IUG Intelligent Ultrasound Group Plc

Intelligent Ultrasound's NeedleTrainer and ScanNav Anatomy Peripheral Nerve Block now part of NHS Scotland anaesthetist training program

PRESS RELEASE 29 February 2024: Intelligent Ultrasound Group plc (AIM: IUG), the 'classroom to clinic' ultrasound company specialising in AI software and simulation, is pleased to announce NHS Education for Scotland (NES) has incorporated the company's NeedleTrainer and ScanNav Anatomy Peripheral Nerve Block (PNB) in its anaesthesia training program.

Intelligent Ultrasound's Classroom to Clinic package is designed to meet the two key challenges of ultrasound guided regional anaesthesia (UGRA): capturing and interpreting ultrasound images and inserting the needle to deposit local anaesthetic at a target site. The risks of poorly performed UGRA and ultrasound-guided needle insertion are well documented, including damage to nerves that can lead to chronic pain, loss of sensation and muscle weakness. Poor identification of structures on ultrasound can lead to needle trauma to blood vessels, the lung, bowel and kidney.

NeedleTrainer uses a retractable needle and virtual image overlays to simulate needling non-invasively on a live participant, using an authentic 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.

ScanNav Anatomy PNB produces a colour overlay on real-time ultrasound to support scanning for UGRA. A recent study published in the British Journal of Anaesthesia showed that availability of ScanNav Anatomy PNB was associated with an increase in the number of blocks performed by anesthesiologists, without a decrease in quality of care.

As a teaching package, this provides increased efficiency, whereby education can be carried out in a cost-effective and scalable manner, with enhanced educational outcomes. The platforms will be used at the School of Medicine, University of St Andrews where Dr Alasdair Taylor and co-director Dr James Bowness will use NeedleTrainer as part of their two-day Regional Anaesthesia: Plan A Blocks course.

NES joins its counterpart body in Wales (Health Education and Improvement Wales), which invested in Intelligent Ultrasound platforms to help meet curriculum changes and provide more safe, effective learning opportunities in ultrasound-guided interventional procedures.

Stuart Gall, Chief Executive Officer of Intelligent Ultrasound: "Ultrasound-guided needle insertion is now a key competency requirement for multiple specialties. This investment moves us closer to our vision of transforming medical training, ensuring safer practices, and ultimately enhancing patient care. Together, we are bridging the gap from classroom to clinic with innovative solutions that empower medical professionals across Scotland and beyond."

Dr Ed Mellanby, Simulation Associate Postgraduate Dean for Scotland, said: "It is a huge challenge to consistently meet the requirements of training in regional anaesthesia in a safe and reliable way across all trainees in Scotland. We are developing a national approach to simulation training in Scotland, with the aim of sharing resources and expertise across the country in order to improve quality and equitability of access. This technology aligns with that ambition and with both patient and curriculum requirements. I am really excited to see how this can reduce the variability in practice and training, and witness the positive impact on performance that we believe this will produce."

Dr Alasdair Taylor, Consultant Anaesthetist, Ninewells Hospital, Dundee, said: "As a team, we want to increase the delivery of safe and efficacious ultrasound guided regional anaesthesia to patients in Scotland as the potential benefits are well known. When performed well, patients benefit from reduced morbidity, improved pain scores, and a reduced opiate requirement and the consequent side effects. Organisations can benefit from greater theatre efficiency, and shorter length and cost of inpatient stay. Also, with the long-term aim of performing more awake regional anaesthesia, we can achieve a reduced carbon footprint for surgical procedures."

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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.