HeartFocus Link integrates AI cardiac ultrasound into any cart system.

      TL;DRDESKi has introduced HeartFocus Link, an AI-assisted cardiac imaging product that connects via tablet and HDMI to any cart-based ultrasound system. This FDA-cleared software, which was previously limited to Butterfly Network handheld devices, aims to address the increasing shortage of sonographers, leaving 92% of eligible hospitalized patients without access to echocardiography.

      HeartFocus Link, the AI-driven cardiac imaging software from French medtech firm DESKi, links a tablet to any cart-based ultrasound system through a simple HDMI connection. The tablet runs HeartFocus's AI guidance software alongside the live ultrasound feed, providing real-time probe positioning tips to assist clinicians and trainees in obtaining high-quality cardiac images.

      This launch is significant as it liberates HeartFocus from a specific hardware ecosystem. Previously, the software could only be utilized on Butterfly Network handheld ultrasound devices, restricting its availability to institutions that had already invested in those probes. HeartFocus Link is compatible with the cart-based machines that hospitals and training programs already utilize.

      How it operates

      HeartFocus Link facilitates 10 standard transthoracic echocardiographic views and employs a patented 3D guidance system that overlays probe positioning cues directly onto the live ultrasound image, minimizing cognitive load by allowing the user to focus on a single screen rather than alternating between a reference guide and the ultrasound monitor.

      Two additional features are specifically designed for training environments. Auto Record automatically captures image clips once established quality thresholds are achieved, eliminating the manual task of saving frames during practice. A real-time quality scoring system provides immediate feedback, offering trainees an objective assessment of image quality rather than relying solely on the instructor's judgment.

      The product is currently available for medical schools, residency programs, and ultrasound training institutions. DESKi anticipates that clinical deployment on cart-based systems will follow as the company joins a growing number of AI-powered cardiac imaging startups seeking FDA pathways for broader clinical use.

      The sonographer shortage driving demand

      HeartFocus is addressing a measurable need in cardiac care. From 2011 to 2021, the demand for ultrasound examinations in the US grew by 55%, from 38.6 million to 59.8 million, while the sonographer workforce increased by only 44%. Educational capacity grew by a mere 23% during the same period, resulting in a pipeline of new sonographers that does not keep up with retirements, much less the rising demand.

      The impact is evident. Echocardiography is performed on only 8% of eligible hospitalized patients, despite clinical findings indicating it reduces mortality and enhances outcomes. Sonographer vacancy rates peaked at 16.7% in 2023 before slightly improving to 12.4% in 2025.

      AI-driven imaging tools like HeartFocus aim to fill this gap by enabling non-specialist clinicians to obtain usable cardiac images after only hours of training instead of months. Research presented at the American College of Cardiology conference showed that novice users using HeartFocus achieved over 85% agreement with expert evaluations of echocardiographic parameters.

      A small company with FDA clearance and a growing network

      Founded in 2016 by brothers Bertrand and Olivier Moal, DESKi is led by CEO Bertrand, a medical doctor with a PhD in biomechanical engineering. Olivier has engineering degrees from Berkeley and EPFL. The company is headquartered in Bordeaux and recently secured a $6 million seed round in mid-2025, led by Racine², an impact fund managed by Serena and Makesense, with participation from BNP Paribas Développement.

      HeartFocus obtained FDA clearance in April 2025, along with a Predetermined Change Control Plan that allows DESKi to update its software's AI algorithms without undergoing full regulatory review each time. The company's algorithms have been trained on over 10 million data points. DESKi is part of a group of French health-tech startups developing AI tools that have gained early traction in the US market.

      In April 2026, HeartFocus collaborated with Inteleos, a global healthcare certification organization, to launch the first AI cardiac point-of-care ultrasound certification. This credential provides a means for clinicians and institutions to demonstrate verified proficiency in AI-assisted cardiac imaging, an essential step as hospitals begin to formalize governance around AI tools in clinical settings.

      Competitive landscape and challenges

      HeartFocus is not alone in pursuing AI-guided cardiac ultrasound; UltraSight, an Israeli startup, has also received FDA clearance to expand AI-guided echocardiography across various ultrasound systems. The broader health-tech sector is experiencing rapid convergence between AI software, sensor hardware, and clinical workflows, with competition from a variety of companies ranging from smart ring manufacturers to cardiac imaging startups vying for clinician adoption.

      While HeartFocus Link's HDMI-based approach is practical, it comes with certain limitations. It offers AI guidance as an overlay rather than being integrated directly into the ultrasound system's software, which means it cannot access or analyze the raw ultrasound data stream, limiting the AI's analytical capabilities compared to a fully integrated solution.

      Additionally, DES