2023 marks the 10th anniversary of IBM Watson, a digital tool in the fight against cancer. The launch of this program was the very first use of AI for medical purposes. Since then, science has taken a step forward and new AI-based health apps appear regularly. MarketsandMarkets estimates that by 2027, AI will bring $67.4 billion for the industry, almost 10 times more than in 2021. Let’s see how AI in healthcare helps save lives.
AIND Disease Diagnosis Smart Tool
AI research has taken a step forward, turning an intelligent algorithm into a tool for early disease detection. The British AIND project is a good example. In collaboration with a European software developer, the company has implemented an AI platform capable of processing DICOM images (MRI, CT, X-rays and PET) and non-graphic data.
A cloud-based AI tool collects and analyzes data from research (medical scans, EHRs, IoT devices, genomic storage) and predicts the possibility of a person developing neurological diseases (Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis). plates, etc). The algorithm can also predict the rate of deterioration of memory and cognitive functions.
This way, doctors can use AIND to detect degenerative brain diseases in advance. These serious conditions have become the scourge of the 21st century. According to statistics, morbidity increase as the population ages. If doctors don’t quickly find an effective treatment, in 30 years more than 12 million Americans will suffer from neurodegenerative diseases.
Smart lab assistant for fast coronavirus diagnosis
At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, a PCR test took from several hours to a week. It all depended on how busy a lab was, the number of employees and machines, and the availability of supplies. My Lab, a project implemented by a European software development company, aimed to solve the problem of waiting for test results.
An AI-powered web platform simplifies and accelerates the work of lab technicians. The program scans raw results from lab machines, analyzes them, displays data on dashboards and generates reports.
The AI platform performs up to a hundred tests per minute, providing doctors with accurate results. A doctor only has to review the data and sign it. Generally, the data is reliable because the algorithm has been trained over tens of thousands of tests. But if some results are questionable, a lab technician modifies the data manually.
The smart platform increases lab productivity without sacrificing quality and reduces testing costs.
Smart chatbot Buoy Health to diagnose diseases from symptoms
Harvard Medical School has developed an AI-powered chatbot that communicates with patients and makes diagnoses. The virtual interlocutor asks a user how he is feeling and, based on the answer, offers a diagnosis.
After analyzing a person’s health condition, an intelligent algorithm names the suspected disease and its causes. Then, depending on the person’s condition, he offers either an appointment with the doctor or the necessary service (teleconsultation or virtual assistance).
The platform also offers patients a treatment progress monitoring function (user authorization is required). Those who wish to discuss similar diseases can join the Buoy community. So this smart chatbot solves the problem of self-help. As a result, people are less likely to complain of outlandish illnesses and don’t neglect their health.
Freenome cancer screening platform
Health professionals have long discussed a new stage in the development of medical science: preventive medicine. Research institutes are looking for technologies that will allow clinics to analyze information about a patient’s genome, biological and clinical composition of blood, and quality of life. Based on the data collected, they can establish which diseases a person is susceptible to and adjust their schedule, diet, vitamin intake plan and medications. Thus, they can prevent the development of the disease at a very early stage, when there are no symptoms.
Freenome, a multiomics AI healthcare platform, takes a step towards preventive medicine with innovative tests for the early detection of colorectal cancer. Multiomics blood tests reveal early signs of cancer, including a multidimensional representation of a tumor and immune signatures.
Freenome looks for two main biomarkers in a patient’s blood. It also tries to “capture” DNA fragments that enter the bloodstream from the tumor and capture responses from the human immune system. From 2020, technology had an accuracy of 94% and better results than standard fecal analysis. Recently the company announcement the launch of a study to detect many types of cancer.
VirtuSense Fall Prevention Solution
Sometimes personal tragedies lead to great discoveries. In 2009, future VirtuSense founder Deepak Gaddipati’s grandmother fell in the street and broke her hip. The woman died from her injuries and Deepak was shocked that a broken bone could have such consequences. After studying the matter in depth and learning that every year 26.5% of the elderly fall, the doctor realized that the problem had a global dimension. For this reason, there appeared a personalized health solution. VirtuSense is a collection of AI tools and sensors that can predict the risk of falls in older adults.
The company’s product, VSTBalance, uses an intelligent algorithm to identify a person’s lack of balance, lack of coordination and predict the likelihood of a fall over the next year with a percentage of accuracy. Doctors use this data to plan patient care and select a set of recovery exercises. Thanks to the work of researchers and developers, VirtuSense reduced the number of falls by 73%.
AI One Drop Solution for Diabetes
According to the WHO, about 422 million people worldwide have diabetes. Over the past 30 years, the prevalence of diabetes (particularly type 2) has increased dramatically in countries at all income levels. As a result, an increasing number of patients need help and supervision in the treatment of this disease.
One Drop offered an AI solution combined with additional equipment (glucose meter, test strip plan) and personalized consultations. Based on the history of blood glucose measurements, an intelligent algorithm makes an eight-hour prediction with 99.5% accuracy. Thus, a patient can plan meals and activities for the day. This AI-based app also allows users to stay in touch with trainers to adjust their diet and exercises.
Following research, One Drop found that in just 2 months of using the platform, patients with type 2 diabetes reduced A1C by 1.9%. One Drop was named best personal health app in the 2022 MedTech Breakthrough Award for easy application and useful features.
Vicarious Surgical to perform operations
Robotic surgery is one of the most promising applications of AI. According to Statista experts, by 2026 the market for “smart surgeons” will be the largest and most will be worth $40 billion. According to surgeons working with smart machines, patients experience less pain thanks to smaller incisions. Thus, they recover faster and easier and less scarring remains.
Vicarious Surgical’s AI-powered robotic surgeon performs minimally invasive abdominal surgery. Smart equipment needs a port and a 1.5 centimeter incision to fit a camera and two tiny instruments. The surgeon puts on camera glasses that transfer them “inside” the patient’s body. The camera inside the patient’s body zooms in on the area to be operated on, giving the doctor 360-degree visibility.
The robotic arms equipped with 28 sensors precisely follow the natural movement of the surgeon’s hands, allowing the doctor to make perfect small incisions. After such a delicate operation, patients are less likely to have complications and their wounds heal faster.
Conclusion
Humanity’s first encounter with AI through cinema was by no means positive as it was associated with destruction (the terminator series). But 20 to 30 years later, humanity was convinced that AI could serve the benefit of people, saving lives. AI-powered healthcare apps prove it. Intelligent algorithms detect dangerous diseases faster than doctors and traditional diagnostic methods. They help healthcare professionals treat patients remotely, invent effective drugs and perform complex operations. No wonder AI is considered one of the most influential technologies in healthcare.
