Amar Shah, MD,  Sinai Chicago, in the most recent edition of The Imaging Wire Show.

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In this episode of The Imaging Wire show, we take a look at radiology AI from two perspectives: A hospital that’s currently using AI and one that’s about to take the plunge. Our guests are Sohail Contractor, MD, of the University of Louisville Hospital in Kentucky and Amar Shah, MD, of Sinai Chicago in Illinois. Thanks to Qure.ai for bringing everyone together.

Breast Imaging

Breast Ultrasound Gets Wearable

Wearable devices are all the rage in personal fitness – could wearable breast ultrasound be next? MIT researchers have developed a patch-sized wearable breast ultrasound device that’s small enough to be incorporated into a bra for early cancer detection. They described their work in a new paper in Science Advances.

This isn’t the first use of wearable ultrasound. In fact, earlier this year UCSD researchers revealed their work on a wearable cardiac ultrasound device that obtains real-time data on cardiac function. 

The MIT team’s concept expands the idea into cancer detection. They took advantage of previous work on conformable piezoelectric ultrasound transducer materials to develop cUSBr-Patch, a one-dimensional phased-array probe integrated into a honeycomb-shaped patch that can be inserted into a soft fabric bra. 

The array covers the entire breast surface and can acquire images from multiple angles and views using 64 elements at a 7MHz frequency. The honeycomb design means that the array can be rotated and moved into different imaging positions, and the bra can even be reversed to acquire images from the other breast. 

The researchers tested cUSBr-Patch on phantoms and a human subject, and compared it to a conventional ultrasound scanner. They found that cUSBr-Patch:

• Had a field of view up to 100mm wide and an imaging depth up to 80mm
• Achieved resolution comparable to conventional ultrasound
• Detected cysts as small as 30mm in the human volunteer, a 71-year-old woman with a history of breast cysts
• The same cysts were detected with the array in different positions, an important capability for long-term monitoring

The MIT researchers believe that wearable breast ultrasound could detect early-stage breast cancer, in cases such as high-risk people in between routine screening mammograms. 

The researchers ultimately hope to develop a version of the device that’s about the size of a smartphone (right now the array has to be hooked up to a conventional ultrasound scanner to view images). They also want to investigate the use of AI to analyze images.

The Takeaway

It’s still early days for wearable breast ultrasound, but the new results are an exciting development that hints of future advances to come. Wearable breast ultrasound could even have an advantage over other wearable use cases like cardiac monitoring, as it doesn’t require continuous imaging during the user’s activities. Stay tuned.

Arterys’ Cloud Breast AI Cuts Turnaround Times

Ready to improve your mammography workflows? Arterys is the first and only cloud-native breast AI provider, and its solution dramatically reduces 3D mammography reading times, while supporting breast cancer detection, density measurements, and personalized risk assessments.  

Nuance’s PIN Helps Identifies Emphysema

Emphysema is often underdiagnosed, and this can make treatment more difficult. FirstHealth of the Carolinas was able to improve its diagnosis of emphysema and enhance its CT lung screening service with AI algorithms available through Nuance Precision Imaging Network (PIN).

The Wire

• Room-Temp Superconducting? The science world was stunned last week when researchers from the US and South Korea claimed to have discovered a material that has superconducting properties at room temperature. In a paper posted to the arXiv preprint server, researchers described LK-99, a modified-lead apatite crystal structure they synthesized into a solid material. Room-temperature superconducting could dramatically lower the cost of technologies like MRI, but scientists are skeptical of the new claims, which many are pointing out have not been vetted by the peer-review process.

• Lung Screening Incidental Findings: Incidental findings detected on CT lung cancer screening exams aren’t being managed consistently, and this could complicate efforts to improve lung screening adherence. In JACR, VA researchers examined incidental findings in 901 patients who were screened from 2015-2018, finding 2.6 incidentals per exam, 34.2% of which were deemed significant. But of the total, clinicians addressed only 28.2% and only 13.2% got follow-up testing. Radiologist reporting of incidentals also varied, proving the need for more standardized reporting while also avoiding unnecessary care. 

