GE Healthcare has licensed a technique patented by an Eastern Virginia Medical School (EVMS) obstetrician that automates the acquisition of ultrasound images used by physicians to diagnose fetal heart defects. GE Healthcare has licensed the software for exclusive use in its 3D/4D ultrasound systems.

Alfred Abuhamad, M.D., chairman of obstetrics and gynecology at EVMS - recognized worldwide for his skills in using ultrasound to detect fetal heart defects - developed the automation protocol, called Sonography based Volume Computer Aided Diagnosis (SonoVCAD).

GE launched SonoVCAD on its Voluson E8 ultrasound system for women's healthcare, when the Voluson E8 launched in October 2006. GE has since migrated the SonoVCAD technology onto its Voluson 730 system, another leading platform that also is used by obstetricians in the physician office-setting. The Voluson 730 has been on the market for about 5 years.

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