Innov8 signs 5-year deal for U-Image wireless ultrasound

Innov8 Group Holdings, a private equity firm based in Cape Town, South Africa, has signed an exclusive five-year deal with Avacare Global, a healthcare manufacturer and distributor in Africa, for the distribution of their U-Image wireless ultrasound solution.

The multimillion-dollar deal is a major step for the Innov8 Group in expanding their presence in the medical imaging industry in South Africa and beyond.

The U-Image wireless ultrasound device was developed by Dr Chad Marthinussen, a medical doctor, and his team after realising the limitations of ultrasound machinery in emergency departments in the Western Cape.

The device is a three-in-one ultrasound probe that provides whole body scanning capabilities in any environment. Despite its small size, it provides world-leading performance across various medical specialities, making it an affordable and accessible solution for medical professionals.

After receiving accreditation from the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) in early 2021, the U-Image team focused on building a robust technology stack around their probe. The U-Image ecosystem is designed to seamlessly connect the scanner and scanned data to its medical AI imaging pipeline, which allows for real-time analysis and decision-making to provide doctors with the information they need when they need it most.

Since its launch, U-Image has been a game-changer in South Africa’s overburdened healthcare sector. Medical professionals are now able to improve bedside examinations and clinical care, detect symptoms, and reduce intervention time. The device has already been successfully adopted by hospitals in the Western Cape, including Tygerberg Hospital, Khayelitsha Day Hospital, and Worcester Hospital.

The distribution deal with Avacare Global is a significant milestone for the Innov8 Group, as it provides a massive platform to drive adoption of the U-Image device across the continent and in new territories. Avacare Global has a strong track record of distributing and supplying affordable quality healthcare products to customers in 12 territories across Africa.

Uma Nadimpalli, group executive: healthcare consumables devices and equipment at Avacare Global, said they are proud to have signed this deal with U-Image.

“We have built an incredible track record for only distributing and supplying affordable quality healthcare products to our customers – which span over 12 territories across Africa – into both state and private sectors, giving us a very strong footprint that aligns with the U-Image vision of driving adoption across the continent.”

Marthinussen emphasised that U-Image is committed to enhancing the healthcare experience through technology for all, regardless of their socioeconomic status. He also noted that the deal with Avacare Global gives the Innov8 Group a solid revenue base to work from, allowing them to focus on research and development, particularly in software and data infrastructure development.

The U-Image wireless ultrasound solution is poised to revolutionise the medical imaging industry, especially in low-income countries where access to medical imaging is limited. With this distribution deal, the Innov8 Group and Avacare Global aim to improve healthcare outcomes for millions of people across Africa and beyond.

Dr Roland Kroukamp, a family physician and sports medicine physician at the Mitchells Plain Community Healthcare Centre in Cape Town, said the device has been a boon for himself and his patients.

“U-Image has revolutionised my clinical practice, I now use it more than my stethoscope, and also do my best to train and expose all the doctors who work in my facility to become comfortable with using point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS), as it is without a doubt the stethoscope of the future,” said Kroukamp.

“I use it for a range of applications: from obstetrics, musculoskeletal, to ophthalmology and internal medicine as my scope of practice is wide.”

According to the Innov8 Group’s chief technology officer Marlon Parker, U-Image is committed to enhancing the healthcare experience through technology, and its ecosystem has been specifically designed to seamlessly connect the scanner and scanned data to its medical AI imaging pipeline. He said, “This allows for real-time analysis and decision-making, providing medical professionals with the information they need, when they need it most.”

Storm Rhoda, founder of Africa Intelligent Machines, said: “The combination of the U-Image ultrasound device and its AI imaging pipeline offers a complete solution for medical professionals, providing accurate, efficient, and immediate results.”

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