GE Healthcare has purchased U-Systems, a manufacturer of ultrasound products for breast applications.
As part of the deal, GE Healthcare will acquire U-Systems' somo v Automated Breast Ultrasound (ABUS) system, designed for screening breast cancer in asymptomatic women with greater than 50% dense breast tissue and no prior breast interventions.
Women with dense tissue in 75% or more of the breast have a risk of breast cancer four to six times as great as the risk among women with little or no dense tissue, according to a published study in the New England Journal of Medicine.
SOMO-INSIGHT clinical study principal investigator Rachel Brem said 3D ultrasound system allows to use the information obtained from mammography and combines this information with the information recorded from ultrasound to detect more cancers.
"Mammography is an effective tool at finding breast cancer, but it doesn't work equally well in everyone," Brem added.
"Recently completed studies demonstrated with the addition of somo-v® ABUS we find about 30 percent more cancers in women who have a normal mammogram, normal physical examination and dense breasts.
"For the more than 40 percent of women who have dense breasts, this is a significant advancement in their breast healthcare."
U-Systems president and CEO Ron Ho said the resources of GE Healthcare across the world will facilitate the company to expand and accelerate its efforts to commercialize the recently FDA-Approved somo v ABUS system.
"With our combined resources and capabilities, we have the opportunity to make a significant impact on breast cancer detection and patient outcomes around the world," Ho added.
