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Published : 04 Sep 2025, 10:17 PM
A United States-based company has announced the launch of an advanced AI-powered portable ultrasound device in Bangladesh as part of efforts to transform the country’s healthcare sector.
Exo Imaging co-founders Yusuf Haque and Sandeep Akkaraju met with Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus at the State Guest House Jamuna in Dhaka on Thursday to discuss the technology and its potential.
Yusuf, a US medical technology expert of Bangladeshi origin and Exo’s chief technology officer, said the company plans to roll out the device initially in leading hospitals across Bangladesh, with a long-term vision to expand access to rural and community healthcare centres.
“This device is designed to be portable and highly efficient, making high-quality diagnostics more accessible, even in remote areas,” he said. "It will revolutionise healthcare across the globe, especially in places like rural Bangladesh.”
“Doctors and nurses will soon use it like a stethoscope," he added.
Sandeep said Bangladesh is the first country in Asia to adopt the technology, which is currently only available in the US under approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
“We are also planning to launch it in Mexico and several Latin American countries soon,” he added.
The AI-powered portable ultrasound device can assist in the early detection of a wide range of conditions, including heart disease, tuberculosis, breast cancer, lung disease, thyroid issues, and pregnancy-related complications.
Welcoming the initiative, Yunus described the device as “sounding almost like science fiction” and called it a major step toward achieving universal healthcare access.
“AI plays a remarkable role in healthcare. As we know, treatment begins with diagnosis. Patients often become more ill while waiting for tests. This technology can help reduce that burden by bringing diagnostics closer to the patient,” he said.
Highlighting the device’s portability, Yusuf said: “Doctors and health workers can take the device directly to patients, removing the need for long waits or travel.”
Omar Ishrak, a board member at Exo and a former chairman of Intel Corporation, said: “This is a game changer for countries like Bangladesh. Around 80 percent of the world’s population lacks access to quality healthcare. This kind of technology can help close that gap.”
“Patients with chronic illnesses such as breast cancer need frequent screenings. This device makes that process more convenient. It’s essentially the next-generation stethoscope -- a powerful tool that provides instant, AI-driven diagnostic insights,” he added.
Sandeep also shared that Exo is developing complementary software to help healthcare workers prioritise patients based on urgency, send follow-up reminders, and streamline communication between patients and providers.
“This is the next stage of telemedicine,” he said.
