Bayer Radiology’s Rich Dewitt on RSNA 2021 attendees’ post-COVID mindset.

I’m excited to share the latest Imaging Wire Show, featuring Bayer Radiology’s Rich Dewitt. Join us for a great conversation about how COVID has changed radiology, what to expect from RSNA 2021, and how Bayer is supporting imaging teams’ changing needs.

Imaging Wire Sponsors

Arterys  •  Bayer Radiology  •  Blackford Analysis  •  Canon Medical Systems  •  Fujifilm Healthcare  •  GE Healthcare  •  Nanox.AI  •  Novarad  •  Nuance  •  Riverain Technologies  •  Siemens Healthineers  •  United Imaging

Artificial Intelligence

Viz.ai’s Care Coordination Expansion

Viz.ai advanced its care coordination strategy last week, launching new Pulmonary Embolism and Aortic Disease modules, and unveiling its forthcoming Viz ANX cerebral aneurysm module.

PE & Aortic Modules – The new PE and Aortic modules use AI to quickly detect pulmonary embolisms and aortic dissection in CTA scans, and then coordinate care using Viz.ai’s 3D mobile viewer and clinical communications workflows. It appears that Viz.ai partnered with Avicenna.AI to create these modules, representing a logical way for Viz.ai to quickly expand its portfolio.

Viz ANX Module – The forthcoming Viz ANX module will use the 510k-pending Viz ANX algorithm to automatically detect suspected cerebral aneurysms in CTAs, and then leverage the Viz Platform for care coordination.

Viz.ai’s Care Coordination Strategy – Viz.ai called itself “the leader in AI-powered care coordination” a total of six times in these two announcements, and the company has definitely earned this title for stroke detection/coordination. Adding new modules to the Viz Platform is how Viz.ai could earn “leadership” status across all other imaging-detected emergent conditions.

The Takeaway – Viz.ai’s stroke detection/coordination platform has been among the biggest imaging AI success stories, making its efforts to expand to new AI-based detection and care coordination areas notable (and pretty smart). These module launches are also an example of diagnostic AI’s growing role throughout care pathways, showing how AI can add clinical value beyond the reading room.

Fujifilm’s VidiStar Benefits

See how VidiStar users have benefitted from Fujifilm Healthcare’s cardiovascular information system’s flexible SaaS-based model and leveraged its productivity advantages to drive reimbursements.

Improving Efficiency with Arterys Lung AI

See how Arterys Lung AI allowed radiologists to reduce their thoracic CT interpretation times by between 35% and 55%, while increasing their nodules reported per study.

The Wire

• An LDCT Coverage Milestone: After a lengthy review, CMS found “sufficient” evidence for expanding Medicare’s lung cancer screening coverage to younger people with shorter smoking histories (50-77 vs. 55-77 age range; 20 vs. 30 smoking pack-years), aligning with the USPSTF’s early 2021 recommendations. This is a key step towards expanding public coverage for LDCT screening, which could become official after an upcoming comment period. It could also lead to similar coverage expansions by private plans. 

• GE’s PCCT Study: GE Healthcare launched a research collaboration with Karolinska Institutet and MedTechLabs to clinically evaluate and optimize GE’s forthcoming Photon-Counting CT systems. The pilot study will focus on the performance of GE’s pure silicon CT detector technology, which GE acquired from Prismatic Sensors last year, and reportedly has both clinical and manufacturing advantages. We don’t usually cover studies before they happen, but this one is notable given Photon-Counting CT technology’s clinical potential.

• More CAC AI Evidence: A new study out of China detailed an AI CAC scoring model (AI-CACS) that was able to quickly and accurately produce CAC scores using non-gated chest CTs, continuing AI-based CAC scoring’s recent momentum. The researchers used the AI-CACS software to analyze non-gated / non-contrast chest CTs from 901 patients (who also underwent gated cardiac CTs), producing CAC scores that were very similar to manually-generated CAC scores from the gated cardiac CT exams.

• Sirona & RevealDx: Imaging informatics startup Sirona Medical and AI startup RevealDx announced plans to integrate RevealDx’s lung nodule decision support software into Sirona’s unified Radiology Operating System (RadOS). The alliance brings the first AI partner to Sirona’s forthcoming RadOS platform while expanding RevealDx’s future platform presence beyond its alliance with Volpara.

