Intelligent Ultrasound collaborates with NIAW

Intelligent Ultrasound Group plc has entered into acollaboration with the National Imaging Academy Wales (NIAW) to developartificial intelligence (AI) tools to aid ultrasound scanning and to enhanceultrasound education.

Both located in South Wales, NIAW and Intelligent Ultrasoundshare a common desire to improve ultrasound practice through education,innovation and research that will lead to improved clinical technique and as aresult, improved patient care and outcomes.

Intelligent Ultrasound aims to make ultrasound easier forclinicians to use: for the clinic, it is developing real-time artificialintelligence-based clinical ultrasound image analysis software to improve scanquality and workflow; for the training room it manufactures advanced ultrasoundtraining simulators to improve OBGYN, echocardiography and point of caresonography education. The company recently announced that it had signed itsfirst long-term licencing and co-development agreement with an ultrasoundequipment manufacturer to install its AI real-time image analysis software ontoa range of specialty specific ultrasound systems marketed in the globalhealthcare market. Over 800 of Intelligent Ultrasound’s ScanTrainer, HeartWorksand BodyWorks Eve ultrasound simulators have been sold around the world,including to NIAW and other UK Radiology Academies to increase trainingopportunities.

National Imaging Academy Wales opened in August 2018, fundedby Welsh Government and NHS Wales to help address significant challenges acrossthe Diagnostic Imaging workforce, enabling increased training capacity forradiologists in the first instance. As part of NHS Wales, NIAW providescomprehensive speciality training across all radiology imaging modalitiesincluding ultrasound and is committed to training, collaboration, innovationand research. National Imaging Academy Wales is already a hub for diagnostic imagingin Wales and is progressing with developments to enhance radiology training andresearch.

This collaboration will combine Intelligent Ultrasound andNIAW’s complementary skills both to develop clinically relevant AI tools forthe clinic and to improve ultrasound education by evaluating real-worldsimulator performance.

Dr. Phillip Wardle, NIAW director & Consultant Radiologist, said, “Working closer together, we both aim to develop simulation training and advanced deep-learning AI in ultrasound that will address the needs of [the] current and future imaging workforce including sonographers and radiologists.”