artificial intelligence Archives - Page 10 of 11

Google, Varian partner on AI to boost cancer radiation therapy

Varian (NYSE: VAR) announced today that it is working with Google Cloud to build an AI-based diagnostic platform.

The companies’ focus is on AI models for organ segmentation—a crucial, labor-intensive step in radiation oncology that can often turn into a clinical workflow bottleneck. Organ segmentation can take hours per patient. It involves identifying the organs and tissues in diagnostic images that must be targeted or protected during radiation therapy.

Varian is using Google Cloud AI Platform’s Neural Architecture Search (NAS) technology to create an AI segmentation engine that it’s training — using Varian’s proprietary treatment planning image data — to create customized auto-segmentation models for organs in the body. Varian plans to incorporate the new models into its treatment planning software tools in cancer centers worldwide.

“At Varian, we are working towards a world without fear of cancer, where high-quality can…

It’s time to rethink pharma supply chains

Image courtesy of Pixabay

Global supply chains have arguably seen more disruption in the past year than they have seen in decades.

Pharmaceutical supply chains were especially vulnerable in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, prompting a rethink of supply chain management for the industry.

Another wrinkle is a recent executive order from President Biden, which prompted a review of critical supply chains including for pharmaceuticals and related supplies.

To learn more about the quickly moving landscape, we reached out to William Wappler, the founder and CEO of supply chain specialist Surgere. In the following interview, Wappler shares his thoughts on broad advances in supply chain management including the challenges and possibilities of IoT technology in the sector. He also touches on inbound and outbound logistics considerations for pharmaceutical companies.

What are some of the mo…

Q&A: Keys to unlock data science potential for drug discovery

Image courtesy of Pexels

For all of its promise in healthcare and elsewhere, deploying artificial intelligence is frequently a challenging endeavor. “Close collaboration between data science teams, other project team members and stakeholders is essential,” said Jennifer Bradford, director of data science at Phastar, the London-headquartered contract research organization. While input from computational, statistical or medical experts could be essential to inform data science models, all stakeholders understand the requirements and are working “in sync with the project,” Branford said.

In the following interview, Bradford shares advice on how to collaborate effectively on data science projects, the impact of COVID-19 on data science in pharma and the potential for AI to accelerate R&D timelines.

What comes next after alignment between different stakeholders on data science projects is confirmed? <…

Philips, DiA partner on AI-based applications for ultrasound

Philips enhances ultrasound with AI-based image quantification [Image courtesy of Philips]Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA) announced today that it has formed a strategic partnership with DiA Imaging Analysis to incorporate DiA’s AI library of automated solutions with Philips ultrasound.

Be’er Sheva, Israel–based DiA’s AI-enabled 2D ultrasound applications have FDA clearance and a CE Mark. The applications are geared toward reducing variability and increasing the efficiency and accuracy of ultrasound analysis.

“Through our strategic partnership with DiA Imaging Analysis, we can deliver unprecedented diagnostic confidence and operational efficiency to point-of-care ultrasound imaging, as well as widen access to high quality and timely care both inside and outside of hospitals,” said Kees Wesdorp, chief business leader of Precision Diagnosis at Philips.

DiA Hila Goldman Aslan described Philips’ ultrasound devices as an “ideal …

Pharma’s been slow to adopt Industry 4.0 — but that could change

Image courtesy of Wikipedia

The pharma industry has been relatively slow to embrace concepts such as Industry 4.0, but COVID-19 is serving as a catalyst for sweeping changes within the industry.

The philosophy has roots in a German framework that prioritizes digitization to drive manufacturing efficiency, promising that cyber-physical systems will usher in the next industrial revolution. The Industry 4.0 framework spans connectivity, analytics and AI and integrated automation technologies.

But the deployment of Industry 4.0–inspired technologies has been uneven in the pharma industry. “The industry is pretty cautious,” said John Younes, COO of Litmus Automation, the developer of an industrial edge computing platform.

Get the full story from our sister site, Pharmaceutical Processing World.

iRhythm Zio 10 times more effective in identifying Afib, study says

iRhythm Technologies (NSDQ:IRTC) today touted study results that found its Zio device was more effective in detecting Afib than standard care.

Published in JAMA Cardiology, the SCREEN-AF study showed that the use of Zio by iRhythm led to a tenfold increase in the detection of Afib when compared to patients receiving standard clinical care. One of every 20 patients in the heart monitoring group was found to have a new diagnosis of Afib and, as a result, 75% of such patients were subsequently prescribed blood thinner medication to prevent against strokes, according to a news release.

