Samsung Medison, a Seoul-based manufacturer of medical equipment, recently decided to pay 126 billion won ($92 million) to acquire Sonio, a French fetal ultrasound AI business. The four-year-old French firm has been creating IT solutions to help medical professionals record and assess ultrasound tests in obstetrics and gynecology.

Sonio Detect, reportedly the first machine-agnostic AI assistant software that automates ultrasound reporting and offers image quality management, received FDA 510(k) clearance in the United States last year.

“Collaboration with Sonio will bring together best-in-class ultrasound AI technology and reporting capabilities to bring a paradigm shift in the prenatal ultrasound exam,” said Samsung Medison CEO Yong Kwan Kim.

With Sonio in its line of business, Samsung Medison becomes one of the many companies offering ultrasound systems that are now AI-enabled. Exo, a manufacturer of ultrasound devices, acquired Medo, an ultrasound AI supplier, in 2022 in order to deliver more sophisticated imaging features. In 2023, GE HealthCare purchased Caption Health, a well-known ultrasound AI company. After the acquisition is completed, Sonio will continue to operate as a separate, French-based business. It will continue to grow commercially on its own while keeping its goods compatible with all systems that use ultrasound devices.

In 2021, Sonio and Samsung formed their first partnership through Samsung Healthcare France. The partnership aims to validate its AI pregnancy monitoring and prenatal diagnostic service. In an effort to broaden its reach throughout Asia, Sonio partnered with biotechnology company LifeCell last year to market its AI product in India, where over 100 infants are born every two minutes.

Meanwhile, Sonio secured $14 million in Series A funding last year in preparation for its US commercial debut. The money was also meant to help with R&D and to modify its AI for use in point-of-care and portable ultrasound equipment.

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