Bloom Standard expands access to infant ultrasound for faster diagnosis and better outcomes

Patient Stories: How MedTech Innovator alumni are transforming lives

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Each year, 130 million babies are born across the globe. Alarmingly, a significant number of these newborns face life-threatening heart and lung conditions that demand early detection and swift medical intervention. Despite the proven effectiveness of ultrasound in diagnosing congenital, respiratory, and pulmonary conditions, fewer than 10% of newborns have access to this vital imaging tool where they are delivered or receive routine care.

Advanced academic hospitals in high-resource settings often have teams of pediatric specialists, sonographers, and cardiologists available to conduct and interpret complex ultrasound scans. In contrast, providers in rural or community health settings, where the majority of births globally take place, must often make critical decisions with limited tools and training. This disparity not only delays diagnosis but can lead to missed or incorrect assessments, prolonging hospital stays, increasing care costs, and worsening outcomes.

Ultrasound, when available, can change the trajectory of a child’s life. It is a non-invasive, fast, and validated imaging technique capable of assessing the cardiothoracic cavity to identify abnormalities in the heart and lungs. When used early and appropriately, ultrasound can empower frontline providers to recognize critical illnesses, triage newborns for specialty care, and initiate life-saving interventions.

Real World Impact: Baby Tensma’s Story

Ten days after her birth, a newborn girl named Tensma returned to an emergency clinic. She had previously been discharged from the hospital with a grade 2 heart murmur which was considered benign at the time, and was otherwise healthy. But her parents noticed some troubling changes: reduced feeding, fussiness, and faint grunting sounds during nursing. Her symptoms were initially mistaken for gastroesophageal reflux during a routine check-up.

At the emergency clinic, the chief of the neonatal unit was contacted. Working with the nursing team, they performed a bedside cardiac ultrasound using Bloom Standard’s RAPIDscan prototype device, deployed as part of an IRB-cleared clinical investigation. The one-minute scan revealed concerning findings that warranted urgent intervention. Within hours, Tensma was transferred to a tertiary pediatric center where she received a full echocardiogram, was diagnosed with a critical congenital heart defect, and underwent successful cardiothoracic surgery.

“Our child is alive today because there was something available to quickly check her heart,” said Tensma’s mother. “We cannot imagine what would have happened otherwise, and hope other families don’t risk leaving their doctor’s office or the hospital without a test like this.”

Following a 12-day post-operative hospital stay, Tensma was discharged home. She is now a healthy, thriving baby under routine cardiac care, an outcome that might have been impossible without early, accessible ultrasound imaging.

A Call for Equity in Imaging Access

Tensma’s story is not an isolated case. It is a powerful illustration of how equitable access to diagnostic tools like ultrasound can bridge the gap between initial symptoms and definitive, life-saving care. With scalable, easy-to-use ultrasound technology and targeted provider training, millions of babies in lower-resource settings could benefit from the same life-saving care.

Expanding ultrasound availability to the point of care in community clinics and rural hospitals is not merely a technological upgrade, it is a moral imperative. Investing in frontline diagnostic tools can reduce infant mortality, improve long-term outcomes, and close the gap in care for some of the world’s most vulnerable patients.

About Bloom Standard

Bloom Standard is developing a simple yet revolutionary portfolio of wearable, AI-powered ultrasound solutions to expand access to life-saving cardiac and pulmonary screening for infants. Designed for use in intensive care, remote, and underserved settings, Bloom’s technology includes an automated, hands-free ultrasound system and a gentle wrap garment that securely positions sensors against newborns and medically fragile infants. By combining AI-driven automation with intuitive design, Bloom Standard enables earlier detection of critical conditions, without requiring an expert operator helping to improve outcomes for the world’s most vulnerable patients.

About MedTech Innovator

MedTech Innovator is the world’s largest accelerator of medical device, digital health and diagnostic companies. Its mission is to improve human health by accelerating the growth of companies that are transforming patient care. MTI has been a catalyst for groundbreaking healthcare solutions, sourcing nearly 14,000 applicants and fostering the growth of over 700 graduates. MTI alumni companies have collectively raised $9.5 billion in follow-on funding and introduced 360+ products to the market, improving the health of millions worldwide.