How do you optimize one of the most technically challenging procedures in medicine?
Paul Sheeran, Ph.D. — Director of R&D at RIVANNA — discusses a series of design interventions intended to reduce procedural variability in neuraxial ultrasound.
Our approach targets three persistent pain points in spinal access:
- Operator dependence in image interpretation
- Probe-handling constraints that limit tactile control
- Lack of alignment between probe design and ideal needle trajectory
The platform incorporates:
✅ AI-guided imaging, which identifies key landmarks and provides real-time procedure guidance
✅ Hands-free stabilization consumable, allowing clinicians to release the probe while preserving its position
✅ A dual-array transducer, developed to support spine-specific visualization and enable a direct needle approach through the midline
This configuration is intended to enhance procedural precision and streamline needle guidance, empowering clinicians with varying levels of ultrasound experience.