Samsung Medison, a medical device subsidiary of the South Korean tech giant, recently announced its acquisition of Sonio, a French medtech startup specializing in enhancing fetal ultrasound efficiency with AI. This acquisition marks a significant step for Samsung in deepening its footprint in the healthcare sector. Founded in 2020, Sonio has rapidly gained attention for its innovative AI platform which received FDA clearance in August of the previous year.
The core functionality of Sonio’s AI platform lies in its ability to automate ultrasound reporting, thus maximizing the precision, speed, and efficiency of ultrasound exams. According to Sonio’s CEO, Cécile Brosset, the technology ensures high-quality prenatal examinations by verifying the quality and completeness of the exams and streamlining the associated workflows. This is facilitated by the AI’s capability to process images acquired from any ultrasound machine, regardless of its model or brand. The processed data is then analyzed in real-time via cloud computing, providing healthcare providers with immediate insights.
Moreover, Sonio’s platform is equipped with clinical decision-support tools that help in prioritizing potential rare diagnoses by claiming the capability to identify over 300 prenatal syndromes and anomalies with a high accuracy rate of more than 90%. Brosset emphasized that the AI’s reliability is consistent across all maternal patients, regardless of factors such as age, BMI, or ethnicity.
Currently, Sonio distributes its software mainly to hospitals, women’s health groups, and private physician practices, with its technology being utilized in multiple care sites across the U.S., including major medical groups like Pediatrix. Brosset asserts that Sonio’s technology not only complements Samsung Medison’s existing product portfolio but also provides a valuable asset to its customers by enhancing reporting and workflow efficiency.
Additionally, the integration of Sonio’s features with Samsung ultrasound machines showcases a synergistic relationship between the two, where Sonio’s Cloud reporting software effectively leverages ultrasound results to optimize report generation.
Despite the acquisition, Sonio is set to remain a vendor-neutral and independent entity headquartered in France, continuing to operate under its established brand while expanding its market presence and share under the umbrella of Samsung Medison.
This strategic acquisition by Samsung reflects the growing trend of tech giants venturing further into the healthcare domain, underscored by their continued investment in health-focused technologies, particularly those driven by artificial intelligence. Such advancements are poised to transform the landscape of healthcare by enhancing the efficiency and accuracy of medical diagnostics and patient care.
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