GE HealthCare Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ: GEHC) announced a digital integration between its bkActiv intraoperative ultrasound system and Medtronic's Stealth AXiS surgical navigation system for cranial procedures.

The integration allows neurosurgeons to use bkActiv as a plug-and-play real-time visualization solution during procedures with the Stealth AXiS system. The Stealth AXiS surgical navigation system received FDA clearance for cranial procedures in the United States and combines planning, navigation and robotics in a single platform.

The bkActiv system provides real-time imaging to help surgeons address brain shift, which is the natural movement or deformation of the brain during surgery that can reduce the accuracy of pre-surgical images. The system supplies live ultrasound images to the Stealth AXiS navigation system, where they can be viewed alongside pre-operative MRI or CT images.

"Real-time visualization is critical for cranial surgical teams to assess anatomy, navigate changes, and make critical decisions in the surgical suite," said Heidi Seerden, General Manager of Surgical Innovations at GE HealthCare.

The bkActiv system includes features such as an image mirror function, color Doppler for blood flow visualization, specialized imaging algorithms, sterilizable transducers, and a remote control that allows surgeons to operate the scanner from the sterile field.

The companies plan to demonstrate the digital integration at the American Association of Neurological Surgeons Annual Scientific Meeting in May 2026 in San Antonio, Texas. The collaboration builds on an existing strategic alliance between GE HealthCare and Medtronic focused on technology innovation.