Fujifilm Sonosite Launches PIV Assist, an AI Tool to Support Peripheral IV Planning

Fujifilm Sonosite has introduced PIV Assist, a new AI-powered feature designed to support clinicians during peripheral intravenous access procedures. The tool will be available on the company’s Sonosite LX, Sonosite PX, and Sonosite ST point-of-care ultrasound systems, expanding their capabilities for vascular access planning.

The company said PIV Assist offers real-time identification of candidate veins and helps assess vessel size by calculating catheter-to-vein ratios. The feature distinguishes veins and arteries during the pre-scan, giving clinicians immediate visual feedback to guide decision-making. Sonosite noted that the tool was trained on tens of thousands of ultrasound images to improve vessel recognition accuracy.

Richard Fabian, president and CEO of Fujifilm Sonosite, said ultrasound-guided peripheral IV placement continues to gain traction, especially for patients with difficult access. “Peripheral IV procedures are among the most common performed on patients, and growing evidence supports ultrasound-guided insertion as a helpful technique,” he said. Fabian added that PIV Assist was developed with customer input and is intended to “reduce cognitive load and enhance clinician confidence during vascular access planning.”

PIV Assist presents veins using color-coded indicators that reflect the maximum recommended catheter gauge, while arteries appear in red. The system also displays real-time catheter-to-vein ratios and vein depth, helping clinicians select an appropriate insertion site. By incorporating these features into the pre-scan workflow, Fujifilm Sonosite aims to streamline planning and reinforce accuracy in routine and challenging vascular access cases.

The new feature will be offered as a licensed option across multiple Sonosite ultrasound platforms, allowing broader adoption within clinical environments that rely on point-of-care imaging.