GE HealthCare put two cleared AI features on its Vscan Air handheld ultrasound. AutoAS estimates moderate to severe aortic stenosis from standard 2D echocardiographic views captured on the Vscan Air SL. Lung Guidance gives real-time scanning directions across the standard eight-zone lung protocol. Both features carry FDA 510(k) clearance and a CE mark.
AutoAS reads at least two of three compatible views: apical five-chamber, parasternal long-axis, or parasternal short-axis at the aortic valve. It returns a confidence score, and GE validated it against a panel of expert cardiologists. Lung Guidance detects A-lines, the pleural line, the diaphragm and rib shadows. Its AutoCapture function records a clip once image quality criteria are met, and it scores and reports B-lines.
In descriptive validation testing, non-expert users obtained diagnostic-quality lung scans in 95.2 percent of evaluations. Expert operators reached 96.8 percent. That 1.6 point gap is the number a reviewer will press on, because the feature is sold on closing the distance between a novice and a sonographer.
The features ship through Vscan Air Innovation Packages in the US and select countries. Eligible license holders are scheduled to receive access by late November. Karley Yoder, who runs GE HealthCare's ultrasound and advanced imaging unit, said the two features are meant to "shorten the distance between the initial physical assessment" and a decision.