GE invests $7.5m in Nanosonics

To drive Trophon EPR ultrasound disinfection product development

GE is investing US$7.5m in Australia-based Nanosonics, a developer of innovative technology for infection control, to progress the development and distribution of the Trophon EPR ultrasound transducer disinfecting system.

The investment is being made through the GE healthymagination Fund, which makes investments in healthcare technology companies.

GE Healthcare worked with Nanosonics in 2006 to support the validation of the Trophon EPR, which received US FDA approval in 2011. Trophon is now installed at more than 800 sites globally.

The advantages of the Trophon EPR system are:

• It takes 7 minutes to disinfect between patients, which Nanosonics says is about half the time of traditional disinfection techniques
• It can be placed in the same room as the ultrasound machine; other methods require a separate disinfection room due to the powerful chemicals that are used.
• The system breaks down residual disinfectants into water and oxygen, which is safer for the environment, patient and sonographer.

Michael Ackland, president and ceo of GE Healthcare Australia and New Zealand, said: “Nanosonics has built an attractive business with an extraordinary product.

“We believe the continued collaboration with Nanosonics will help serve our healthcare customers better, complementing GE’s suite of ultrasound technologies, software and services. By expanding our sales footprint in Japan as well as in the existing locations such as the US, Canada and Europe, GE will help customers improve their overall quality in ultrasound processes.”

Companies

• Nanosonics
• GE Group