At the Radiological Society of North America conference this week in Chicago, Konica Minolta Healthcare Americas is among many companies showcasing new artificial intelligence tools for imaging and clinical-decision support.

WHY IT MATTERS

Konica Minolta announced dynamic digital radiography technology now is available on four of its X-ray systems – KDR Advanced U-Arm, KDR Flex Overhead, mKDR Xpress Mobile and Chiro Straight Arm – and is showcasing academic work on thoracic and musculoskeletal imaging using its DDR, ML and other technologies alongside its clients.

Research presented by the University of Alabama compares DDR with nuclear medicine lung scintigraphy for lung perfusion assessment. Investigators from Bharti Hospital in Pune, India, will present their findings measuring its efficacy against CT angiography in the evaluation of suspected pulmonary thromboembolism, according to the company's announcement Sunday.

Konica Minolta's clinical research manager, John Sabol, will also present how DDR and machine learning are being used together to improve the quantitative assessment of shoulder kinematics on Wednesday. 

In partnership with the department of orthopaedics at Emory Healthcare in Atlanta, the company has been evaluating the effectiveness of a novel ML algorithm for the automated evaluation of DDR images.

Konica Minolta said the algorithm characterizes scapulohumeral rhythm – normal and multiple pathological shoulder motion conditions.

For ultrasound, Wayne, New Jersey-based medical diagnostic imaging and healthcare information technology company Konica Minolta is able to show its new wireless handheld ultrasound device for the first time, and is introducing real-time remote consultation and imaging guidance.

The PocketPro H2 is for general imaging in point-of-care applications – musculoskeletal, pain management, vascular access and needle guidance – while the new UltraStream Live! feature available on a point-of-care ultrasound system provides talk, screen sharing and video streaming directly to a PC or mobile device, the company said.

With ultrasound streaming and two-way audio, clinicians can send high-resolution, high-frame-rate and low-latency images to a consulting provider during a live scan. The company said the capability brings experts to exams, regardless of where they are located, provides patients faster access to specialist assessments in real time and offers staff live-training opportunities.

THE LARGER TREND

Dr. Keith Dreyer, chief data science officer at Mass General Brigham, said that AI will change the future practice of radiology in the U.S.

AI's progress in the field of radiology began to play out at MGB through the 2016 launch of the Center for Clinical Data Science, which is "focused on creating, promoting and translating AI into tools that will enhance clinical outcomes, improve efficiency and enhance patient-focused care," said Dreyer.

He noted the health system started to deploy AI in clinical practices around the same time the COVID-19 pandemic struck.

That was quickly followed in 2018 with the signing of a multiyear strategic agreement with Nuance to optimize rapid development, validation and AI utilization for radiologists at the point of care. Under the initiative, the CCDS algorithms created to improve radiologists' efficiency and report quality were made available on the Nuance AI Marketplace. Nuance was acquired by Microsoft in 2022.

Dr. Adam Landman, the chief information officer of MGB, told Healthcare IT News in the October CIO Spotlight that he was excited about several new AI use cases that alleviate clinician administrative burdens, like ambient documentation.

"We are going slowly and cautiously in our health system," he said of tools MBG clinicians are testing.

"Not everyone is going to want these tools or need to use these tools," so they will be evaluating which specialties adopt the tools in testing phases before they bring new AI systems to scale.

ON THE RECORD

"The rapid adoption of dynamic digital radiography across multiple clinical specialties is a testament to the commitment we bring to our work every day," Kirsten Doerfert, senior vice president of marketing for Konica Minolta Healthcare Americas, said in a statement.

"That commitment results in solutions that are powerful enablers, fostering a greater synergy between innovation and health, and allowing healthcare professionals to focus on what truly matters – patients and their well-being."

Andrea Fox is senior editor of Healthcare IT News.
Email: afox@himss.org
Healthcare IT News is a HIMSS Media publication.