Breast imaging company Delphinus Medical Technologies has received $12 million in growth capital to commercialize its SoftVue 3D Whole Breast Ultrasound Tomography system, which was designed to complement digital mammography for screening asymptomatic women with dense breast tissue. Trinity Capital, a growth-stage investor in companies and technologies, is responsible for the funding.
The SoftVue system was approved for use in healthcare settings by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration in October 2021. The technology aims to enhance early breast cancer detection and improve patient comfort during screenings, while also reducing the need for unnecessary follow-up appointments.
“Mammography alone is not enough to address the screening needs of dense breast patients,” Mark J. Forchette, president and CEO of Delphinus, said in a statement. “SoftVue provides a comprehensive solution that enables providers to transform their patients’ clinical experience. Our relationship with Trinity Capital helps us make impactful investments in execution, to help our clinical partners embrace this innovation, and serve the unmet needs of patients with dense breast tissue that SoftVue was designed to address.”
The investment from Trinity Capital will enable Delphinus to expand its operations, potentially on a global scale. The company has been working to strengthen its commercial reach, collaborating with Corewell Health to establish dedicated clinical sites for robust screening programs for individuals with dense breast tissue. Delphinus also recently installed its SoftVue system at The University of Rochester Medical Center, further solidifying its commercial and research partnerships.
According to Delphinus, dense breast tissue affects around 40% of women and is associated with a higher risk of breast cancer. The challenge lies in the similarity in appearance between dense breast tissue and cancerous masses on mammograms, potentially leading to the oversight of a significant number of cancer cases within this group.
The company says Integrating SoftVue with mammography has shown the potential to identify up to 20% more cancers, along with reducing false positives and unnecessary medical procedures.
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