• Philips Ultrasounds Quantify Liver Fat: Philips announced the FDA 510(k) clearance of its Liver Fat Quantification solution, making it available with its EPIQ Elite and Affiniti ultrasound systems. The new Liver Fat Quantification solution improves clinicians’ ability to catch early-stage fatty liver disease, assess severity, and track longitudinal changes, all of which were difficult with traditional grayscale imaging. 

• Fast Quantitative Low-field MRI: A new study out of Switzerland highlighted how low-field MRI could benefit from multiparametric technology, potentially improving both scan speed and clinical value. The researchers developed a fast multiparametric low-field MRI (0.1T) that imaged a human hand and wrist in just 8.5 minutes, suggesting that rapid quantification could expand point-of-care MRI to new metrics and contrasts.

• Owkin’s Unicorn Status: French startup Owkin joined the exclusive group of imaging AI “unicorns” (>$1b valuation), after landing an $180m investment from pharma giant Sanofi. Owkin has done some interesting clinical imaging AI research. However, Owkin is different from the AI firms we usually cover, as it uses federated learning to analyze a range of medical data (not just imaging), and its business model largely focuses on supporting drug discovery and life science research (explaining Sanofi’s interest).

• Orthopedic AI Evidence: A new Skeletal Radiology study assessed ImageBiopsy Lab’s knee alignment DL model, finding that it was able to accurately perform assessments and could help automate this time-consuming process. The researchers used the commercially available DL model to analyze 295 long-leg radiographs (LLRs), matching manual annotations with 89.2% accuracy and achieving high reproducibility, while performing each assessment an average of 130 seconds faster than clinicians.

• Advantis’ Brain MRI FDA: Advantis Medical Imaging announced the FDA clearance of its Brainance MD brain MRI analysis platform. The browser-based solution supports the processing, visualization, and analysis of a range of brain MR imaging techniques (DTI, DSC perfusion, fMRI), reportedly reducing manual work and supporting interpretation.

• AI Efficiency: A prospective study out of Denmark showed that integrating AI into PACS reading workflows doesn’t necessarily extend radiologist interpretation times. In the study, a radiology resident and a thoracic radiologist interpreted non-contrast low-dose chest CTs with and without Siemens Healthineers’ AI Chest Companion (n = 20 with & 25 without). The AI tool had a statistically insignificant effect on average reading times (Radres = 437s w/ AI vs. 370s without; Rad = 380s vs. 366s), while reader perceptions were very different (Radres felt AI added time to 50% of cases; Rad = just 5%).

• PillCam FDA: Medtronic’s unique PillCam gained FDA 510(k) clearance for at-home endoscopy procedures. The now-approved PillCam SB3 @HOME kits are delivered directly to patients, allowing gastroenterologists to remotely examine patients’ small bowels. Although not technically our kind of imaging, the momentum we’re seeing in the capsule endoscopy arena is notable, with other options coming from Check-Cap (low-dose X-ray) and InsideOut (videos).

Canon and UCD’s Ultra High Resolution CT Experience

This presentation from Dr. Brian Goldner, MD details UC Davis Sacramento’s experience with Canon’s Ultra High Resolution CT and how it can be applied to cardiothoracic interpretations.

The Resource Wire

• This Bayer Radiology white paper details how the right people, plan, and systems can help imaging teams achieve their dose management goals.

• Signs point to a new trend in MRI: an era of step-change that will fundamentally lower barriers to accessing technology and exams. Read United Imaging’s CEO Jeffrey Bundy’s article about the three activities at the crest of his disruptive wave. 

• See how New Jersey’s Ramapo Radiology Associates overcame their CD burning problems and improved their physician and patient experiences with Novarad CryptoChart.

• Are you at RSNA 2021? Meet with Riverain at booth (#4129) to learn how you can optimize your lung disease detection using your existing acquisition and workflow. 

• See how Florida’s Medical Center Radiology Group (MCRG) improved its workload distribution, team communication, and overall productivity after implementing Nuance’s PowerScribe Workflow Orchestration and PowerConnect Communicator solutions.

• Generate actionable insights by consolidating your data into one place, organized around the patient with Syngo Carbon.

• See how and why Nanox.AI sees a much bigger future for public health AI than many of us imagine in this Imaging Wire Q&A with Zohar Elhanani.

• Despite significant interest, there’s still confusion about the value of imaging AI. This Blackford Analysis white paper explores the key cost considerations and ROI factors that radiology groups can use to figure out how to make AI valuable for them.

• See how GE Healthcare’s AI-ready PACS will help radiology unleash the promise of AI.