Startup scores $30.5M from HHS to develop imaging system for mass-casualty incidents

A Charlottesville, Virginia-based startup has scored $30.5 million from a division of Health and Human Services to continue developing an imaging system for assessing victims of bombing incidents.

Rivanna announced the news July 27, saying the funding is from the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response, or ASPR, which is part of HHS. The company is working to commercially launch its Accuro XV, which integrates ultrasound-based bone and 3D soft-tissue imaging technology with artificial intelligence.

Company leadership said the money will help it seek 510(k) clearance from the FDA for its point-of-care musculoskeletal diagnostics system. Rivanna previously received $11.6 million in 2021 to develop a concept and market assessment. Its contract with the federal government includes an option for another $56.4 million to support development leading to 510(k) clearance for AI-enabled fracture detection, according to an announcement.  

“Receiving a second round of funding from [the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, which is part of ASPR] is a major milestone in our mission to elevate the global standard of care,” said Will Mauldin, PhD, co-founder and CEO of Rivanna. “The true value of Accuro XV lies in its ability to assess both fractures and soft tissue injuries simultaneously, which is not achievable with X-ray imaging.”

Rivanna said the system allows for rapid, automatic detection and volumetric assessment of both bone fractures and tissue damage without requiring excess radiation or extensive operator training.

A University of Virginia graduate student at the time, Mauldin and colleagues founded Rivanna in 2010. They scored seed funding the following year and numerous government contracts since, according to the company’s website.