Artificial intelligence is increasingly moving from research labs into everyday clinical workflows, and prenatal imaging is one of the latest areas to see rapid innovation. DeepTech company Diagnoly has announced the launch of its real-time fetal ultrasound AI assistant, Fetoly, on iOS, expanding global access to AI-assisted prenatal care.

Already deployed in more than 20 countries, the new iOS release allows obstetricians, maternal fetal medicine specialists, and sonographers to run the application directly on an iPad, connecting seamlessly to existing ultrasound systems without requiring additional hardware or upgrades.

This marks another step in the broader trend of AI moving into mobile, interoperable healthcare tools that integrate directly into clinical workflows rather than requiring entirely new systems.

AI As A Second Set Of Eyes

Fetoly AI analyzes fetal ultrasound scans in real time, helping clinicians verify anatomical landmarks and examination completeness

Fetoly is designed to function as a real-time ultrasound assistant, continuously analyzing the full ultrasound video stream during fetal examinations. The system helps verify that examinations are complete by identifying anatomical structures and can highlight suspicious findings through automated measurements, while keeping clinicians fully in control of the diagnostic process.

According to Diagnoly, the goal is not to replace clinicians but to provide a second layer of analysis that improves consistency, efficiency, and diagnostic confidence.

Fetal ultrasound is widely considered one of the most operator-dependent imaging procedures in medicine, with outcomes often influenced by the experience of the practitioner and the clinical environment. AI-assisted analysis has the potential to reduce variability and help standardize examination quality across healthcare systems worldwide.

Running Locally, Not In The Cloud

One of the notable aspects of Fetoly is that it operates locally on the device rather than relying on cloud processing. This approach helps address data security and privacy concerns while also ensuring the application can function reliably in clinical environments without constant internet connectivity.

This local-processing model is becoming increasingly important in healthcare AI, where data privacy, regulatory compliance, and workflow integration are critical factors for adoption.

Expanding Clinical Capabilities

The latest version of the application includes improvements in real-time performance and anatomical detection, as well as new automated measurement ratios that assist in detecting conditions such as:

• Ventriculomegaly
• Corpus callosum abnormalities
• Total anomalous pulmonary venous return (TAPVR)

These updates are delivered through regular software updates, allowing the system to continuously evolve and improve clinical support without requiring new hardware.

The Rise Of Mobile Medical AI

The launch of Fetoly on iOS reflects a broader shift in medical technology toward mobile, AI-powered tools that can run on tablets and portable devices. Instead of large centralized systems, many healthcare AI tools are now designed to work alongside existing equipment, making adoption faster and more cost-effective.

This trend is particularly important for prenatal care, where access to specialist expertise varies significantly across regions. AI tools that support clinicians in real time could help improve diagnostic quality and access to care globally.

As demand continues to grow for intelligent imaging tools and AI-assisted diagnostics, solutions like Fetoly highlight how artificial intelligence is increasingly becoming embedded directly into everyday clinical practice rather than remaining a separate technology layer.

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New research indicates that mild sleep apnea may be far more widespread than previously understood — and its health risks may be underestimated.

A large-scale analysis of sleep data has found that around one in five people in the UK may experience signs of mild sleep apnea, a condition that disrupts breathing during sleep and is increasingly linked to serious health outcomes.

The study, based on more than two million nights of anonymised sleep data, also points to a broader trend: sleep quality is gradually declining, with people sleeping less on average year over year.

Sleep Apnea Is More Than a Sleep Issue

Sleep apnea occurs when breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep, often without the individual being aware. While commonly associated with fatigue and poor sleep quality, its long-term implications are far more serious.

A growing body of research shows that sleep apnea is closely linked to cardiovascular and metabolic conditions, including increased risk of hypertension, atrial fibrillation, and Type 2 diabetes.

Recent findings published in Nature Digital Medicine further reinforce this concern. The study — which you can explore in this new scientific research on sleep apnea variability and cardiovascular risk  highlights that it is not just the severity of sleep apnea that matters, but also how much breathing patterns fluctuate from night to night.

This variability may place individuals with so-called “mild” sleep apnea at a level of cardiovascular risk previously associated only with more severe cases.

Sleep apnea prevalence comparison across countries based on analysed sleep data

A Widespread and Underdiagnosed Condition

Globally, sleep apnea is estimated to affect around one billion people, making it one of the most common yet underdiagnosed health conditions.

The latest data suggests that prevalence increases significantly with age, particularly after 50, and that men are more likely to experience the condition than women — although risk rises for women after menopause.

Despite its prevalence, sleep apnea often goes undetected because symptoms can be subtle or mistaken for general fatigue, stress, or lifestyle-related sleep disruption.

