January 6, 2026 — Leads & Copy — Butterfly Network, Inc. (NYSE: BFLY) is set to release its Beam Steering API for third-party AI application and technology development within the company’s Butterfly Garden™ and Ultrasound-on-Chip™ co-development programs.
The new API release, expected in the first half of 2026, will offer access to core capabilities previously reserved for the company’s own app, like iQ Slice™ and iQ Fan™.
According to Butterfly Network, the Beam Steering API is based on the company’s electronically steered 3D imaging software, including off-axis beam tilt of up to 20 degrees. The technology can support advanced applications that reduce reliance on precise probe positioning, helping clinicians capture high-quality images more easily and consistently.
The company believes these capabilities will become increasingly important as portable ultrasound moves earlier in the care journey and into more clinical settings. Butterfly Network says that expanding use in point-of-care, ambulatory, and frontline environments makes usability a defining factor, especially the ability for clinicians of varying skill level to acquire high-quality images.
“As the first to offer digital beam steering access to developers, Butterfly is changing the game for imaging AI, empowering more advanced tools that simplify image acquisition,” said Steve Cashman, Chief Business Officer of Butterfly Network. “As our platform evolves, Butterfly partners gain access to more of our core imaging capabilities, allowing them to build richer, more sophisticated applications. That ecosystem dynamic can accelerate development and drive adoption by helping ultrasound reach more providers, earlier in care and across more settings.”
Butterfly Network says its system is built on a semiconductor chip using a fully electronic 2D capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducer (CMUT) array with approximately 9,000 elements, enabling software-defined beam steering across all three dimensions without mechanical motion, unlike legacy ultrasound systems.
Victor Ku, PhD, Chief Technology Officer of Butterfly Network, added, “Because our beam steering is implemented entirely in software on a semiconductor chip, we already support advanced imaging modes like Biplane™, iQ Slice™, and iQ Fan™ on our own platform. That same architecture is what allows us to thoughtfully open these core capabilities to third-party developers through the new API.”
The planned SDK access is expected to support advanced imaging workflows across a subset of existing presets, including abdominal, cardiac, obstetric, musculoskeletal, vascular, and lung imaging. Availability, scope, and technical details will depend on ongoing development, regulatory considerations, and partner agreements.
Developers interested in exploring use cases or sharing ideas for this upcoming release are encouraged to inquire through Butterfly Garden: https://www.butterflynetwork.com/ai-developers
Butterfly Network, Inc. (NYSE: BFLY) is a healthcare company driving a digital revolution in medical imaging with its proprietary Ultrasound-on-Chip™ semiconductor technology and ultrasound software solutions. In 2018, Butterfly launched the world’s first handheld, single-probe, whole-body ultrasound system, Butterfly iQ. The iQ+ followed in 2020, and the iQ3 in 2024.
Butterfly’s innovations have also been recognized by Fierce 50, TIME’s Best Inventions and Fast Company’s World Changing Ideas, among other achievements.
Butterfly combines advanced hardware, intelligent software, AI, services, and education to drive adoption of affordable, accessible imaging. Clinical publications demonstrate that its handheld ultrasound probes paired with Compass™ enterprise workflow software, can help hospital systems improve care workflows, reduce costs, and enhance provider economics.
Butterfly devices are commercially available to trained healthcare practitioners in areas including parts of Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, the Middle East, North America and South America.
Steve Cashman, Chief Business Officer of Butterfly Network.
Victor Ku, PhD, Chief Technology Officer of Butterfly Network.
Source: Butterfly Network
