Why Did Samsung Recently Acquire AI Medtech Startup Sonio?
Sonio develops AI ultrasound software. Photo By BSIP/UIG Via Getty Images.
Key Takeaways
- Samsung’s medical equipment arm Samsung Medison has completed its acquisition of Sonio.
- Sonio develops AI software to help doctors analyze ultrasound scans.
- The deal reflects the rising importance of AI in contemporary medical diagnostics.
In a deal reportedly worth €86 million ($93 million), Samsung has finalized its acquisition of Sonio, a French startup that develops AI to help physicians analyze ultrasound scans.
The acquisition expands Samsung’s presence in the medical technology sector and reflects the rising prominence of AI in contemporary medicine.
Expanding Samsung’s MedTech Footprint
Samsung’s push into healthcare started in earnest with the acquisition of Medison in 2010.
Post-merger, Samsung Medison has emerged as a major manufacturer of medical imaging equipment, offering a range of ultrasound, radiography and CT scanning devices.
Whereas traditional medical imaging relies on human experts to identify the signs of disease, there are a growing number of AI tools that can do the job more efficiently and accurately.
Samsung’s latest acquisition builds on its established presence in the medical equipment sector, adding a powerful AI system to its diagnostic and evaluative tools range.
Improved Ultrasound Quality With AI
Sonio’s AI platform is designed to improve the accuracy and efficiency of ultrasound scans, offering significant advancements in prenatal care and early disease detection.
Trained on a library of over a million ultrasound images and more than 150,000 annotations, Sonio’s technology can detect the presence of heart and brain structures, helping doctors extract the necessary images faster and with a higher resolution.
Samsung has said Sonio’s “world-class AI expertise” will help it “accelerate innovation” and achieve “breakthrough AI-enhanced workflows.”
The acquisition allows Samsung to integrate Sonio’s technology into its existing healthcare solutions. However, Sonio will continue to operate independently, and its software will remain compatible with ultrasound devices from a range of manufacturers.
Incorporating AI Into Diagnostics
Sonio is part of a wave of AI-powered diagnostic tools designed to empower ultrasound technicians, radiographers and other medical imaging professionals.
Samsung’s entry into the space reflects the growing market for AI in medical diagnostics, which was estimated to be worth $1.3 billion in 2023 and is predicted to reach $3.7 billion by 2028.
Growth in the sector builds on advantages the new field has over traditional methods of diagnosing and screening for diseases.
Because AI algorithms can analyze vast amounts of medical data, including imaging, lab results, and patient histories, they are often able to identify patterns that may be difficult for human clinicians to detect.
By highlighting anomalies that might not even be observable to the human eye, platforms like Sonio’s can flag signs of disease that might otherwise go undetected, enabling earlier detection and reducing the likelihood of misdiagnosis
AI-powered tools are also much quicker at analyzing scans, providing doctors with instant insights that might otherwise take hours or days to compile.
By analyzing data from various sources, such as genetic information, lifestyle factors, and medical history, AI can also help tailor diagnostics to individual patients. By integrating these diverse data points, AI can provide a more comprehensive view of a patient’s health and even predict how they might respond to different treatments.
Finally, AI-powered diagnostics can be deployed in remote or underserved areas where access to healthcare professionals and advanced medical facilities is limited. For example, AI can assist in the analysis of medical images or the interpretation of test results in places where radiologists or specialists aren’t available.
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