Intelligent Ultrasound
announces that its gestational age estimation AI software, ScanNav
FetalCheck, is being used in the largest ever trial study on use of
aspirin to prevent pre-eclampsia
PRESS RELEASE 27 February 2024:
Intelligent Ultrasound Group plc (AIM: IUG), the 'classroom to
clinic' ultrasound company specialising in artificial intelligence
(AI) software and simulation, is pleased to announce that its
gestational age software, ScanNav FetalCheck, is to be used in the
largest ever trial on the use of aspirin to prevent
pre-eclampsia.
Conducted in Kenya, Ghana and South
Africa, the trial is funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates
Foundation and led by
international NGO Concept Foundation*. It will compare the effects
of daily intake of two different doses of aspirin during pregnancy:
75 mg and 150mg among pregnant women at high risk of developing
pre-eclampsia. It aims to advance evidence on pre-eclampsia
prevention and inform policies so that women who are treated with
aspirin to prevent pre-eclampsia receive a dose that is both
effective and safe.
Having an accurate gestational age
is important in the prevention of pre-eclampsia for two reasons.
Firstly, the risk of the condition depends on a number of clinical
factors which change with gestational age. Secondly, the
prophylactic effect of aspirin depends on when it is first
administered within the pregnancy. However, accurate determination
of fetal age is difficult in LMICs as it must be measured by
trained sonographers, and very few front-line healthcare workers
have the necessary skills.
The clinical trial sites conducting
risk screening will use Intelligent Ultrasound's ScanNav FetalCheck
software to enable frontline healthcare professionals, with no
prior experience of ultrasound, to quickly estimate gestational
age.
The software uses artificial
intelligence (AI) to estimate the gestational age without requiring
the sonographer to take precise biometry measurements. As well as
allowing any healthcare professional to make the measurement, the
technology also reduces equipment cost and speeds up the scan
without compromising accuracy. **
Nicholas Sleep, COO at Intelligent Ultrasound
said:
"We are very pleased that a trial of
this size is using ScanNav FetalCheck to
accurately measure gestational age as an important factor in the
prevention on pre-eclampsia. We see this as continued endorsement
of our technology for situations when scanning needs to be
undertaken by healthcare professionals with limited experience of
ultrasound.
In the future, we aim to roll-out
the technology in primary care settings in both LMICs and in high
income countries (HICs) by allowing the age of the fetus to be
assessed in a primary care setting where women need it. This will
not only help reduce the incidence of pre-eclampsia but can also
improve the management of other pregnancy-related conditions that
affect mother and fetus."
* The project is conducted in
collaboration between Concept Foundation, Burnet Institute,
University of Ghana, University of Nairobi, University of Cape
Town, Nossal Institute for Global Health - University of
Melbourne, Tommy's National Centre for Maternity Improvement, and
Intelligent Ultrasound, with the generous financial support of Bill
& Melinda Gates Foundation.
** ScanNav FetalCheck is currently
not licenced for clinical use. Validation studies in
progress.
ENDS
Enquiries:
Intelligent Ultrasound Group plc
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www.intelligentultrasound.com
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Stuart Gall, CEO
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Tel: +44
(0)29 2075 6534
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Helen Jones, CFO
|
|
|
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Cavendish Capital Markets Limited
(Nominated advisor and broker)
|
|
Giles Balleny (Corporate
Finance)
Nigel Birks (ECM)
Dale Bellis (Sales)
|
Tel: +44
(0)20 7397 8900
|
|
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TB Cardew - PR Advisors
Ed Orlebar
|
Intelligentultrasound@tbcardew.com
Tel:
+44 (0)7738 724630
|
Allison Connolly
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Tel: +44
(0)7587 453955
|
Emma Pascoe-Watson
|
Tel: +44
(0)7774 620415
|
Jessica Pilling
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Tel: +44
(0)7918 584573
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|
| |
About Intelligent Ultrasound
Group
Intelligent Ultrasound (AIM:
IUG) is one of the world's leading 'classroom to clinic' ultrasound
companies, specialising in real-time hi-fidelity virtual reality
simulation for the ultrasound training market ('classroom') and
artificial intelligence-based clinical image analysis software
tools for the diagnostic medical ultrasound market ('clinic').
Based in Cardiff in
the UK and Atlanta in the US, the Group has two
revenue streams:
Simulation
Real-time hi-fidelity ultrasound
education and training through simulation. Our main products
are the ScanTrainer obstetrics and gynaecology training
simulator, the HeartWorks echocardiography training
simulator, the BodyWorks Eve Point of Care and
Emergency Medicine training simulator with Covid-19 module and the
new BabyWorks Neonate and Paediatric training simulator. To
date over 1,500 simulators have been sold
to over 750 medical institutions around the
world.
Clinical AI software
Deep learning-based algorithms to
make ultrasound machines smarter and more accessible using our
proprietary ScanNav ultrasound image
analysis technology. Current products on the market utilising this
technology are GE
HealthCare's SonoLyst software that is incorporated in their
Voluson Expert 22 and SWIFT ultrasound machines; ScanNav Anatomy
PNB that simplifies ultrasound-guided needling by providing the
user with real-time AI-based anatomy highlighting for a range of
medical procedures; and NeedleTrainer that teaches real-time
ultrasound-guided needling and incorporates ScanNav Anatomy
PNB.
www.intelligentultrasound.com
NOTE: ScanNav Anatomy PNB is CE
approved and cleared for sale in the US by the FDA, but is not
available for sale in any other territory requiring government
approval for this type of product.