Barreleye’s TBI (Tissue Biomechanical Imaging) technology has received a non-reimbursable reimbursement code approval from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA) of Korea on February 3, validating its safety and clinical usefulness for the quantitative assessment of hepatic steatosis in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).
With this approval, TBI is now positioned to be adopted more widely in clinical practice as a new diagnostic option for early detection and quantitative evaluation of fatty liver disease.

Why Early and Quantitative Fatty Liver Assessment Matters

Fatty liver disease is a major contributor to chronic liver damage, and progression to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) can lead to inflammation, fibrosis, and severe liver complications.
Accordingly, early identification and accurate quantification of hepatic fat accumulation are essential for effective disease management and long-term patient outcomes.

Technology Overview: AI-Driven Quantitative Liver Fat Analysis

TBI quantifies liver fat by measuring the ultrasound attenuation coefficient (AC) using AI-powered signal analysis.
The solution incorporates several advantages:

• AI-assisted automatic exclusion of blood vessels and non-target organs
• Measurement performed only within hepatic parenchyma
• Reduced operator-dependent variability
• Objective and reproducible quantification of hepatic steatosis

By improving measurement consistency through AI, TBI enables standardized and reliable liver fat assessment within routine ultrasound workflows, without requiring additional imaging modalities.

Clinical and Operational Value

The reimbursement code approval is anticipated to accelerate TBI adoption across hospitals and clinics.
Compared with MRI-based fat quantification, ultrasound-based TBI offers:

• Lower financial burden for patients
• Faster and more accessible examinations
• Seamless integration into existing ultrasound systems

These advantages support more efficient liver disease management while expanding access to precision liver diagnostics across a broader patient population.

A Barreleye spokesperson commented:

“This reimbursement approval marks an important milestone for the clinical adoption of TBI. We will continue advancing quantitative ultrasound technology to provide real value to both medical professionals and patients.”

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