Ulkasemi Unveils Ultra-Smart Medical Imaging Chip
Bangladesh’s global semiconductor brand Ulkasemi is now producing chips capable of three-dimensional medical image processing, designed for use in ultrasound machines. A “miniature” version of this chip will allow doctors to view 3D and even 4D scans directly on smartphones to diagnose patients and prescribe treatment, according to Ulkasemi CEO and President Mohammad Enayetur Rahman.
Speaking at his Tejgaon office following the launch of his book Semiconductor and Bangladesh’s Potential in the Advancement of Technology, Rahman said, “Nine years ago, I started working on small chips here in Bangladesh. All of them were entirely used in the United States. For the last nine years, we have been producing chips for Medtronic, the health-tech company of Intel Chairman and CEO Omar S. Ishrak. The latest chip we developed enables three-dimensional medical imaging that will be used in ultrasound machines.”
The miniature chip can help detect tuberculosis, heart disease, lung conditions, and breast cancer, he explained. After years of hardware, board, firmware, and software testing, the chip has proven successful in image processing sensors and has already received FDA approval. U.S.-based company Exo Imaging is preparing to use the chip in portable devices, which could initially be deployed in rural health centers. Industry experts believe that this AI-powered portable ultrasound device will mark a groundbreaking step for healthcare in Bangladesh.
Continuing its tradition of research and development, Ulkasemi plans to introduce the compact chip for use on iPhones, enabling doctors to access advanced diagnostic tools easily. “If we succeed in this endeavor, it will undoubtedly be a game changer,” Rahman said. He added that the innovation will lower the cost of medical diagnostics while enabling faster delivery of healthcare services in remote villages through portable devices.
However, despite the involvement of a large number of Bangladeshi engineers in developing the semiconductor, Ulkasemi will not hold the patent rights for the device, as per vendor agreements.
