Intelligent Ultrasound unveils new prenatal AI programme

23rd Nov 2023 12:30

(Sharecast News) - Intelligent Ultrasound unveiled a new artificial intelligence (AI) development programme focused on gestational age estimation in prenatal care on Thursday.

The AIM-traded firm said the initiative introduced the ScanNav FetalCheck scanning technology, designed to provide accurate gestational age (GA) assessments with minimal training, catering to both skilled and unskilled users.

It explained that pregnant women typically undergo two routine ultrasound scans during their pregnancy journey.

The initial scan, conducted between 11 and 14 weeks, confirms the viability of the foetus and determines the gestational age, which is crucial for pinpointing the expected due date.

The second scan, conducted at 18 to 20 weeks, aims to identify congenital abnormalities. Additional scans may be recommended for monitoring high-risk or complex pregnancies.

Intelligent Ultrasound said the accuracy of gestational age measurement was vital in pregnancy management, facilitating the assessment of foetal growth and aiding in treatment decisions if complications arise.

However, in low and middle-income countries (LMICs), determining GA remains challenging as it requires trained sonographers, a skill that often needs to be improved among front-line healthcare workers.

The company said the ScanNav FetalCheck software could revolutionise antenatal care in LMICs and high-income countries (HICs) by enabling non-skilled users to obtain precise GA measurements with minimal training.

Furthermore, it eliminated the need for expensive high-end ultrasound machines, making it accessible in primary care settings where it can benefit pregnant women.

Additionally, Intelligent Ultrasound announced that a prominent African university had acquired four ScanNav FetalCheck systems.

The systems would be used in a trial to evaluate biomarkers and other factors affecting the likelihood of stillbirth.

"The use of ScanNav FetalCheck in this first field study is a testament to the ease of use of our new AI software," said chief operating officer Nicholas Sleep.

"Our mission is to make ultrasound easier to learn and simpler to use.

"This is the next step on our journey to achieving this and putting ultrasound into the hands of front-line health practitioners."

At 1100 GMT, shares in Intelligent Ultrasound Group were up 3.66% at 9.2p.

Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com.