Sonavex, Inc. is a Baltimore-based medical device company originally spun out of Johns Hopkins, focused on empowering patient care through advanced ultrasound solutions. The company has developed a portfolio of novel ultrasound technologies designed to deliver critical visual and quantitative data to improve clinical outcomes and reduce healthcare costs.

Sonavex’s EchoMark is a bioresorbable and highly echogenic implant designed to mark at-risk blood vessels, enabling clinicians to assess the site for potential future complications through ultrasound imaging. EchoSure is a deep-learning-enabled 3D automated ultrasound device designed to allow healthcare providers without specialized ultrasound training to assess blood flow and vessel morphology associated with EchoMark-marked vessels.

Sonavex’s Solution to Support Fistula Maturation

EchoMark & EchoSure: Sonavex’s patented EchoMark and EchoSure system is designed to enable any member of the care team to collect arteriovenous fistula (AV fistula) volumetric flow rate, diameter, and depth information at the dialysis clinic to support fistula maturation assessment. By combining a bioresorbable ultrasound marker with automated ultrasound technology, the system provides quantitative vascular insights without requiring advanced ultrasound training or precise probe positioning.

EchoMark is a highly echogenic, bioresorbable polymeric implant designed to mark soft tissue sites in surgical patients. Manufactured using Sonavex’s patented technique, the implant generates a strong ultrasound signal while maintaining full bioresorbability. Its unique geometric design creates a distinct ultrasound signature from different viewing angles, enabling consistent visualization and accurate assessment.

EchoSure is an automated ultrasound solution designed to collect and display arteriovenous fistula flow rate, diameter, and depth information to support maturation assessment. The system leverages EchoMark’s unique geometry to provide quantitative vascular data without requiring manual probe orientation, parameter adjustments, or specialized ultrasound expertise.

In prospective studies, EchoMark and EchoSure demonstrated the ability to support fistula maturation evaluation by identifying key measurements and providing actionable data to guide earlier clinical decisions. By simplifying vascular assessment and reducing reliance on specialized imaging expertise, the EchoMark and EchoSure system aims to improve fistula monitoring, support timely interventions, and enhance care delivery for dialysis patients.

EchoMap: EchoMap delivers automated ultrasound imaging that visualizes vessel path and depth to support cannulation, enabling care teams to confidently assess and access vascular targets. Designed for ease of use, the solution allows trained members of the care team, including dialysis technicians and nurses, to capture and interpret vessel anatomy for cannulation preparation.

By providing intuitive vessel path visualization, EchoMap enables users to identify vessel curves, narrowing, and other anatomical details while displaying vessel depth through a color-coded overlay. The proprietary algorithms automate probe positioning, allowing users to place the transducer on the patient’s skin and initiate imaging with minimal manual adjustment.

EchoMap provides a top-down coronal view of fistulas and grafts, enabling users to visualize target anatomy as if viewing beneath the skin. The system’s automated workflow reduces the learning curve associated with ultrasound and supports more consistent cannulation by helping care teams improve first-stick success rates, reduce complications, minimize access site trauma, and enhance patient satisfaction.

Designed for dialysis clinic environments, EchoMap integrates seamlessly into existing cannulation and access-preparation workflows through intuitive controls and rapid deployment, enabling teams to focus on delivering efficient patient care.

Dialysis Access

Supporting Fistula Maturation Assessment Through Automated Ultrasound: An arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is a type of hemodialysis access created by surgically connecting a vein to an artery. Following creation, the vein undergoes a maturation process in which it enlarges and develops greater blood-flow capacity, allowing successful cannulation with dialysis needles. However, a significant number of AV fistulae fail to mature, creating delays in dialysis access and increasing reliance on catheter-based treatment.

Traditional assessment methods often rely on physical examination, which can be subjective and challenging in certain patient populations. While ultrasound provides accurate and objective measurements of fistula maturation—including flow rate, vessel diameter, and depth—it is often limited by the need for specialized equipment, trained personnel, and additional vascular lab visits.

Sonavex’s EchoMark and EchoSure technology is designed to address these challenges by bringing automated ultrasound assessment directly into the dialysis clinic. The system enables members of the care team to quantify volumetric flow rate, visualize vessel depth and diameter, and track fistula development over time.

By simplifying vascular access assessment and making ultrasound-based insights more accessible at the point of care, EchoMark and EchoSure aim to support earlier clinical decisions, reduce catheter dependence, and improve outcomes for dialysis patients.

Improving Cannulation Guidance with Automated Ultrasound Visualization: Hemodialysis cannulation requires inserting needles into a patient’s vascular access, such as an arteriovenous fistula, to enable blood circulation between the patient and the dialysis machine. Achieving successful cannulation on the first attempt is critical for preserving vascular access, reducing patient discomfort, and supporting effective dialysis treatment. However, difficult-to-access fistulas often lead to failed attempts, complications, and extended catheter use.

Sonavex’s EchoMap technology is designed to improve cannulation guidance by making ultrasound-based visualization more accessible to the dialysis care team. Unlike conventional ultrasound systems that require extensive training, manual probe positioning, and expertise in interpreting two-dimensional images of complex three-dimensional anatomy, EchoMap provides automated visualization of fistula trajectory and depth.

The technology enables trained members of the care team to visualize vessel pathways, identify optimal cannulation locations, and assess access anatomy without requiring advanced sonography skills. By simplifying ultrasound guidance and integrating it into existing dialysis workflows, EchoMap helps support more consistent cannulation, reduce failed attempts, and improve the overall patient experience.

DAVID NARROW | CEO

David Narrow previously worked with multinational medical device companies to commercialize their technologies and provide long-term business strategy as a healthcare consultant at Health Advances LLC. Narrow earned his B.S. in Biomedical Engineering with Highest Distinction from the University of Rochester before receiving his Master's from Johns Hopkins University. Narrow was named 30 Under 30 in Healthcare by Forbes in 2016 and 40 Under 40 by the Baltimore Business Journal in 2017.