Prenatal ultrasounds are a key part of monitoring a baby’s development, but traditional scans can miss up to half of fetal abnormalities. A new AI-powered tool cleared by the U.S. FDA promises to help doctors catch more issues early, improving care for expecting families.
How the AI Enhances Ultrasounds
The software, created by American start-up BioticsAI, works alongside existing ultrasound machines to analyse images in real time. It checks scan quality, suggests adjustments for better visibility, and ensures all parts of the fetus are captured. Using global data patterns, it can identify potential problems like heart defects or limb abnormalities, and generates a detailed report for doctors immediately after the scan. Developers say it could save clinicians about eight minutes per patient in documentation time.
Addressing Gaps in Detection
Congenital anomalies affect nearly 24 out of every 10,000 births in Europe. Research from Cochrane, covering over seven million pregnancies, shows that early scans (11–14 weeks) detect only 38% of birth defects, while mid-pregnancy scans (18–24 weeks) catch 51%. Combining both scans raises detection to 84%, but a significant number of issues still go unnoticed—an area where AI can make a real difference.
AI Advancements Around the World
Europe is also adopting AI for prenatal care. French companies Diagnoly and Sonio Detect have developed AI tools approved for clinical use, helping doctors automatically evaluate fetal structures and heart function. With these technologies, AI is quickly becoming an essential partner in prenatal health, offering greater accuracy, earlier detection, and peace of mind for parents-to-be.
