IUG Intelligent Ultrasound Group Plc

Intelligent Ultrasound launches portable NeedleTrainer Plus

PRESS RELEASE 9 February 2024: Intelligent Ultrasound Group plc (AIM: IUG), the 'classroom to clinic' ultrasound company specialising in AI software and simulation, is pleased to announce that it has launched a portable NeedleTrainer Plus ultrasound-guided needling training simulator.

Aimed at training ultrasound-guided needling in military field-based hospitals, as well as clinical networks outside major urban areas, the system is packed in a robust, portable pelicase complete with a GE HealthCare Vscan handheld ultrasound device.

NeedleTrainer is a first of its kind training simulator that uses a retractable needle and virtual image overlays to simulate needling on a live volunteer, using a live ultrasound scan. This enables trainees to develop hand-eye coordination, optimum positioning, and accuracy in ultrasound-guided interventional procedures in a realistic clinical environment with minimal risk.

The system is part of a portfolio that includes Intelligent Ultrasound's latest ScanNav™ Anatomy Peripheral Nerve Block, an AI technology that helps healthcare professionals to identify and label anatomy in live ultrasound images in preparation for ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia and analgesia. The AI software automatically highlights the anatomy associated with the most common peripheral nerve blocks.  

Ultrasound-guided peripheral nerve block injections are increasingly used for pain relief after surgery and trauma. Data from a study published in the British Journal of Anaesthesia in September showed that, when ScanNav™ Anatomy PNB was available, there was a 40.4% relative increase in the number of peripheral nerve blocks used in trauma cases, without a decrease in quality of care.

Stuart Gall, CEO at Intelligent Ultrasound said:

"We hope this new version of NeedleTrainer will support clinicians in more remote areas and help to open up additional markets for our simulators and AI software in the US, UK and through our resellers around the world as we continue to grow our classroom-to-clinic business."

ENDS

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This is an RNS Reach announcement and the information contained is not considered to have a significant impact on management's expectations of the Group's performance. RNS Reach is an investor communication service aimed at assisting listed and unlisted (including AIM quoted) companies to distribute non-regulatory news releases into the public domain. Information required to be notified under the AIM Rules for Companies, Market Abuse Regulation or other regulation would be disseminated as an RNS regulatory announcement and not on RNS Reach.

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 1,700 simulators have been sold to over 800 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 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.