What Happened
Nexus AI launched a pilot of its portable AI X‑ray system in Kenya, Nigeria and Ghana in Q1 2024, partnering with each country’s ministry of health and local teaching hospitals. The system uses a solar‑backed edge device that runs a quantized convolutional neural network trained on 200,000 African chest X‑rays, detecting tuberculosis, pneumonia and lung cancer with a reported sensitivity of 92% and specificity of 88%. Over 120 facilities have received the hardware, processing more than 15,000 scans in the first quarter and reducing turnaround time from an average of 48 hours to under 15 minutes.
The AI runs on hardware drawing less than 5 watts, works offline, and integrates with existing PACS via HL7 without requiring constant cloud connectivity. Nexus AI raised an $8 million Series A round led by TLcom Capital and Partech Africa, with participation from the International Finance Corporation. Dr. Adaeze Okonkwo, a Nigerian radiologist, serves as chief medical officer, ensuring clinical relevance. The company reports a cost per scan of $0.75, compared with roughly $3 for a traditional radiology read in the same settings.
Why It Matters
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Sources
- Nexus AI is bringing AI-powered X-ray screening to places with few radiologists