The technology, called Sonomate, was developed by the Noble Group at the Oxford Institute of Biomedical Engineering in collaboration with the Papageorghiou Group at NDWRH. Prof Aris Papageorghiou and Jayne Lander, Research Sonographer were key contributors to the study, which has been accepted for publication in Nature Biomedical Engineering.
Addressing the challenges of ultrasound scanning in pregnancy
Ultrasound imaging is among the most commonly used diagnostic tools in prenatal care. However, it is also highly operator-dependent, meaning the quality of scans can vary depending on the experience and confidence of the person conducting the examination.
Trainee sonographers often encounter steep learning curves and limited supervision in busy clinical environments. Even experienced clinicians may struggle to ensure that all necessary anatomical views are obtained during a time-pressured scan.
The researchers' work investigated whether AI could offer live, practical support during the scan itself, rather than analysing images after the examination has concluded, similar to existing AI ultrasound tools.
How Sonomate Works in Practice
Sonomate is an AI assistant designed to work alongside the sonographer during a live fetal ultrasound scan. It analyses real-time ultrasound video while interpreting the clinician's spoken instructions. By combining what it “sees” with what it “hears”, Sonomate can help provide practical guidance to assist the sonographer in delivering a more accurate scan than if they were alone.
Read the full story on the Nuffield Department of Women's & Reproductive Health website.