Scottish ultrasound sensor specialist Novosound has secured two intellectual property milestones, as the Dave Hughes-led company begins a digital healthcare R&D project with a Nasdaq-listed tech group.

Dave Hughes, CEO and co-founder of Novosound, said:

“With a full-stack acoustic sensor offering that is now well honed from sound-wave to computer screen, our ambition is to be one of the leading tech companies to come out of the ecosystem here in Scotland.  We’ve seen the success of peer companies like Current Health, and we have set our sights on achieving that kind of success too.”

While achieving a US trademark for its Kelpie product, one of its range of ultrasound sensors, the company has also been granted a European patent that covers its core high resolution sensor technology.  

Dave Hughes added:

“On the back of recent contract wins with tier one aerospace groups including GE Aviation and BAE Aerospace, the trademarks and patents we are announcing today enable us to both increase international expansion into the US and Europe, and move into the wearable, consumer, and medical tech markets.”  

Novosound began a medical wearable R&D partnership with the University of Central Lancashire in 2018, a partnership aimed at the healthcare sector that CEO Hughes says validated the wearable sensor platform prior to working with one of the world’s largest tech groups: “Our strategy was always around our ultrasound technology demonstrating wide ranges of uses in B2B and B2C markets, and we’ve been laying the ground for that in recent years.”             

Novosound’s patented thin-film manufacturing process, which eliminates conventional limitations in ultrasound sensors including the high cost of high-resolution imaging, also underpins the company’s pioneering non-destructive testing (NDT) products - the Kelpie, Belenus, and Nebula.

Novosound has also announced the the acquisition of the assets of one of its main supply chain partners, which the company says enables the team to carry out 3D-printed flex electronics, and speed up product delivery.

Dave Hughes added:

“The acquisition verticallty integrates our printed, flexible, manufacturing capability, which is going to be key as we look to step up production for consumer markets.”

The company recently announced a series of contract wins, including with aerospace groups BAE Systems and GE Aviation, and Israeli-based digital health company dSound. 

In December 2019, Novosound, which was the first spin-out from the University of the West of Scotland, secured a £3.3 million investment round led by private equity investment management firm Foresight Group (via the Foresight Williams Technology EIS Fund).  Par Equity, Kelvin Capital, Gabriel Investments and Scottish Enterprise also participated in the round.