San Francisco-based iRhythm said the study supports the use of Zio as a screening tool for the early detection of Afib, as the system was well-tolerated and effective while enabling some patients to receive anticoagulant therapy.

News of the system’s effectiveness in the study is another boost for the company, which, in December 2020, announced that the Zio XT ambulatory…

Cardiologs touts results of AFib study

(Image courtesy of Cardiologs)

Artificial intelligence diagnostics company Cardiologs today announced the results of a clinical study showing its AI-based ECG analysis software “significantly” reduces the rate of false-positive atrial fibrillation (AFib) detection in remote cardiac monitoring of certain patients.

The company, which has offices in Paris and Boston, worked with Valley Health System of northern New Jersey to track a cohort of 425 patients who each received a Medtronic Reveal LINQ implantable loop recorder (ILR) for known AFib or cryptogenic stroke.

Researchers evaluated 1,500 AF episodes and annotated each as either true or false, according to the study, published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology Clinical Electrophysiology.

Get the full story on our sister site, Medical Design & Outsourcing.

BioSig, Mayo Clinic announce AI development partnership

The Pure EP system [Image courtesy of BioSig Technologies]BioSig Technologies (NSDQ:BSGM) will work with the Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research to develop next-gen, AI-powered software for its Pure EP system, which is meant to take electrophysiology to the next level.

The Mayo Clinic has already been an important investor and development partner for the Westport, Conn.–based company. BioSig signed a 10-year collaboration agreement with Mayo Clinic in March 2017, signing three new patent and know-how license agreements with the Mayo foundation in November 2019.

Get the full story on our sister site Medical Design & Outsourcing.

Hologic and Google Cloud team up on digital diagnostics for cervical cancer

Hologic (NSDQ:HOLX) has entered into a multi-year deal to use Google Cloud’s machine learning and deep learning technologies with its Genius digital diagnostics system, a cytology platform that uses volumetric imaging data to identify precancerous lesions and cancer cells of the cervix.

The machine learning and deep learning capabilities from Google Cloud will enable Hologic to build on its more than three decades of experience in cervical cancer screening, according to Kevin Thornal, president of Hologic’s Diagnostic Solutions division. “Enhancing our use of AI with Google Cloud’s machine learning capabilities and cloud architecture is the next natural step in this journey forward,” he said in a statement.

Genius Digital Diagnostics is CE-marked for use in Europe. It is not yet available in the U.S.

The FDA is currently overhauling how it regulates machine learning-based software for medical device applications.

In related news, Hologic recently …

FDA debuts plan for AI-based Software as a Medical Device

(Image courtesy of the FDA)

The FDA today released its first plan to regulate artificial intelligence/machine learning (AI/ML)-based Software as a Medical Device (SaMD).

The plan is a response to feedback received from the agency’s April 2019 discussion paper, “Proposed Regulatory Framework for Modifications to Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning-Based Software as a Medical Device.”

Get the full story on our sister site, Medical Design & Outsourcing.

Researchers at Genuity and Yale shed light on aortic aneurysms

In aortic aneurysm, smooth muscles transform, causing lesions. Photo courtesy of YaleNews.

Researchers at privately-held Genuity Science and Yale University Medical School have revealed why aortic aneurysms form. The scientists discovered that an expansion in abnormal cells in smooth muscle tissue of the aorta can contribute to aortic aneurysm.

The researchers came to that conclusion by using a combination of generative artificial intelligence, single-cell biology and RNA sequencing to uncover causal molecular drivers of cell fate transition in aortic aneurysms.

Subsequent investigations have revealed a possible genetic cause of the disease in humans, by specifically linking a genetic variant in a gene of unknown significance to disease pathogenesis.

In 2018, almost 10,000 people in the U.S. died from ruptured aortic aneurysms, according to the CDC. Currently, the first line of defense against the disease is surgical interv…

FDA clears HD Medical’s smart stethoscope

The HD Steth system [Image courtesy of HD Medical]

HD Medical said today that it’s secured FDA clearance for its HD Steth, which uses artificial intelligence to enable clinicians to perform an advanced cardiac evaluation at point-of-care.

The FDA clearance covers all three product classification codes of DQD, DQC and DPS for an electronic stethoscope, phonocardiograph and electrocardiograph — all combined into one device. Four microprocessors back up the HD Steth technology, with components and sensors fro Maxim Integrated Products enabling lower power consumption and better accuracy.

“The quality and intensity of heart sounds are phenomenal on HD Steth, and it delivers the most impressive sound quality advancements in my last 40 years of stethoscope use,” said Dr. Ethiraj Raj, a cardiovascular disease specialist in Flint, Mich.

“The opportunity to amplify the sounds along with simultaneous v…