• VA Expands Mammo Screening: The VA has expanded its mammography screening guidelines to cover veterans under 40 who were exposed to burn pits and other toxins during their service. The VA noted that previously under its breast screening guidelines, veterans usually aren’t eligible to start screening until age 40, but the new guidelines call for risk assessments to determine if veterans are at higher risk for breast cancer due to their service; they should get mammography if clinically appropriate.

• Trained Chatbot Follows Guidelines: A chatbot that was specifically trained to follow ACR clinical guidelines for appropriate imaging did better at recommending the right imaging tests than either radiologists or an older generic version of ChatGPT. Researchers in JACR created the accGPT algorithm by training ChatGPT 3.5 Turbo on 209 ACR appropriateness criteria documents. They found that accGPT’s recommendations were more likely to be correct than radiologists or GPT 3.5 Turbo (OR=1.35 and 2.02), while its difference from GPT 4 was not statistically significant. 

• Us2.ai Links with HeartLab: Us2.ai has signed a new relationship with cardiology PACS company HeartLab and plans to showcase its integration with the company’s solutions at the Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand (CSANZ) annual meeting August 3-6. The companies will be highlighting how echo workflow can be streamlined with new automated measurements and fast reporting in the HeartLab booth. Us2.ai has been signing a growing number of companies as partners for its echo AI software, such as Infinitt. 

• Airway Quantification Predicts IPF Mortality: An automated algorithm that quantitatively calculates airway metrics was able to predict mortality in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). In European Radiology, researchers from the UK and Turkey described their work with AirQuant, which calculates metrics for airway abnormalities on CT scans. In 90 IPF patients, they found that people whose airway segments tapered properly into the lung had lower mortality risk (HR=0.75), while those with more tortuous airways had higher risk (HR=1.75).

• Blackford Adds Lunit AI: Blackford Analysis has added AI algorithms from Lunit to its Blackford Platform. Lunit is contributing its INSIGHT CXR and INSIGHT CXR Triage chest X-ray solutions and INSIGHT MMG mammography algorithms to Blackford Platform, which now offers over 100 AI applications and will be bolstered in the area of chest and mammography imaging thanks to the alliance.

• FDA Clears UltraSight Software: The FDA has cleared UltraSight’s AI-powered software for guiding cardiac ultrasound exams. UltraSight’s technology enables medical professionals without sonography experience to acquire cardiac ultrasound exams at the point of care in multiple settings, enabling more widespread detection of heart disease. UltraSight has been establishing relationships with echo ultrasound scanner vendors, such as its recent partnership with EchoNous. The software is also compatible with Philips’ Lumify POCUS device.

• Volpara Highlights Carbon Offsets: Volpara Health Technologies has partnered with Trees that Count to offset carbon emissions by planting 300 native trees in New Zealand. Volpara is donating the trees to be planted as part of a project to convert farmland to a native bush corridor. The company noted that it has already reduced its carbon emissions by 17.4% this year through lower purchases of electricity and heat. 

• Cigna Sued Over Denial Algorithm: A lawsuit filed in California accuses Cigna of using an algorithm for claim denials rather than individually reviewing each case, which state law mandates. A ProPublica expose found that Cigna denied more than 300k requests over a two-month period using a PXDX algorithm that automatically identifies discrepancies between diagnoses and its coverage. An average of 1.2 seconds for reviewing each case was enough to push patients toward a class-action suit.

• Annalise.ai Deployed in Malaysia: Annalise.ai’s chest X-ray AI software is being deployed in Malaysia. Ramsay Sime Darby Health Care (RSDH) will install the company’s Annalise Enterprise chest X-ray (CXR) software at its flagship hospitals, Subang Jaya Medical Centre (SJMC) and Bukit Tinggi Medical Centre (BTMC). Annalise Enterprise CXR uses deep learning algorithms to detect up to 124 findings in chest X-rays in less than 20 seconds. In a proof-of-concept study, RSDH found Enterprise CXR amplified its clinical team’s ability to detect critical findings.

• RapidAI Hauls In $75M: RapidAI raised $75M in a Series C funding, a sign that venture capital firms still seem to be interested in medical AI developers. The funding was led by Vista Credit Partners, and RapidAI said it would use the funds to develop AI for more disease states and accelerate growth into new regions and product vertical markets. RapidAI in recent months has received clearance for algorithms for stroke and PE detection.

