Empowering ultrasound research & innovation for over 20 years
The Leader in Research Ultrasound
Formed in 2001 with a focused vision to disrupt the field of ultrasound, Verasonics aimed to provide researchers and developers with the most advanced and flexible solutions to enable groundbreaking development of new algorithms and products in a wide range of applications. The Company developed a proprietary, novel, software-based beamforming architecture, and a high-end ultrasound acquisition system. This system would be capable of leveraging ongoing increases in computing power and allowing unmatched flexibility for ultrasound research. In 2007, Verasonics’ initial efforts culminated with the commercialization of its inaugural system, V-1, followed by the Vantage® Research Ultrasound System in 2013, and finally the Vantage NXT Research Ultrasound System in 2023.
Verasonics systems combined key developments such as real-time access to raw ultrasound data, high frame rate plane wave imaging, and the capability to generate long pulses for radiation force and focused ultrasound (FUS). Whereas shear-wave elastography for evaluating tissue stiffness has now become a mainstay tool on most clinical ultrasound systems, it was the release of the Verasonics V-1 system that triggered a dramatic increase in shear-wave elastography research. Similarly, and due in part to the growing community interest in therapeutic ultrasound research and the need for versatile tools for the community, Verasonics developed a new high-intensity, focused ultrasound (HIFU) configuration on the V1 system in 2010. The ability to program custom FUS transmit sequences with close to continuous wave output but also allow for the integration in the very same sequence of B-mode ultrasound reconstruction for image guidance and custom imaging/processing for treatment monitoring was truly ground-breaking. Coupling the FUS capability with powerful proprietary software and tools alongside a selection of third-party transducers has allowed Verasonics systems to be the mainstay hardware platform used for FUS research in areas ranging from thermal and mechanical ablation, blood brain barrier opening, neuromodulation, drug delivery, immunotherapy, and many others.
Our Technology
Verasonics continually adapts and advances its ultrasound technology and has built an extensive product portfolio to cover a wide range of research application areas in biomedical, materials science, earth sciences, and the physics of acoustics and ultrasonics. A key goal is to support innovation in ultrasound with an open programmable, flexible product combining a high-performance acquisition system with software running on desktop computers.
Verasonics offers a platform that allows innovation from concept to validation by a single developer. Vantage NXT Research Ultrasound Systems support currently available imaging modes while enabling researchers to explore and develop novel acquisition methods and image formation. The Company has become distinguished in academic, commercial, and start-up ultrasound environments.
Key Highlights:
• Diverse customer base spanning the world’s leading academic institutions, research institutes, start-ups, and large multi-national corporations
• Verasonics’ research ultrasound systems have been cited in over 4400 publications via its customers’ research in a variety of scientific journals
• Multiple commercial licensees, including several organizations that have released regulatory-approved devices
• Intellectual property coverage includes ten unique technologies with patent protection worldwide
• Co-founder, Chairman, and Chief Innovation Officer, Dr. Ronald E. Daigle, was awarded the winner of the 2018 IEEE UFFC Achievement award – the highest IEEE society-wide award – for his significant contributions to Verasonics’ software technology and the impact it has had on the research community at large.
Our Mission
Leadership
Ron E. Daigle
Ron has over 45 years’ experience in ultrasound research and development, including 5 years as Director of Research at ATL Ultrasound, where he developed new digital beamforming methods for high bandwidth array imaging and advanced digital Doppler color flow imaging. He then served 8 years as Director of Technology at Atlantis Diagnostics International, an ATL subsidiary charged with developing computer-based ultrasound systems. He is the author on 45 ultrasound publications and named as an inventor on 20 ultrasound patents.
Jon K. Daigle
Jon joined Verasonics in 2015. Before his appointment as President and CEO, he was responsible for strategy, commercial licensing, strategic alliances, and program management. Prior to Verasonics, Jon held various roles in corporate strategy and development, strategic marketing, and product management at Medtronic and Becton Dickinson & Co. Jon holds a BA in Business Administration from Washington State University, an MBA from Columbia Business School, and a Master of International Affairs from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs.
Don Christopher
Don joined Verasonics in April 2021 as Vice President of Engineering, with 35 years of experience in ultrasound product development and research leadership roles at renowned medical imaging commercial companies including ATL Ultrasound, Philips Medical Systems, Kona Medical, FUJIFILM SonoSite, and Siemens Healthineers. In addition to his role as CTO, he is also responsible for engineering, operations, quality and regulatory. Don received his Master of Science and Doctorate in Medical Biophysics in Medical Imaging from the University of Toronto.
Ron E. Daigle
Co-founder, Chairman & Chief Innovation Officer
Jon K. Daigle
President & Chief Executive Officer
Don Christopher
Chief Technology Officer
Stacy Douthitt
Stacy is a senior marketing leader with 30 years of demonstrated results in commercial strategy and global marketing for medical device and life science firms. Prior to Verasonics, she held leadership positions at several MedTech companies ranging from start-up to Fortune 500. Stacy is responsible for customer success, product marketing & communications, as well as strategic marketing & alliances. She holds a B.A.in Marketing from the University of Washington, and an M.B.A. from the University of Phoenix.
