasound of the heart (Caption AI) Ultrasound of the lungs also requires a high level of clinical skills and specialized knowledge, which limits its widespread use. Thanks to the new grant, Caption Health will be able to refine its AI technology for use in lung ultrasound and automatic interpretation of results.

Bill Gates invested in a developer of ultrasound scanners for lung research Caption Health

Emergency physician and associate professor of emergency medicine at Yale University Chris Moore noted that an AI platform for ultrasound of the lungs can help in the diagnosis and treatment of not only pneumonia, but also COVID-19, and other lung diseases. Ultrasound of the lungs reveals a number of pathologies, such as pneumonia and other indentations, pulmonary edema, pleural effusion and pneumothorax. At the same time, this method is non-invasive, portable and does not expose patients to harmful radiation.

As the number of cases of COVID-19 increased, pulmonary ultrasound also began to play an important role in triage and monitoring of these patients. When patients arrive at the emergency room with suspected COVID-19, lung ultrasound can be used to detect lesions early. In a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19, ultrasound can be used to assess the degree of lung damage and track changes over time.^[2]

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