Butterfly Network Inc. (NYSE: BFLY) has launched its handheld ultrasound devices in Brazil, expanding its presence in Latin America’s largest medical device market as demand for portable diagnostic imaging continues to grow.
The company said its Butterfly iQ+ and Butterfly iQ3 handheld ultrasound systems, along with its mobile application, are now commercially available through a network of authorized distributors across the country.
Brazil represents one of the world’s fastest-growing ultrasound markets and offers significant opportunities to expand access to medical imaging, particularly across public hospitals, emergency care facilities, municipal health systems and rural communities, Butterfly said.
The expansion follows the company’s completion of Brazil’s regulatory and certification requirements, allowing it to begin commercial sales in the country.
Butterfly’s handheld platform combines its proprietary Ultrasound-on-Chip technology with software that runs on compatible iOS and Android smartphones and tablets. The semiconductor-based approach replaces the piezoelectric crystals used in conventional ultrasound systems with a single chip, enabling whole-body imaging through a portable handheld device.
The technology is designed to support point-of-care imaging, allowing clinicians to perform ultrasound examinations in hospitals, outpatient clinics and remote healthcare settings without relying on larger cart-based systems.
Brazil’s healthcare sector presents a growing market for portable diagnostic technologies as providers seek to expand imaging capacity while improving access in underserved regions where specialist medical equipment is often limited.
The launch also broadens Butterfly’s international commercial footprint as the company continues to expand into overseas markets. Butterfly has been increasing the availability of its semiconductor-based imaging platform as healthcare providers adopt portable ultrasound systems for emergency medicine, primary care and other clinical applications.
The global handheld ultrasound market has grown in recent years, driven by advances in semiconductor technology, artificial intelligence and mobile computing that have made imaging systems smaller, more affordable and easier to deploy across a wider range of healthcare environments.
