Butterfly Network Introduces AI-Powered Gestational Age Tool in Sub-Saharan Africa
Butterfly Network, a digital health company focused on transforming healthcare through handheld, whole-body ultrasound and intuitive software, has launched a groundbreaking artificial intelligence (AI) tool designed to improve maternal health in Malawi and Uganda. This innovative Gestational Age calculator, integrated directly into the Butterfly app, aims to empower healthcare workers with limited training to accurately determine gestational age, thereby expanding access to crucial ultrasound technology in under-resourced regions of Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).
The AI-enabled tool represents a significant step forward in addressing the challenges of maternal and fetal health in areas where access to affordable ultrasound technology is severely restricted.
Addressing Maternal Mortality in Low-Resource Settings
During pregnancy, ultrasound plays a vital role in the early detection of potentially life-threatening complications. However, in low-resource settings like SSA, access to this essential technology remains limited. This disparity has a devastating impact, with a staggering 92% of maternal and neonatal mortality cases occurring in low- and middle-income countries.
Butterfly Network's commitment to improving maternal health in these underserved regions is exemplified by the integration of the AI-powered Gestational Age calculator into its app. This tool is now being utilized by clinicians in Malawi and Uganda.
How the AI Tool Works
The AI tool, developed with support from the Gates Foundation and the University of North Carolina, provides a rapid estimate of gestational age through a simple blind-sweep scan. This means that no image interpretation or specialized training is required, making it accessible to a wider range of healthcare providers, including midwives. The ability to accurately determine gestational age allows clinicians to make informed decisions about the timing of life-saving medications or procedures that may be necessary.
"We are committed to expanding obstetric POCUS adoption in low-resource settings and ultimately improving outcomes for mothers and babies," said Dr. Sachita Shah, Vice President, Global Health at Butterfly Network. "Our AI-powered gestational age tool is an accurate, fast and simple way for lower skilled healthcare workers in SSA to get expecting women the right care plans for the stage of their pregnancy journey. Additionally, the model was trained using data from African populations in an effort to ensure relevance and high-quality performance."
It's important to note that the Butterfly Gestational Age Tool is currently under review by the US FDA and is not yet available in the United States.
Butterfly's 1,000 Probe Partnership: A Milestone in Maternal Health Advancement
Alongside the launch of the AI-powered tool, Butterfly Network is also celebrating the success of its 1,000 Probe Partnership. This initiative, funded by the Gates Foundation, involved the deployment of 1,000 iQ+ handheld, whole-body POCUS probes and the training of over 1,050 healthcare providers in SSA between September 2022 and December 2024. As a result, obstetrical ultrasound services have been integrated into more than 697 public health facilities in South Africa and Kenya. As of July 2025, an impressive 1.8 million scans have been conducted, averaging 83,000 scans per month.
In collaboration with the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), Global Ultrasound Institute, Kenyatta University, and the University of Pretoria, a large-scale research project is underway to assess the impact of POCUS deployment on maternal mortality. Preliminary findings suggest that POCUS has a significant positive impact on both provider satisfaction and patient outcomes.
iQ3™ Approved for Use in South Africa and Kenya
The newest Butterfly device, iQ3™, has received approval for use in South Africa and Kenya. This device, combined with Butterfly's AI offerings, advanced imaging quality, improved ergonomics, and faster charging speed, promises to enhance POCUS availability, speed up scans, and simplify image interpretation in these countries.
Preliminary Data Highlights the Positive Impact of Obstetric POCUS
Data emerging from Kenya and South Africa suggests that the introduction of obstetric POCUS is having a positive impact on maternal health outcomes.
-
Kenya: Kenyatta University's analysis of the 1,000 Probe Partnership reveals a significant increase in the number of women seeking antenatal care before 24 weeks of gestation after the introduction of Butterfly's technology. Furthermore, over 90% of patients reported satisfaction with the care they received.
-
South Africa: Preliminary data from CHAI indicates a notable reduction in stillbirths, neonatal mortality, and maternal mortality following the implementation of midwife-led OB-POCUS. In 191 facilities, 873 appropriate referrals to higher levels of care were made for pregnant women, primarily due to malpresentation, multiple gestation, and suspected ectopic pregnancies. In 23 facilities, a total of 71 pregnant women were safely managed and retained at lower-level facilities for appropriate vaginal deliveries.
Additionally, initial analysis from the Eastern Cape province in South Africa shows a 1.13% decrease in stillbirths and a 20.6% decrease in maternal mortality in the 12 months following training on the use of Butterfly’s technology.
Butterfly Network's data also demonstrates that the company has streamlined POCUS usage, reducing training needs for lower-skilled workers. Providers' scan times average just 1.3 minutes, and they report significantly higher confidence in detecting key maternal conditions (rising from 62% to 85% after training). An impressive 99.6% of providers successfully pass rigorous live clinical assessments.
While other factors and interventions may have contributed to these positive outcomes, the evidence suggests that OB-POCUS from Butterfly Network is a valuable addition to healthcare systems seeking to improve neonatal and maternal health outcomes.
Butterfly Network: Driving Innovation in Medical Imaging
Butterfly Network, Inc. (NYSE: BFLY) is committed to driving a digital revolution in medical imaging through its proprietary Ultrasound-on-Chip™ semiconductor technology and ultrasound software solutions. The company launched the world's first handheld, single-probe, whole-body ultrasound system, Butterfly iQ, in 2018. Subsequent iterations, the iQ+ (2020) and iQ3 (2024), have further enhanced processing power and performance. The iQ3 was recognized as the Best Medical Technology at the 2024 Prix Galien USA Awards.
Butterfly Network combines advanced hardware, intelligent software, AI, services, and education to promote the adoption of affordable and accessible imaging. Clinical publications have shown that handheld ultrasound probes, paired with Compass™ enterprise workflow software, can help hospital systems improve care workflows, reduce costs, and enhance provider economics. Butterfly's cloud-based solution enables care delivery anywhere, addressing critical global healthcare challenges and democratizing access to healthcare. Butterfly devices are commercially available to trained healthcare practitioners in various regions, including parts of Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, the Middle East, North America, and South America.
No comments:
Post a Comment