Matt Stupfel
Matt has over 30 years’ experience in financial, operational & commercial leadership, with an efficient record of bringing companies from early-stage start-up to publicly listed global corporations. His accomplishments include raising over $100M+ in equity and debt financing and leading corporate M&A processes, including multiple successful acquisitions. Matt is an alumnus of Seattle University.
Stacy Douthitt
Chief Business Officer
Matt Stupfel
Chief Financial Officer
Alex Exposito
Alex has over 25 years of experience in the ultrasound industry, having worked with multinational companies and ultrasound startups. He has held various roles in clinical, sales, and sales leadership at ATL/Philips, Fujifilm SonoSite, and Supersonic Imagine, providing best-in-class ultrasound technology to healthcare institutions prior to joining Verasonics in 2022. Alex holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration specializing in healthcare services from Barry University. Prior to his commercial healthcare experience, he worked in a clinical setting as a diagnostic medical sonographer.
Mike Pierce
Michael has over 25 years’ experience in ultrasound and medical device development, marketing, and field service. Prior to Verasonics, he served as Director of Marketing and Operations at Medstreaming and spent 13 years at Philips serving in a variety of positions – Connectivity Engineer, Professional Services Consultant, and Field Marketing Manager.
Alex Exposito
Vice President, Sales & Business Development
Mike Pierce
Vice President, Customer Success
Leadership
Ron E. Daigle
Ron has over 45 years’ experience in ultrasound research and development, including 5 years as Director of Research at ATL Ultrasound, where he developed new digital beamforming methods for high bandwidth array imaging and advanced digital Doppler color flow imaging. He then served 8 years as Director of Technology at Atlantis Diagnostics International, an ATL subsidiary charged with developing computer-based ultrasound systems. He is the author on 45 ultrasound publications and named as an inventor on 20 ultrasound patents.
Ron E. Daigle
Co-founder, Chairman & Chief Innovation Officer
Jon K. Daigle
Jon joined Verasonics in 2015. Before his appointment as President and CEO, he was responsible for strategy, commercial licensing, strategic alliances, and program management. Prior to Verasonics, Jon held various roles in corporate strategy and development, strategic marketing, and product management at Medtronic and Becton Dickinson & Co. Jon holds a BA in Business Administration from Washington State University, an MBA from Columbia Business School, and a Master of International Affairs from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs.
Jon K. Daigle
President & Chief Executive Officer
Don Christopher
Don joined Verasonics in April 2021 as Vice President of Engineering, with 35 years of experience in ultrasound product development and research leadership roles at renowned medical imaging commercial companies including ATL Ultrasound, Philips Medical Systems, Kona Medical, FUJIFILM SonoSite, and Siemens Healthineers. In addition to his role as CTO, he is also responsible for engineering, operations, quality and regulatory. Don received his Master of Science and Doctorate in Medical Biophysics in Medical Imaging from the University of Toronto.
Don Christopher
Chief Technology Officer
Stacy Douthitt
Stacy is a senior marketing leader with 30 years of demonstrated results in commercial strategy and global marketing for medical device and life science firms. Prior to Verasonics, she held leadership positions at several MedTech companies ranging from start-up to Fortune 500. Stacy is responsible for customer success, product marketing & communications, as well as strategic marketing & alliances. She holds a B.A.in Marketing from the University of Washington, and an M.B.A. from the University of Phoenix.
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Stacy Douthitt
Chief Business Officer
Matt Stupfel
Matt has over 30 years’ experience in financial, operational & commercial leadership, with an efficient record of bringing companies from early-stage start-up to publicly listed global corporations. His accomplishments include raising over $100M+ in equity and debt financing and leading corporate M&A processes, including multiple successful acquisitions. Matt is an alumnus of Seattle University
Matt Stupfel
Chief Financial Officer
Alex Exposito
Alex has over 25 years of experience in the ultrasound industry, having worked with multinational companies and ultrasound startups. He has held various roles in clinical, sales, and sales leadership at ATL/Philips, Fujifilm SonoSite, and Supersonic Imagine, providing best-in-class ultrasound technology to healthcare institutions prior to joining Verasonics in 2022. Alex holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration specializing in healthcare services from Barry University. Prior to his commercial healthcare experience, he worked in a clinical setting as a diagnostic medical sonographer.
Alex Exposito
Vice President, Sales & Business Development
Mike Pierce
Michael has over 25 years’ experience in ultrasound and medical device development, marketing, and field service. Prior to Verasonics, he served as Director of Marketing and Operations at Medstreaming and spent 13 years at Philips serving in a variety of positions – Connectivity Engineer, Professional Services Consultant, and Field Marketing Manager.
Mike Pierce
Vice President, Customer Success
11335 NE 122nd Way, Suite 100
Kirkland WA 98034