GE Targets Ultrasound Energy Reduction

GE Healthcare is joining with other medical device manufacturers to commit to a 25% reduction in average energy consumption of new ultrasound products by 2012.

With support from the European Commission, GE and a group of 10 other medical device firms within the European Coordination Committee of the Radiological, Electromedical, and Healthcare IT Industry (COCIR) have committed to this self-regulatory initiative for the energy-efficient design of medical imaging equipment, according to the Chalfont St. Giles, U.K.-based vendor.

Additional imaging modalities will be added to the self-regulation program each year, GE said.

COCIR’s Energy Related Products (ErP) framework establishes a framework for setting resource efficiency standards by product platform and increasing focus on product lifecycle. Rigorous enforcement measurements will also be put in place to ensure that requirements are met and environmental improvements achieved before product commercialization, according to the company.  www.auntminnie.com