GE partnered with anesthesiologists, emergency medicine physicians and other fields of medicine to design new editions of its LOGIQ e compact and a new edition of the LOGIQ Book XP Enhanced compact, as part of its Breakthrough 2008 ultrasound releases. GE introduced these dedicated systems with features and software streamlined for emerging care areas of ultrasound. These launches further refine GE’s #1 global compact ultrasound series.
GE Healthcare also announced the company’s global compact ultrasound revenue grew to $175 million as of third quarter close for 2007, which represents 65 percent growth compared to the prior year at quarter close. The worldwide market for the compact ultrasound industry in 2007 is forecasted to grow 36 percent, according to Harvey Klein, ultrasound industry analyst and president of Klein Biomedical Consultants.
Clinicians using compact systems for emerging uses helped to fuel overall growth of compact systems. The worldwide market growth for emerging compact applications is expected to reach 50 percent by year-end, according to Klein. GE is projecting to grow its emerging application sales for compact systems 33 percentage points faster than the market for 2007.
Breakthrough 2008 advances across the LOGIQ e and LOGIQ Book XP Enhanced systems include:
_ Higher image quality: exclusive CrossXBeam software enhances image clarity by defining continuous boundaries of anatomy and improving overall image resolution.
_ Ease of Use: Simplicity in the Auto Clarity Suite gives clinicians tools that automatically optimize image quality – at the touch of a button.
_ Productivity: Workflow, Network QuickSave easily transfers patient information to a network folder where EMR systems can easily integrate images for patient records. An optional portable docking station improves mobility while providing instant access to probe connections, DVR and printer.
LOGIQ e Anesthesia Edition-Breakthrough 2008 advances include:
_ For regional anesthesia nerve blocks and vascular access procedures, GE-exclusive “B-Steer Plus” technology displays both the needle and anatomy in one image – without compromising the image quality of either one. This helps physicians and clinicians visualize and locate the right spot to insert a needle. B-Steer also maneuvers the ultrasound beam for better visualization of the needle.
_ Dedicated software presets for imaging anesthesia delivery to patients.
“The best features are the high resolution and the high image quality of the LOGIQ e. I've found that the biggest advantage is the presets for anesthesiologists to use,” said Jeffrey Swenson, M.D., professor and director of anesthesia for the orthopedic center at the University of Utah. “The presets allow for those who are not familiar with the physics of ultrasound to use the LOGIQ e easily. And, the flexibility for novices and experts to use either the presets or to manually adjust the machine allows for superior quality images.”
LOGIQ e Emergency Medicine Edition-Breakthrough 2008 innovations include:
_ Dedicated software presets for critical care imaging for patients. In this setting, patient imaging can range from abdominal aortic aneurysm, ectopic pregnancy to gall stones.
_ Report template for clinicians to quickly organize patient information.
“The new simplified imaging presets in the LOGIQ e Emergency Edition software helps the new or returning user to step up and make the diagnosis faster than when using earlier versions. GE continues to make software to fit the ED, making the LOGIQ e quicker and easier to use,” said John Bailitz, M.D., assistant residency director and ultrasound curriculum coordinator at Cook County Hospital in Chicago. “The new cart and docking system is a huge step up for the ED. Rapid probe changes and the large screen improves the care of critically ill patients.”
LOGIQ Book XP Enhanced-Breakthrough 2008:
The LOGIQ Book XP Enhanced is the third major upgrade of the LOGIQ Book platform, providing a continuum of customer improvements since its first launch in 2002. New features include:
_ New LCD technology with higher resolution, improved off-angle viewing for multiple users, increased brightness and clarity.
_ Faster processing on this new system improves boot-up time by 70 percent. Other faster processing improvements include a 30-percent faster mode transition, such as changing from black-and-white imaging to color Doplar for vascular applications.
“We are continuing to invest in our specialized compact ultrasound strategy, further refining our customized systems to meet the unique needs of clinicians,” said Omar Ishrak, CEO and president of GE Healthcare’s Clinical Systems business unit. “We have migrated technology from our industry-leading, larger console systems to these new, miniaturized compact systems. GE is cultivating the growth of compact ultrasound, and expanding the reach of these clinical technologies to more patients around the world.”
Clinicians also have used the LOGIQ Book and LOGIQ e for humanitarian efforts in Africa, Asia and Latin America.
ABOUT GE COMPACT ULTRASOUND:
This series began with the LOGIQ Book launch in 2002, as GE’s first compact ultrasound, in an expanding family of high-performance compact systems. GE has seven different compact ultrasound systems designed for a wide range of medical specialty applications, including traditional uses such as women’s healthcare, radiology and cardiology. All are based on a powerful and flexible software platform derived from other high-end GE console ultrasound systems. The GE breakthrough and migration strategy has been the impetus for such a broad range of high-performance compact systems.
January 2008
July 19, 2024 
