Novosound locks down patent for wearable ultrasound imaging platform

Scottish sensor technology startup Novosound secured a patent for its ultrasound instrumentation system, the Slanj digital platform, which is targeted at the medical and wearables device market. 

Novosound produces a wearable, Wi-Fi-enabled ultrasound device that uses gel-free, high-resolution sensors to solve issues associated with traditional ultrasound technology. 

The patent gives Novosound exclusive rights to sell its wireless, wearable technology platform in the United States and the United Kingdom. 

“I’m really proud that Novosound has obtained the first patent for a wearable ultrasound system. This allows us to integrate and license the technology with smartwatch partners, looking deeper into the body and enhancing the measurements their optical and electrical sensors provide, opening up the holy grail of 24/7 blood pressure monitoring on the wrist,” Dave Hughes, CEO and cofounder of Novosound, said in a statement. 

THE LARGER TREND

The company was founded in 2018 as the University of the West of Scotland’s first spinoff. 

In 2018, Novosound launched with £1.5 million ($1.9 million) in a private equity seed investment. 

Novosound received £3.3 million ($4.1 million) in an investment round in 2019, led by Foresight Williams Technology EIS Fund, including additional funding from Foresight Scottish Growth Fund and £1.5 million ($1.9 million) from Par Equity, Kelvin Capital, Gabriel Investments and the Scottish Investment Bank. 

The patent for the Slanj digital platform is the 21st awarded to the company since 2018 and is the third patent since 2020 directly related to the company’s wearable ultrasound technology. 

In 2020, the British Patent Office awarded Novosound a patent for ultrasound array transducer manufacturing. One year later, the company was awarded another patent for its thin-film ultrasound manufacturing technique. 

In 2022, Novosound signed a commercial partnership with diagnostics and digital health company PAVmed Inc. The goal of the partnership was to develop technology to address issues with intravascular imaging. 

The company hired former Intel executive David Jolliffe in 2023 and promoted its cofounder David Hughes from chief technology officer to CEO.

Other companies in the ultrasound market include British Columbia-based handheld ultrasound company Clarius Mobile Health and U.S. company Butterfly Network, maker of a handheld, smartphone-connected ultrasound system.