Butterfly Network

What it does

Butterfly Network makes Butterfly iQ, a handheld whole-body ultrasound device that connects to a smartphone - replacing traditional cart-based ultrasound equipment costing tens of thousands of dollars with a probe that costs under $2,000. Its AI capabilities include automated image quality guidance that coaches clinicians in real time to obtain diagnostic-quality images, AI-powered automated measurement that calculates cardiac function, bladder volume, and other parameters from ultrasound images without manual calipers, telehealth integration for real-time remote image review by specialists, and AI interpretation support that overlays findings for clinician review. Butterfly iQ democratizes ultrasound - enabling emergency physicians, rural clinicians, and point-of-care teams to perform ultrasound at the bedside rather than waiting for radiology.

Strengths

• Regional hospitals and clinic networks use Butterfly iQ for point-of-care ultrasound programs - AI-guided image acquisition enabling emergency physicians and hospitalists to perform diagnostic ultrasound at the bedside.
• Large health systems use Butterfly iQ at enterprise scale - standardized point-of-care ultrasound across departments with AI quality assurance and remote specialist consultation integration.
• Butterfly Network makes Butterfly iQ, a handheld whole-body ultrasound device that connects to a smartphone - replacing traditional cart-based ultrasound equipment costing tens of thousands of dollars with a probe that costs under $2,000.

Watch-outs

• Image quality trails traditional cart-based ultrasound: Butterfly iQ's convenience comes with tradeoffs in image resolution and depth penetration compared to dedicated cart-based diagnostic ultrasound — for complex cardiac or vascular studies, traditional equipment remains superior.
• Training required for reliable clinical use: Despite AI guidance, ultrasound interpretation requires clinical training — clinicians without ultrasound education can acquire images but may misinterpret findings. Institutions must invest in training programs alongside device deployment.
• AI interpretation support is assistive, not diagnostic: Butterfly's AI provides measurement assistance and image guidance but is not cleared as a standalone diagnostic tool — clinical judgment and, for definitive diagnosis, specialist review remain necessary.

Pricing

Butterfly iQ+ probe from $1,999 (one-time hardware). Software subscription from $420/year for Butterfly Cloud with AI features. Enterprise fleet pricing negotiated with volume discounts. Education pricing available.