Sleep Quality Is Gradually Declining

Beyond sleep apnea itself, the data reveals a broader deterioration in sleep health.

Average sleep duration has decreased year-on-year, accompanied by a slight drop in overall sleep quality scores. Seasonal variations also play a role, with shorter sleep durations typically recorded during summer months.

These patterns suggest that modern lifestyles — including stress, screen exposure, and irregular schedules — may be contributing to worsening sleep outcomes at a population level.

The Role of Connected Health Monitoring

The findings also highlight the growing role of connected health technologies in identifying sleep disorders earlier and tracking long-term trends.

Platforms such as Withings are part of a wider shift toward continuous, at-home health monitoring, where users can collect longitudinal data on sleep patterns, heart rate, and other key indicators.

While these tools are not a substitute for clinical diagnosis, they are increasingly being used to support preventative healthcare — helping both individuals and clinicians detect patterns that might otherwise go unnoticed.

Conclusion

Sleep apnea is no longer a niche or isolated condition — it is increasingly recognised as a widespread health issue with significant implications for long-term wellbeing.

As research continues to highlight the connection between sleep and cardiovascular health, and as sleep quality trends decline globally, the importance of early detection and ongoing monitoring will only grow.

In this context, sleep health is becoming a critical pillar of preventative healthcare — and one that is likely to shape both medical research and consumer health technology in the years ahead.

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Autonomous drones are moving from experimental trials into real-world emergency healthcare systems—reducing response times when every second matters.

From Pilot to Commercial Deployment

Swedish drone technology company Everdrone has raised SEK 36 million in a new funding round, signaling its transition into a commercial phase for emergency healthcare services.

The investment, led by Sciety, will support further development of Everdrone’s platform and enable expansion into additional European markets.

CEO Mats Sällström says the funding strengthens the company’s ability to scale:

“This funding gives us stronger conditions to continue building the company and expanding our services into more markets across Europe.”

Drones in the Emergency Chain

Everdrone is already operating what is believed to be the world’s first drone service integrated into an emergency response chain for cardiac arrest.

Its autonomous drones are dispatched in parallel with ambulances, delivering critical equipment—such as defibrillators—directly to the scene.

This approach addresses one of the most critical challenges in emergency care:

Response time

By delivering life-saving equipment before paramedics arrive, the system has the potential to significantly improve survival outcomes.

Everdrone CEO Mats Sällström with one of the company’s autonomous medical drones

A Proven Model Gaining Traction

Unlike many emerging technologies, Everdrone’s system is not theoretical—it is already operational.

• Active service in Västra Götaland Region (Sweden)

• Procured by Region Stockholm

• Expanded into Normandy (France)

The company has also been conducting operational flights since 2020, working closely with healthcare providers to validate its model.

Why Demand Is Growing

Healthcare systems are increasingly exploring new ways to:

• Reduce response times

• Improve coverage in rural and urban areas

• Optimize resource allocation

Drone-based delivery offers a compelling solution—particularly in time-critical scenarios such as cardiac arrest.

As Sällström notes:

“Interest in drone-based solutions in emergency healthcare is increasing as regions look for new ways to reduce response times.”

Beyond Defibrillators

While current deployments focus on delivering automated external defibrillators (AEDs), Everdrone is building a broader platform for emergency logistics.

Potential future use cases include:

• Delivery of additional medical supplies

• Real-time video support for dispatch teams

• Integration with wider emergency services

This positions the company not just as a drone operator—but as a critical infrastructure provider in digital healthcare systems.

Investment Signals Confidence

The funding round was led by Sciety, a Nordic investment firm focused on life sciences and digital health.

Andreas Lindblom, Managing Partner at Sciety, highlights the strategic fit:

“Everdrone addresses a clear and well-documented need in emergency healthcare and has already established partnerships with several regions.”

Beyond capital, the partnership brings:

• Industry expertise

• Strategic networks

• Increased visibility

—key factors for scaling across regulated healthcare markets.

A Broader Shift in Healthcare Innovation

Everdrone’s growth reflects a wider trend:

The convergence of autonomous systems and healthcare delivery

As technology matures, solutions that were once experimental are becoming embedded into real-world infrastructure.

This includes:

• AI-assisted diagnostics

• Remote monitoring

• Autonomous logistics (like drone delivery)

Together, these innovations are reshaping how healthcare systems operate under pressure.

Conclusion

Everdrone’s move into commercial deployment marks a significant milestone—not just for the company, but for the future of emergency response.

By integrating autonomous drones into healthcare systems, it is demonstrating how technology can directly impact outcomes in life-or-death situations.

As adoption expands across Europe, drone-based emergency response may soon become a standard part of modern healthcare infrastructure.

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