The Korean medical device sector showcased its latest technologies and research achievements at the European Congress of Radiology 2024 (ECR 2024), held from Feb. 28 to last Suday in Vienna, Austria. 

ECR is recognized as one of the world's largest conferences in the field of radiology, alongside the North American Radiological Society (RSNA), drawing participation from major global imaging diagnostic medical device companies such as GE Healthcare, Philips, Siemens Healthineers, Fujifilm, and Bayer.

Among the highlights, Korean AI company Lunit presented seven new research findings using its AI image analysis solution, Lunit INSIGHT. 

Four of these were oral presentations, with significant interest in their approach to European breast cancer screening protocols. 

Europe currently recommends dual reading by two radiologists for breast cancer screening, facing a shortage of specialists. Lunit proposed an AI technology solution effectively substituting one of the radiologists to address this shortage.

Lunit also operated a standalone exhibition booth, offering visitors firsthand experience with the Lunit INSIGHT AI image analysis solution. 

VUNO presented four products with European CE certification at their booth, including VUNO Med DeepBrain, VUNO Med Chest CT AI, VUNO Med Chest X-ray, and VUNO Med BoneAge. 

These products leveraged AI to analyze medical images such as X-rays, CTs, and MRIs, assisting medical professionals in diagnosis.

VUNO also held a presentation in the AI Theater session, discussing the current and future prospects of VUNO Med solutions for precision medicine. 

Coreline Soft opened a standalone booth to demonstrate its AVIEW product line and shared use cases and achievements in medical settings worldwide, particularly emphasizing the AVIEW LCS Plus, which screens for three major lung diseases from CT images. 

Coreline Soft has been striving to expand its presence in Europe and extend its reach to related regions. 

It has enhanced its competitiveness in the global lung cancer screening market by winning contracts for various projects, including the multinational lung cancer screening project (4ITLR) involving five European countries, the German lung cancer screening project (HANSE), and the Italian lung cancer screening project (ILSP).

Recently, Coreline Soft has actively expanded into the European medical market by securing product supply contracts with major institutions such as Heidelberg University Hospital in Germany, the University Hospital of Catania in Italy, and imaGen, a large imaging center group in France.

Samsung Medison announced a memorandum of understanding with Bracco Imaging to explore new diagnostic areas using ultrasound diagnostic devices and contrast agents during the event as well.

According to Samsung Medison, Bracco Imaging is a leading company in the ultrasound contrast agent market globally. 

The agreement aims to enhance the quality and application of ultrasound diagnostic devices and contrast agents, develop protocols for high-resolution diagnostic imaging, and cooperate in global marketing efforts, including medical training and exhibition participation.

Traditional global medical device companies also made their mark at ECR 2024. Siemens Healthineers unveiled the Magnetom Flow, the first 1.5T MRI platform applying dry cool technology, eliminating the need for a quench pipe and significantly reducing the use of liquid helium from 1500 liters to just 0.7 liters, showcasing a sustainable future for MRI technology.

GE Healthcare, in collaboration with the European Society of Radiology (ESR), focused on precision medicine, covering oncology, cardiology, and neurology. 

"We are excited to continue our collaboration with the European Society of Radiology to host the ECR, the world's largest congress," GE HealthCare International President and CEO Elie Chaillot said. "At GE Healthcare, innovation is about taking healthcare to the next level by generating insightful data for better, more personalized, and targeted care."

The company's collaborations with companies, academia, healthcare professionals, and patient organizations are critical to better patient outcomes and the future of healthcare, Chaillot added.