GE HealthCare and the US Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) have expanded an existing contract by $35m to support the ongoing development of imaging systems that support trauma assessment and preparedness for mass casualty incidents.
The expanded agreement between the entities builds on a $44m contract GE HealthCare signed with BARDA in October 2023 and will broaden the clinical scope of the initial programme’s aim of developing and marketing next-generation advanced point-of-care ultrasound technology (POCUS) with new artificial intelligence (AI)-based applications.
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Structured as a cost-share between GE HealthCare and BARDA, which is part of the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) within the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the expansion sees BARDA providing the majority of funding, although the exact figure has not been publicly disclosed. BARDA frequently collaborates with medtech and pharma companies to bolster medical countermeasures for public health emergencies.
With an expanded clinical scope, GE HealthCare said the revised programme will facilitate the development of several new AI tools designed to enhance diagnostic speed and reduce operator dependency, even for ‘non-expert’ ultrasound users.
Innovations anticipated to arise out of the pair-up include POCUS technology that will be designed to support more detailed assessments of lung pathologies, including pleural pathologies, and improve the detection of intra-abdominal injuries.
GE HealthCare added that a key design component of these tools will centre on improving their reliability and usability in demanding environments, including field-based care settings.
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By GlobalDataIt is also anticipated that the expanded programme will drive new efforts to engage with clinicians and medical evaluation sites. These activities will help generate clinical evidence, inform ongoing development, and ensure the technology is shaped by real-world feedback, GE HealthCare stated.
Philip Rackliffe, president and CEO of advanced visualisation solutions at GE HealthCare, commented: “Responding to a mass casualty incident demands speed, precision and access to care, especially in high-pressure environments like emergency departments, field hospitals, and medical transport.
“Our strategic alignment with BARDA enables us to continue to drive ultrasound innovation through advanced AI tools and specialised hardware designed for the front lines of care.”
In conversation with Medical Device Network, Ashley Clarke, senior healthcare analyst at GlobalData, previously stated that POCUS systems have the highest growth value out of all ultrasound systems (as of November 2024) due to their typical price point between $5,000-$20,000, versus traditional ultrasound systems that may cost anywhere from $50,000 to $200,000.
