GE Healthcare acquires Steady State Imaging

GE Healthcare has announced the acquisition of Steady State Imaging, a US medical technology firm specialising in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technology.

The company has taken control of the Minneapolis-based firm's assets for an undisclosed fee, which will allow it to commercialise a number of innovative new technological advances in this field.

This will include the Swift method, which was developed in association with the University of Minnesota and allows for the visualisation of tendons, ligaments and other tissues that cannot normally be seen.

According to GE Healthcare, this technology has attracted great interest from medical professionals due to the potential it offers in assessing parts of the body where MRI scanning is normally ineffective.

Jim Davis, vice-president and general manager of GE Healthcare's global MR business, said the takeover is "very much aligned with GE's healthymagination initiative to measurably reduce cost, improve quality and increase access to technology for more people".

This comes after GE Healthcare completed its takeover of Orbotech Medical Solutions in February 2011.