GE Healthcare and Echosens, a French diagnostics company, announced on Tuesday a partnership to offer an integrated ultrasound system that manages liver disease.

It's called the LOGIQ S8 XDclear 2.0 ultrasound system, and it will be presented at the International Liver Congress in Amsterdam this week.

Liver diseases are the second leading cause of mortality among all digestive disease in the U.S., according to a study published in Gastroenterology.

It can be caused by hepatitis B or C, excessive alcohol consumption or poor dietary habits. The disease usually doesn't present any symptoms and goes undetected until very late stages, which can result in liver cirrhosis and liver cancer.

GE's LOGIQ S8 XDclear 2.0 ultrasound combines liver tissue quantification and ultrasound imaging. It can be used to screen, diagnose and monitor liver disease.



Echosens developed a technology called FibroScan that rapidly and painlessly measures liver fibrosis, cirrhosis and steatosis. This technology offers a non-invasive alternative to painful liver biopsies.

The LOGIQ S8 XDclear 2.0 ultrasound can be paired with FibroScan to provide the clinicians with a new tool to quantify liver disease in a single exam. The ultrasound also comes with a comprehensive Liver Package that offers advanced liver ultrasound imaging capabilities.

Echosens was founded in 2001 and provides non-invasive diagnostic solutions that assess chronic liver diseases. Its solutions are marketed in over 80 countries, either directly or through a network of more than 40 distributors.

In a statement, GE and Echosens stated they are, "thrilled to partner to widen their panel of liver diagnostic solutions and contribute to improved outcomes in liver diseases."