GE Healthcare's advanced compact ultrasound technology 'LOGIQ e' is installed in 100 centres across the country including Apollo Hospital, Hyderabad and Lilavati Hospital, Mumbai.

It has proved to be an indispensable diagnostic tool at emergencies and sporting events, ever since its launch worldwide and in India in September 2006.

'LOGIQ e' provides clear images of internal structures enabling clinicians to accurately identify the injury and provide instant treatment.

Among the 100 installations in the country, are also diagnostic centres and individual specialists clinics. Apart from emergency medicine, installations in ambulances and sports medicine, 'Logic e' is much-sought after in anaesthesia delivery because of its proven accurate release. The ultrasound technology is also used during breast surgery, vascular surgery and musculoskeletal imaging.

The equipment is compact, lightweight, battery operated, and easy-to-use and allows real time transmission of diagnostic reports from the Point-of-Care to experts at hospitals for a second opinion. The scan is both safe and inexpensive and can be used for continuous monitoring. The cost of the system varies and depends on the configuration.

According to Dr Andrew Hine and Dr Christine Heron, consultant radiologists, 'Logic e' was used at the 2007 Wimbledon Championships and Turin Winter Olympics, World Cup Football.

Sports medicine is helping the athletes to achieve optimum performances and this challenge makes sports physicians to equip themselves with the advanced technology like medical imaging. In India, sports medicine is an emerging trend and we are sure that healthcare providers would eventually insist on this technology at the events, stated S Ganesh Prasad, vice president, clinical systems, GE Healthcare South Asia.

GE Healthcare has a team of ultrasound application trainers who impart the training to every GE ultrasound users at their centre. The company also has a training calendar in association with experts from the country to impart the necessary skills in advanced ultrasound applications including musculoskeletal, a key component in sports medicine. Nearly 250 GE users have undergone this training. Periodically, the company also invites specialists from developed countries for lectures on advanced applications and to interact with the medical fraternity here in India.