Why We Started SmartAlpha

A patient waiting for an ultrasound scan wants to get examined, understand what is wrong, and know what to do next. For the clinician, each examination takes time and attention, often in an already full schedule.

We came together at SmartAlpha because we believed we could help make ultrasound easier to use. The machines had become smaller and the images clearer, but getting the right image and recognizing the anatomy still required considerable experience. We wanted to bring some of that knowledge into the device itself.

Our work is to make ultrasound systems anatomy aware. A system that recognizes the structures in an image can help the user find their way during a scan. That is where we see a useful role for ultrasound AI, and where we have focused our work.

Companies such as GE HealthCare, Philips, Samsung Healthcare, Butterfly Network, Clarius, FUJIFILM Sonosite, Mindray, United Imaging Healthcare, and Siemens Healthineers are working to embed AI into their ultrasound systems. We also aim to partner with them to make our ultrasound AI solutions available to clinics worldwide sooner than we could reach them on our own.

We see this work becoming increasingly relevant to robotic ultrasound too. A robot needs information about the anatomy in view and whether it has acquired the image needed for the examination. We want our AI to support that development.

There is plenty of work ahead. Recognizing anatomy is one part of an examination, and each application needs careful development and clinical validation. We are building towards systems that can assist throughout more of the scan, reducing the effort and time required from the user.

We want this work to help more people benefit from ultrasound, with less waiting and better support for the clinicians providing it.