GE HealthCare, Springbok Analytics to Use AI-Powered MRI for Muscle Analysis
The deal extends Springbok's AI muscle-mapping platform, used by over 80 pro sports teams, into advanced MRI environments.
GE HealthCare and Springbok Analytics have entered a development agreement to combine AI-driven muscle analytics with advanced MRI technology. The collaboration aims to improve how musculoskeletal health is assessed in sports medicine and human performance settings.
Currently, injury recovery and performance in sports are tracked largely through physical tests and functional assessments. These external measures offer limited insight into structural changes inside the body. MRI can provide clearer views of muscle health and response to training or treatment.
The collaboration aims to bring more precise, quantitative assessments of musculoskeletal health to clinicians, physical therapists, and performance specialists.
Springbok's AI platform converts a rapid full-body and regional MRI exam into detailed, interactive 3D maps of an individual's musculoskeletal system. It quantifies up to 140 individual muscles depending on scan type and coverage area. The platform delivers objective metrics such as muscle size, asymmetry, fat infiltration, bone, and adipose composition.
The technology is currently used by over 80 professional sports teams and human performance programs worldwide.
When paired with deep learning-powered visualization, rapid MR imaging has the potential to assess muscle asymmetries that may contribute to injury. It can also track structural recovery in patients to determine a return-to-play plan, and monitor age-related changes in muscle composition.
"The ability to look within the body and directly assess the structure and health of individual muscles has profound implications in clinical care and human performance," said Silvia Blemker, CSO and co-founder of Springbok Analytics and professor of biomedical engineering at the University of Virginia. "Through our work with GE HealthCare, we are advancing musculoskeletal imaging capabilities in ways that will expand scientific reach and clinical impact for athletes, patients, and anyone seeking to preserve strength and mobility across the lifespan."
Anja Brau, general manager of MR clinical solutions and research collaboration at GE HealthCare, said the goal is to use the richness of MRI data to surface insights that neither company's technology could deliver independently. "Together, we want to leverage the richness of MRI data to reveal new insights into muscle quality, symmetry, and recovery, delivering tools optimized within GE HealthCare MRI platforms," Brau said. "This advancement of imaging technology for sports medicine, human performance, and human longevity supports our broader mission to deliver the future of healthcare."
The announcement came on the same day GE HealthCare completed its $2.3 billion acquisition of Intelerad, a medical imaging software provider. The Intelerad deal is aimed at expanding GE HealthCare's enterprise imaging footprint into ambulatory, teleradiology, and hospital care settings. It is also expected to strengthen the company's cloud-first imaging portfolio.
GE HealthCare expects Intelerad to generate approximately $270 million in revenue in its first full year under ownership, with around 90% of that being recurring. The company also projects an adjusted EBITDA margin in excess of 30%.