The Advantages of CloudPACS

What are the advantages of CloudPACS? Speed, reliability, and security, with no latency. Learn how Visage Imaging’s Visage 7 PACS was built around the cloud from the ground up in this white paper.

Overcoming the Radiologist Shortage

How can radiology practices use innovative training and education techniques to grow and overcome the ongoing shortage of radiologists? Find out in this Imaging Wire Show interview with Daniel Arnold and Deanna Heier of Medality.

AI Echo Copilot – The Future of Echocardiography

New technology from Us2.ai called Us2.connect allows you to add AI automation to any echo device. Any echo machine can now have 100% automated reporting with disease detection and editable measurements – all generated in realtime as you scan.

The Resource Wire

• Every missed appointment can cost providers an average of $200. PocketHealth’s new Appointment Reminders product can decrease no-show rates by up to 30%. Find out how in this article.

• What are some of the latest innovations in neuroimaging that can lead to workflow improvements at imaging facilities? Learn more in this presentation from the ASNR webinar series, supported by Subtle Medical.

• Did you know that healthcare generates 30% of all global data created every year? Learn more facts like this – and how Enlitic’s Curie platform can help deal with the data deluge – in this infographic. 

• How do gradients affect the performance of an MRI scanner? Learn all about gradient technology and its role in MR image production in this white paper from GE HealthCare. 

• What is theranostics, and how is it changing cancer diagnosis and treatment? We talked to Shari Manuel, Chris Heble, and Elfareato Remekie of GE HealthCare in this Imaging Wire Show about the exciting new developments happening in theranostics that are enabling a new era of precision healthcare.

• More AI applications are becoming available, but many healthcare organizations are reporting challenges to achieving the benefits of the technology. Learn how Merge AI Orchestrator can provide access to AI without disrupting workflow.

• The cloud will play a foundational role for a variety of healthcare applications, but perhaps one of its biggest impacts will be in supporting patient-centered care. Explore how the cloud will prove critical for ensuring patient-centered care in this editorial by Intelerad’s Morris Panner.

• The flow of new AI applications makes it hard for radiology groups to determine which tools would help them and how IT teams can handle increased AI adoption. In this Blackford Analysis white paper, radiology and IT leaders from NYU and Canopy Partners share how a platform approach alongside a curated marketplace can help solve these challenges.

• Because of United Imaging’s Software Upgrades for Life program, every time United Imaging launches a new solution it can automatically be installed in every compatible system at no cost.

• Check out this Imaging Wire Show interview with Riverain Technologies’ Chief Science Officer, Jason Knapp, where we discuss the evolution of imaging AI, how to get generalizability right, AI’s path forward, and much more.

• Medical providers and health systems are looking to ditch the disc and modernize their patients’ journey. Learn how Clearpath helps them reduce the cost of retrieving and fulfilling patient requests for imaging and medical records.

• Is your organization ready to move enterprise imaging to the cloud? Check out this Change Healthcare and ACHE webinar detailing cloud-native imaging’s benefits, best practices, and ROI.

• What is theranostics, and how is it changing oncology patient care? Theranostics delivers precision therapy that’s personalized to every patient with targeted radioligand treatment. Learn more about theranostics and how Siemens Healthineers can support your Theranostics journey by offering precision oncology tools that cater to every step of the care pathway.

• Annalise.ai’s Annalise CXR solution detects up to 124 findings in a single chest X-ray. See how it detects such a wide range of abnormalities using these demo studies…  or upload your own CXR images.

• Radiology is leading healthcare’s AI revolution, and yet many people in radiology are just starting to build their understanding of AI. That’s why Bayer published its truly Complete Guide to Artificial Intelligence in Radiology, detailing how AI can address radiology’s challenges, AI’s core use cases, and AI’s path towards adoption.

• Watch industry leaders and trendsetters in radiology, Dr. Krishna Nallamshetty, CMO at Radiology Partners, and Dr. Ron Shnier, CMO at I-MED Radiology Network, share their perspectives on the CARPL platform, from clinical trials to clinical deployment.