What happened
Intelligent Ultrasound of Cardiff, United Kingdom, makes ScanNav Anatomy Peripheral Nerve Block. It uses convolutional neural networks to color nerves, arteries, muscles and other structures on live ultrasound before a regional anesthetic block. In May 2021 at Oregon Health & Science University in Portland, 15 expert anesthesiologists and 15 trainees scanned two volunteers with and without the device. FDA reviewers report that 63% (19/30) of participants judged that it helped them obtain the correct view. Of the participants, 70% (21/30) judged that it helped them identify the relevant structures. Of the experts, 87% (13/15) judged that it helped them supervise and train trainees. In a separate study on 40 volunteers, a panel of three experts rated the coloring. Misidentification ranged from 0% to 21.9% across the nine blocks. FDA granted the De Novo request on 18 October 2022. The reviewers write that the benefits are subjectively assessed. No nerve block was performed, so effects on block success and complications are unknown.
Sources
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Regulatory document, by authors with no tie to the system.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Center for Devices and Radiological Health. De Novo Classification Request for ScanNav Anatomy Peripheral Nerve Block (DEN220024): decision summary. Granted 2022-10-18.
The predefined primary endpoint was met, and the study data shows that ScanNav Anatomy PNB assisted 63% (19/30) of the study participants to obtain the correct ultrasound view.
Details
AI system
- Workflow
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Clinicians watched the colored overlay on a separate screen mounted beside the ultrasound machine. Participants scanned one volunteer with a BMI below 30 and one with a BMI of 30 or above.
Follow-up
- Conditions for replication
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The user can perform ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia independently or works under a clinician who can. The patient is 18 or older and the block is in one of the nine supported regions.
Entry details
- Sector
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Healthcare.
- Purpose
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Intelligent Ultrasound built ScanNav Anatomy Peripheral Nerve Block to help qualified clinicians identify anatomy on live ultrasound before a regional anesthetic block.
Not yet checked: model, release, provider, role, configuration, inputs and outputs, autonomy, human oversight, AI contribution, beneficiaries, reach, distribution and access, duration, every measurement question, every money question, ownership and control, dependencies, cross-border connections, geopolitical implications, replication attempts, availability, institutional decision, grounds, action and result, success criterion, every evidence question, observed or intended, alternative assessments, related entries, other identifiers, category mappings.
Cite this record
Peter H. Vartanian. (2026). ScanNav Anatomy PNB helped anesthesiologists find the right view (AIBD-0780). Artificial Intelligence Benefits Database, edition of 31 October 2026. https://petervartanian.xyz/aibd/records/AIBD-0780.html (archived at https://doi.org/10.7910/DVN/AADSII, version 4.0)