A study of AI X-ray technology found fractures were diagnosed six times faster using AI than without. [Image by Issara via Stock.Adobe.com]
A study of artificial intelligence (AI) diagnosis tools for X-ray imaging found the technology delivered faster results and reduced the likelihood of missed fractures.
The new research was presented at the 2023 Radiological Society of North America’s Radiology Conference and Annual Meeting by SimonMed Imaging, one of the largest U.S. outpatient medical imaging providers and radiology practices.
Scottsdale, Arizona–based SimonMed said it conducted a retrospective study of data from its nationwide outpatient imaging centers, finding that AI automation technology delivered results 82% faster than readings without the technology. Fractures were diagnosed six times faster using the AI than without.
“Through the use of AI, we are not only able to help radiologists work more accurately and efficiently, we can use entirely new methods for diagnoses,” SimonMed CEO Dr. John Simon said in a news release.
A performance analysis in the study evaluated quality, using results from 1,442 patients across 14 SimonMed centers. That analysis determined the AI automation technology has a 96.9% to 100% sensitivity range per bone, SimonMed said.
SimonMed said its research “proves AI assistance will improve patient care and decrease burnout among radiologists,” but that the company will continue to have radiologists read all reports first for accuracy.
“The groundbreaking results of our study unequivocally demonstrate the transformative impact of AI in revolutionizing diagnostic efficiency and accuracy,” SimonMed Chief Innovation Officer Dr. Sean Raj said in the release. “By embracing cutting-edge technology, such as AI, we are not only accelerating patient care but also ensuring the highest standards of precision. SimonMed remains steadfast in its commitment to ‘Seeing Tomorrow Today,’ blending the best of human expertise with AI advancements for a future where healthcare reaches new heights of excellence.”
The company calls itself a “worldwide leader in the clinical use of AI to improve diagnoses” and says it has already deployed AI for brain disorder evaluation and earlier breast cancer detection. SimonMed also sells AI-powered, whole-body MRI scans to detect abnormalities in areas such as vascular systems, prostates, brains and livers.
Device developers of all sizes are looking at AI to improve patient outcomes and reduce costs for their customers. That could take the form of new digital biomarkers, pre-operative screenings to help prepare at-risk patients, guidance for surgeons during operations, improved surgical visualization, or technology that can detect coughs to monitor an individual patient or an entire population.
So far, the field of medical imaging appears to be one of the most promising opportunities for the use of AI, which can review scans in real time or later to flag potential trouble spots, such as hard-to-spot lesions in colonoscopies.