Ultrasound AI firm wins support from Bayer

ThinkSono, a U.K. company developing artificial intelligence (AI) software to diagnose deep vein thrombosis (DVT) on ultrasound, is to receive funding from Bayer as part of its Grants4Apps Accelerator program.

One of four digital health start-up companies selected for Bayer's 2017 Grants4Apps Accelerator initiative, ThinkSono leverages deep neural networks and portable ultrasound scanners to help healthcare professionals diagnose DVT at the point of care. The company has backing from a team of clinicians, engineers, and investors from Berlin and London as it develops a platform for ultrasound analysis and diagnosis of vascular diseases, according to Bayer.

All four start-ups -- ThinkSono, Aparito, Oratel Diagnostics, and Sky Labs -- receive 50,000 euros in financial support, and have already moved into the G4A Accelerator premises at Bayer's pharmaceutical division headquarters in Berlin. The companies will be mentored and supported there by Bayer senior managers and external experts until late November, Bayer said.