The latest version of Philips’ diagnostic imaging platform adds a handful of artificial-intelligence-powered programs that aim to cut down on the time and effort it takes to turn a preliminary scan into a solid diagnosis.
Philips is debuting the newest iteration of its Advanced Visualization Workspace at the Radiological Society of North America’s (RSNA's) annual meeting in Chicago, the company announced this week.
The platform, which is accessed via Philips’ IntelliSpace Portal, is designed to connect a hospital’s cardiology, oncology, neurology and radiology departments in one virtual place, allowing them to simplify the process of sharing patient data and communicating with each other about the diagnoses that result from those collected data.
Besides folding in several additional AI tools, the update also makes the platform vendor-neutral, meaning it can connect to the imaging machines, electronic health record systems and other data-storing and -sharing tools already used by a hospital or health system, slotting easily into their existing workflows.
Among the new AI-powered apps is a feature that assigns an Alberta Stroke Program Early CT (ASPECT) score to non-contrast CT scans gathered from ischemic stroke patients. Its AI algorithms examine certain areas of the brain to look for early signs of cerebral infarction, which can preclude future strokes, then assigns an ASPECT score to each area. The ratings are automatically sent to a hospital’s picture archiving and communication system, or PACS, where they can be accessed by a patient’s entire care team.
Another new addition to the platform is a set of AI tools that look at CT scans to analyze the entire liver—looking at the organ as a whole, on a segment-by-segment basis and in regions of concern as needed—to help catch liver cancer and other diseases as early as possible. Both the CT Liver Analysis system and the ASPECT scoring feature are currently awaiting 510(k) clearance from the FDA, according to Philips.
Beyond those analytical tools, the Dutch devicemaker has also updated its cardiac offerings, with the introduction of an “all-in-one environment” for MRI scans of the heart that will provide a single overview for all collected images of a patient’s heart to help streamline the diagnostic process.
Also at the RSNA meeting this week, separately from the upgraded Advanced Visualization Workspace, Philips is updating a technology system aimed specifically at making radiology departments more efficient.
The new Radiology Information System fits into Philips’ AI-powered PACS, where clinicians can store, view and transfer patient scans and other information. Meanwhile, on the opposite end, the system allows patients to schedule their own radiology appointments online and, once they arrive at the designated time, quickly check in for each appointment.