Sonio is a highly customizable workflow and practice management solution powered by AI for automation, efficiency, and quality control. And Sonio AI-enhanced software empowers ultrasound practitioners and readers. Pulse 2.0 interviewed Sonio co-founder and CTO Deepak Prakash to learn more about the company.
Deepak Prakash’s Background
What is Deepak Prakash’s background? Prakash said:
“I graduated in Computer Science and engineering and always had a keen interest in startups. I started out at Apache Design – making software for chip design, which was then acquired by Ansys. I then went on to found and run a web/mobile start-up called Zoomdeck, until I moved to Paris in 2014 and became one of the first employees of a programmatic ad-tech start-up, AlephD, eventually acquired by AOL.”
“Cybersecurity has been a special interest for me through various experiences and I have always prioritized it in my endeavors and start-ups, so bringing the same focus to Sonio from the start has been pivotal in creating a top-of-the-line patient data safety network.”
“I’m responsible for the technological strategy and engineering operations at Sonio. I develop our technical vision and drive innovation in our product development. I also oversee infrastructure, data management and cybersecurity.”
“It has evolved quite a bit from when we started 4 years ago. At the beginning, when we were building the first version of our products and infrastructure, I was hands-on coding and setting up a secure operating environment.”
“Now my teams are now responsible for building the product itself, but also for horizontal aspects such as data engineering, infrastructure, and cybersecurity.”
Favorite Memory
What has been your favorite memory working for the company so far? Prakash reflected:
“Seeing Sonio used live for the first time atone of the largest OB/GYN chains in the world and seeing it perform the way it should, seeing all the micro and macro decisions we made while building it play out was a deeply gratifying experience.”
Core Products
What are the company’s core products and features? Prakash explained:
“Our core products at Sonio are both built into our platform, Sonio Pro as well as our latest technology, Sonio Detect. Sonio Pro, our first formed asset is a software as aService SaaS that can send and upload media sent by Ultrasound equipment inDICOM format, and is also a Medical image communications device and provides simple image review software functionality for medical image processing and manipulation.”
“Sonio’s other key asset is the latest Sonio Detect platform, anArtificial Intelligence FDA 510(k) cleared product that empowers real-time ultrasound practitioners to automatically detect views and anatomical structures, in addition to automatically verify quality criteria of the supported views by streamlining the process of checking whether they conform to standardized quality criteria.”
“Another one of Sonio’s most recent features is known as soniopedia, a bioinformatic tool able to diagnose prenatal syndromes and malformations with an accurate up-to-date database. Soniopedia is a key player throughout our technology and abilities to provide transformative pregnancy care to patients, sonographers, and physicians alike. “
Challenges Faced
Have you faced any challenges in your sector of work recently? Prakash acknowledged:
“With Sonio leading in AI-powered prenatal ultrasound technology, one of the most prominent ongoing challenges that the healthcare industry faces is that of cybersecurity breaches and the need to evolve with technology in proactively protecting patient data.”
“As Chief Technology Officer, I’ve made sure that cybersecurity is embedded into the very culture here at Sonio. We have adopted a security-first culture from the start. Through implementing a top-tier security system, including a multi-layered approach, employing encryption, zero-trust architecture, and advanced threat detection systems, patient data security is top of the line and stays top of mind.”
Evolution Of The Company’s Technology
How has the company’s technology evolved since launching? Prakash noted:
“Sonio’s company has rapidly evolved since launching with our release of Sonio Pro followed by our latest Sonio Detect technology added to our platform, which has also since received FDA 510(k) clearance showcasing Sonio’s dedication to patient safetyat the forefront of all new technology. “
“In addition to the advancements in our platforms, we have also produced our very own research and learning tool, soniopedia, to help maternal-fetal health professionals be able to identify a growing 4,684 malformations, 1,177 clinical signs, as well as 479syndromes as the database and system knowledge advances.”
Significant Milestones
What have been some of the company’s most significant milestones? Prakash cited:
“Some of Sonio’s most significant milestones are our first FDA Clearance for Sonio Detect inJuly of 2023, which was followed by our joint Pedatrix partnership, establishing Sonio Detect’s availability in the US in select Pediatrix locations in January 2024.”
“These accomplishments led to further notable moments with Sonio Detect earning a second US FDA Clearance in July 2024, which brings us most recently to our latest tech announcement, soniopedia, also occurring this past July. We are pleased to have created such exciting impacts in the prenatal ultrasoundindustry and are looking forward to further development announcements coming in the new year.”
Customer Success Stories
Can you share any specific customer success stories? Prakash highlighted:
“Absolutely. At Sonio, our main focus in the technology we provide is to see progress in pregnancy-centered patient care journeys on all fronts, from the patients themselves to physicians, sonographers, and caretakers. One specific success story I would like to share is that of gynecological and obstetrical ultrasound midwife sonographer, Mathieu Gardon.”
“As a prenatal sonographer, Mathieu explained that one of the most critical yet challenging aspects of his position is to ensure that all proper imaging has taken place considering the baby’s positioning and associated factors that can vary greatly, while simultaneously keeping track of a comprehensive checklist of specific sonographer notes for every case. Matthieu shared that Sonio’sstreamlined AI-powered prenatal technology has transformed his patient care experience, securing exams and ensuring all patients receive thorough and consistent scans. Where processes in healthcare, Matthieu says Sonio brings comfort to daily practice and relief for practitioners.”
-Pulled from Sonio’s website testimonials
Differentiation From The Competition
What differentiates the company from its competition? Prakash affirmed:
“Sonio stands out from its competition on our mission to improve maternal and children’s health promoting access and quality care through fierce technological advancements. We are not only interested in the tech elements and innovation itself, but we are actively enriching the medical community through a compassionate approach to healthcare. Sonio puts patients at the forefront, and facilitates high-quality care access to pregnant women, regardless of their location.”
“Another key differentiating factor is that our top-of-the-line cybersecurity measures in place. Security is ingrained in our development lifecycle at every step, ensuring that all products and services we offer are compliant and secure. With Sonio deployed in every geographical region that we operate in, with a shared-nothing architecture, in addition to never sharing information with any3rd party, patient data privacy is prioritized for those using our technology all around the world. Our use of cloud providers allows us to benefit from real-time monitoring and global threat intelligence, providing the ability to respond to potential threats quickly and efficiently.”
Future Company Goals
What are some of the company’s future company goals? Prakash concluded:
“Alongside our goals to continue enhancing our platform to collect even more patient data to continue streamlining prenatal ultrasound experiences and early diagnoses, Sonio strives as a leader in the healthcare cybersecurity industry. “
“Not only do we adhere strictly to HIPAA and GDPR requirements, but we go even further to secure patient data including other independent certifications such as SOC 2and ISO 27001. Additionally, we conduct regular internal and third-party audits to ensure compliance, have comprehensive policies for data retention, as well as strict internal access controls and consent management, with regulatory frameworks. In addition, we built out a robust incident response plan, ensuring rapid action if an issue arises.”
“We know that we are equipped to protect our patients’ most private information and are always evolving to upgrade our systems with additional safeguarding features, and we look forward to continuing to lead both in prenatal care and healthcare cybersecurity practices.”
