The world's rapidly growing number of dialysis patients frequently face problems during the process of cannulation, in which a needle is inserted into a blood vessel to begin treatment. Many dialysis patients rely on fistulas — surgically connected arteries and veins in the arm — as access points, but the varying size and shape of these vessels can make needle insertion difficult, increasing the risk of adverse events and resulting in the need for catheter placements at hospitals rather than dialysis clinics.

X9 has developed an ML-trained, ultrasound-guided device that better locates blood vessels and provides alignment guidance before inserting the needle with the simple press of a button. The device can also be used by a broad range of healthcare workers at dialysis clinics, reducing the need for specialists and improving care.

Beyond dialysis, the technology is expected to expand to procedures, including biopsies, nerve blocks, and tumor ablations, across multiple specialties and care settings.