Verdict: Midjourney Medical’s new ultrasonic CT scanner is a non-invasive, radiation-free alternative to traditional imaging that promises full-body scans in just 60 seconds. While currently lacking FDA diagnostic clearance, the "Midjourney Spa" model represents a paradigm shift from reactive medicine to proactive, data-driven wellness for small-business owners and builders who prioritize health-span over lifespan.
Last verified: 2026-06-18 · Scan time: 60 seconds · Technology: Ultrasonic CT · Opening: San Francisco (late 2027)
Note: Pricing and availability for the Midjourney Spa are early vendor claims and subject to change.
What is Midjourney Medical?
Midjourney Medical is a newly launched division of Midjourney, Inc. dedicated to radical innovation in medical imaging hardware and AI-driven diagnostics. Announced on June 18, 2026, the division marks the company’s first significant pivot from cloud-based generative AI (famous for text-to-image art) into the physical hardware space.
Led by Ahmad Abbas, a former Apple Vision Pro hardware engineer, Midjourney Medical aims to deploy 50,000 scanners globally over the next six years. The division’s stated goal is to enable one billion body scans per month, making high-fidelity internal imaging as accessible as a standard blood test or a spa visit.
How does the Midjourney Scanner work?
The Midjourney Scanner, which the company calls "Ultrasonic CT," surrounds the body with 358,400 individual ultrasound transducers to reconstruct high-resolution 3D images without radiation or magnets.
Unlike traditional CT scans that use ionizing radiation or MRIs that require powerful magnetic fields, the Midjourney Scanner uses sound waves and water. The process involves a user stepping onto a platform that lowers into a water-filled chamber. As the user descends at approximately 2 inches (5 cm) per second, 40 "ultrasound-on-chip" modules—each containing 8,960 transducers—fire ultrasonic waves that ripple through the body.
The system processes a staggering 17 gigabytes of data per second. AI algorithms then analyze these ripples to create detailed maps of:
- Muscle and Fat Distribution (including visceral fat)
- Bone Density and Structure
- Internal Organ Health
- Central Nervous System integrity
The core technology is licensed through a landmark $74 million deal with Butterfly Network (NYSE: BFLY), the pioneer in semiconductor-based ultrasound technology.
Is it better than an MRI or CT scan?
The Midjourney Scanner is designed to be 10x cheaper and 60x faster than a traditional MRI, though it currently lacks the FDA clearance required to replace them for clinical diagnosis.
| Feature | Midjourney Scanner (Ultrasonic CT) | Traditional MRI | Standard CT Scan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scan Time | ~60 seconds | 20–90 minutes | 5–15 minutes |
| Radiation | None (Sound waves) | None (Magnets) | Ionizing Radiation |
| Cost (Est.) | $Few per session | $400 – $4,000 | $300 – $3,000 |
| Primary Use | Wellness & Body Composition | Diagnostic Imaging | Acute Injury/Cancer |
| Availability | Spa-based (2027) | Hospital-only | Hospital-only |
While Midjourney claims fewer than a dozen of these machines could outperform every MRI on Earth in scan volume, the clinical fidelity for detecting specific diseases (like early-stage tumors) still requires rigorous independent verification and regulatory oversight.
When is the Midjourney Spa opening in San Francisco?
The flagship "Midjourney Spa" is slated to open near Union Square in San Francisco by the end of 2027.
This facility will not look like a sterile hospital. Instead, Midjourney is building a "wellness destination" equipped with:
- 10 Full-body scanners
- Hot tubs and Saunas
- Cold plunges
- AI-powered personal health dashboards
The strategy is clear: bypass the slow procurement cycles of the traditional healthcare system by offering the scanner as a consumer wellness product first. This allows the company to gather vast amounts of data—essential for training its diagnostic algorithms—while the medical community waits for clinical trials to conclude.
What are the legal and regulatory hurdles?
Midjourney Medical’s biggest challenge is not the hardware, but the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and data privacy laws.
Because the scanner collects incredibly sensitive biological data, it faces two major gates:
- 510(k) Clearance: To market the device for specific medical diagnoses, Midjourney must prove it is "substantially equivalent" to existing safe devices. Without this, they are restricted to "general wellness" and "body composition" claims.
- HIPAA and Data Security: Managing the "anatomy data engine" of a billion scans a month requires robust protections against data breaches. AI Risks for Small Business: Legal, Privacy, and Accuracy Pitfalls are already a concern for software-only firms; for a medical hardware firm, they are existential.
What this means for you
For builders and small-business owners, Midjourney Medical signals that the "AI pivot" is moving into the physical world. If you are operating in the health and wellness space, the cost of high-end data is about to collapse. However, as noted in our guide on AI Pricing, hardware-backed AI often comes with different unit economics than pure SaaS. Watch this space: the "Health-as-a-Service" model is arriving, and it will be powered by sound.
FAQ
Q: Does the Midjourney Scanner use radiation? A: No. It uses ultrasonic sound waves and water to create images, making it safe for frequent use compared to traditional X-ray-based CT scans.
Q: Can I use this for a medical diagnosis today? A: No. The device has not yet received FDA clearance for medical diagnosis. It is currently intended for body composition and wellness tracking.
Q: Is David Holz still the CEO of Midjourney? A: Yes. David Holz continues to lead Midjourney, Inc., including the new Midjourney Medical division, bringing his background from Leap Motion into the hardware space.
Q: How much will a scan cost? A: While official pricing hasn't been released, Midjourney targets a cost of "a few dollars" per session, significantly lower than the $1,000+ typical for an MRI.
Q: When will it be available in my city? A: The first location opens in San Francisco in late 2027. Midjourney plans to deploy 50,000 scanners globally over the next six years.
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