[Image from Pixabay]
Whether it's OpenAI's ChatGPT, Microsoft's new Bing, or Google's Bard, 2023 is the year generative AI enters mass consciousness.
In the medtech space, it seems that every company is looking for ways to incorporate some form of AI into the digital capabilities of their products and services.
So, what exactly is AI good at when it comes to advancing medical technology and healthcare? Here are seven recent examples:
1. Help doctors quickly identify medical problems
GI Genius' AI-based enhancements help prevent doctors from losing focus by placing green boxes around areas that may require additional examination during colonoscopy. [Photo courtesy of Medtronic]
There is growing interest in AI that could help radiologists, gastroenterologists and others better spot underlying diseases in the countless images they examine every day.
For example, GI Genius is an AI-assisted colonoscopy tool designed to help detect polyps that can lead to colorectal cancer. Medtronic is the exclusive global distributor of this technology, which is developed and manufactured by Cosmo Pharmaceuticals. Last October, Giovanni Di Napoli, president of Medtronic's gastrointestinal business, presented GI Genius videos at our DeviceTalks West event in Santa Clara, California. He described how during colonoscopy, from morning to afternoon, the rate of lesion detection declined. GI Genius' AI-based enhancements help doctors stay focused by placing green boxes around areas that may require additional examination during diagnostic imaging.
GI Genius can be set up better. Medtronic has partnered with Nvidia to enhance the tool's AI capabilities, allowing third-party developers to train and validate their AI models using the GI Genius AI Access platform. This technology has the potential to improve patient outcomes and reduce medical disparities, while changing the way healthcare approaches early detection of colorectal cancer.
In other recent news, Viz.ai received approval from the FDA for its AI-powered algorithms designed to detect and classify suspected abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) for care. Viz.ai The system automatically analyzes computed tomography angiography (CTA) scans to look for suspected AAA. It alerts clinicians to display patient scans on their mobile devices for real-time communication between specialists. Jayme Strauss, Viz.ai's chief clinical officer, believes Viz AAA will enable care teams to prevent catastrophic aortic emergencies, such as aortic ruptures, through enhanced surveillance. Viz.ai plans to continue expanding its healthcare offerings.
2. Achieve better and more careful health monitoring
Sensydia's Artificial Intelligence Cardiac Performance System (CPS) uses ultra-sensitive biosensors to quickly and noninvasively measure many cardiac indicators. [Image courtesy of Sensydia]
Nowadays, it's hard to find a digital health or health monitoring company that doesn't talk about incorporating AI into its products. AI has the potential to enable more discreet arrays of sensors. The result is that doctors and patients can easily gain insights from monitoring. For example, Sensydia has completed registration for its 225-subject artificial intelligence cardiac performance system (CPS) development study. The Los Angeles-based company designed an AI-based, non-invasive CPS to use heart sound analysis. It can provide earlier detection and improved treatment guidance for patients with heart failure and pulmonary hypertension. CPS uses ultrasensitive biosensors to quickly and noninvasively measure many cardiac indicators such as ejection fraction, cardiac output, pulmonary artery pressure, and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure. Typically, according to the company, patients need echocardiography and invasive catheterization to obtain these measurements.
Meanwhile, Biofourmis has AI-powered software that collects and analyzes patient data in real time to identify shifts that require proactive intervention. It has partnered with Japanese pharmaceutical giant Chugai to objectively measure pain in women with endometriosis. Their strategy is to use biosensors and AI-based algorithms to leverage Biofourmis' Biovitals.
3. Artificial intelligence prosthetics
Myo Plus system [Courtesy of Ottobock]
Advanced AI algorithms are expected to allow people to better use EMG control — involving careful electrical signals from muscles — to control robotic prosthetics.
For example, Ottobock has a Myo Plus pattern recognition system for transradial artery users. Myo Plus is designed to adapt the system to natural motion, not to require the user to adapt to the system.
4. Better visualization during surgery
Activ Surgical announced in January that it completed its first AI-enabled surgery using its ActivSight Intelligent Light product. The ActivSight model is designed to provide the operating room with enhanced visualization and real-time, on-demand surgical insights, connected to laparoscopic and robotic systems, and integrated with standard monitors. On December 22, 2022, the first AI-enabled ActivSight surgery was performed at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. Dr. Matthew Kalady performed a laparoscopic left colectomy using colorectal AI mode in ActivSight. The company says its goal is for every surgical imaging system to provide intelligent information that reduces surgical complication rates.
Activ Sight system [Courtesy of Activ Surgical]
"When using ActivSight's intraoperative visual overlay, dye-free ActivPerfusion mode, I was able to clearly see critical critical structures and tissue perfusion at the surgical site in real time," Kalady said in a news release. "At the push of a button, colorectal AI mode is enabled, eliminating interference from background signals from non-intestinal tissues and clearly focusing on perfusion in the colon. In AI mode, the visualization is significantly different. ”
5. Improve data collection in healthcare facilities
Proprio designed its Paradigm system to help surgeons better visualize spinal surgery. [Photo courtesy of Proprio]
AI can help collect surgical data. A prime example is Proprio, which is bringing its AI surgical navigation system to the operating room to collect data. The idea is that data will eventually help surgeons improve the way they perform surgeries. The Seattle-based startup says it has placed its Paradigm system in several operating rooms in the U.S. to capture surgical data that will help accelerate system development.
6. Better understand patient data
GE HealthCare last year launched its Edison Digital Health Platform, an AI-driven, vendor-agnostic hosting and data aggregation platform. The medtech giant says the goal of the platform is to make it easy to deploy clinical, workflow, analytics and AI tools, connecting devices and other data sources into an aggregated clinical data layer. Open and published interfaces on Edison enable integration of applications from healthcare providers and third-party developers into existing workflows. GE HealthCare had planned to integrate and deploy its own applications to the platform. The goal, a company official said, is to put actionable insights at the fingertips of clinicians to help better serve patients.
7. The ability to solve tough scientific problems – enabling countless innovations
DeepMind's AlphaFold artificial intelligence predicts the structure of more than 200 million proteins. [Image courtesy of DeepMind]
DeepMind, which is part of Google's parent company, has an artificial intelligence system called AlphaFold that solves an extremely difficult scientific problem. It predicts the structure of more than 200 million proteins that represent almost all known cataloged proteins. AlphaFold and the European Institute for Bioinformatics have expanded the database more than 200 times to more than 200 million structures. As our WTWH Media website, Drug Discovery & Development, reported last year, AlphaFold makes it possible to search for the 3D structure of proteins, almost as easily as searching for the keyword Google. It also enables users to use this data for free for any purpose. Applications of AI systems include accelerating the discovery of drugs to treat neglected diseases, fighting antibiotic resistance, studying nuclear pore complexes, developing novel malaria vaccines, elucidating genetic variations, measuring the impact of rotavirus on gastroenteritis, and facilitating drug development for cancer and neurological diseases.