You don’t have to look far to see examples of how AI systems create new opportunities across industries. The healthcare sector is no exception. Today’s advanced AI systems are reshaping the way people prevent, diagnose, and treat ailments. Here’s how AI creates new opportunities within the healthcare sector and how it could lead to a healthier society.
Artificial Intelligence
The AI revolution is well underway. These systems enable healthcare providers to offer their services more efficiently and effectively without driving costs up. As such, they could usher in a more democratic and fairer healthcare system to the world.
Artificial intelligence comes in many forms. Some systems can learn like a human brain, and others can discover patterns that are impossible for humans to notice. Deep learning networks enable fast, reliable healthcare services that have the potential to improve safety for all.
AI Improving Diagnosis
One of the first areas in which AI has made a difference in the healthcare community is in the diagnosis sector. These systems can monitor and track real-time data and compare it to pre-learned models. This capability allows these systems to cross-reference data to find correlations and other distinctive traits. Already, AI diagnosis systems are making their way into local communities.
AI Eye Care Diagnosis
A perfect example of AI improving diagnosis protocols was recently published in eClinicalMedicine. The study, put forth by Dr Darren Ting from the University of Birmingham, integrates a proprietary-built deep-learning protocol to locate and diagnose eye problems including bacterial infections and keratitis.
Corneal ulcers like keratitis can go beyond simple discomfort. They can lead to degraded vision and even blindness. It’s currently the top cause of corneal blindness globally and analysts predict the disease to spread in the future. As such, it is vital to diagnose and treat this ailment as soon as possible.
Source – Webeye Cornea Scan
Ting’s team successfully created and demonstrated an advanced AI algorithm that could predict Keratitis and other issues within the eye in minutes. The algorithm was programmed using +136k corneal images alongside other vital data points. Additionally, 35 other eye-based deep-learning models were analyzed as part of the approach.
The results were impressive. The AI consistently scored on par with expert reviewers. Specifically, the system scored 89.2% accuracy which outpaced the professionals who averaged 82.2%. The AI algorithm was also faster at diagnosing the problems compared to eye care professionals.
The results of this study demonstrate how an AI diagnosis is preferable. For one, these systems could be sent to remote areas that don’t have access to eye care professionals and produce similar if not slightly better results, opening the door for better healthcare for all.
Lung Cancer Diagnosis
Lung cancer is another major health concern that takes the lives of approximately +1.3 Million people yearly. This disease devastates its victims, and in some cases, the treatments are just as hard on the patients. Thankfully, a new study put forth by the University of Cologne’s Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne titled “Next generation lung cancer pathology: development and validation of diagnostic and prognostic algorithms” introduces a non-invasive diagnosis protocol that could make life better for millions of sufferers.
The study introduces an AI-powered system that evaluates a variety of characteristics of a patient before diagnosing them with lung cancer. Notably, the system is completely automated and tested with 89% accuracy. When combined with its portability and the sheer number of potential patients it could help, this breakthrough represents a major upgrade to today’s standards.
Detecting Medication Errors
Sadly, millions of people suffer from medication errors as a result of being misdiagnosed or simply human error. Among these incidents, those involving anesthesia are the most frequent. These misdelivered medications can result in further complications or ineffectiveness, leaving the patient feeling discomfort.
It may seem clumsy or unprofessional for an expert to provide the wrong medication but it’s vital to understand that in many instances, the administration of medications is occurring under extremely time-sensitive and stressful conditions. Additionally, there are scenarios where the lighting is inadequate or the location is not stable, like in a warzone.
A new study put forth by researchers from the University of Washington introduces an AI-powered camera setup that could help reduce these errors significantly. The study integrates the first wearable camera system designed to recognize and identify drugs based on multiple factors.
AI HealthCare
Unlike predecessors that simply would require the professional to verify the labeling, the new AI-powered system evaluates a variety of factors ranging from vial and syringe size and shape to vial cap color, label print size, and much more. Additionally, the system was built to ignore background medications and only focus on the foreground syringe.
The researchers used HD video collected from 418 drug draws from 13 anesthesiology providers. These samples combined different environments and lighting to ensure the algorithm could use ascertain medications in varying conditions. Impressively, the protocol demonstrated a 99.6% sensitivity and 98.8% specificity in detecting vial-swap errors.
The study demonstrates how AI systems can provide unmatched accuracy. It also demonstrated how these systems can enhance human operations when working in high-stress scenarios. In the future, this algorithm could be coupled with other options, and the entire process automated. For now, this strategy represents a major upgrade for the healthcare system which could help save many lives moving forward.
Monitor Treatment Effectiveness
One of the best ways in which AI technology is improving healthcare is by allowing researchers and professionals to better monitor and track their treatment effectiveness. AI systems are helping professionals diagnose and prescribe drugs more accurately as they can take into account a massive amount of data including your family history and environmental factors.
Once administered, these AI systems can be used to track and register the effectiveness of each dose. The AI can then cross-reference the delivery methods and drugs to find patterns and ways to improve the results. Best of all, many AI programs can utilize simulations to get the final result, eliminating patient testing until the final steps of the process.
AI Wearables
The wearable market is another sector where AI advancements continue to make a difference. The wearables market is on the rise for many reasons. Recent developments have made this technology smarter, less expensive, easier to operate, and more comfortable. From a watch that tracks your exercise and sleeping to purpose-built biosensors, the wearables market is on the rise.
One of the main contributing factors to the growth of the wearables sector is AI integration. AI-powered wearables open the door for smarter, more locally capable devices. Currently, most wearables must contact the network via internet service to complete the process.
Source – Scnsoft
AI-powered wearable have the ability to compute logic locally. They provide added trackability and can even monitor your data in real-time to provide you with accurate assessments of your health. Additionally, these systems have become smaller, more flexible, and easier to use thanks to advancements like LLMs, which make it possible to communicate to your device via voice or text prompts.
AI Healthcare
A study that was published in Nature Electronics titled “A wearable in-sensor computing platform based on stretchable organic electrochemical transistors” demonstrates a major breakthrough in the manufacturing of these devices. The study delves into a new manufacturing process that enables bendable and flexible electronics. These stretchable devices provide more comfortability and durability while lowering manufacturing costs.
The researchers in the study successfully designed and built a flexible microelectronics platform that integrated sensing, computing, and stretchability. The device was used to measure electrophysiological signals in real-time. It successfully provided accurate readings, demonstrating how flexible electronic-based wearables are on the horizon.
New Treatment Procedures
Another key area where AI is making an impact is in the use of nanoparticles and nanobots. These tiny devices have found a home in drug delivery systems. Nanobots can measure less than the width of a human hair, making them ideal for delivering drugs to hard-to-reach areas of the body.
Recently, AI systems have been put to use in guiding and testing these devices for drug administration. Nanoparticles and bots are ideal for certain scenarios because they can propel their medication into every corner of an organ like the liver. Resulting in much more effective administration.
What Companies Will Benefit from the AI Healthcare Revolution?
Several firms can leverage AI systems to improve their offerings and results. These companies operate across the healthcare market and could utilize AI systems in different manners to enhance their revenue stream. From improving diagnosis to developing new treatment processes, AI healthcare is booming.
Medtronic
Medtronic is a leading healthcare provider that has pioneered the use of AI systems to improve its products. The company has been in operation since 1940 and currently has offices in Minnesota and Ireland with +90k employees. Notably, Medtronic was the first firm to offer pacemakers in the 1960s. Today it remains a pioneering force that combines its decades of experience with the latest AI algorithms.
Medtronic plc (MDT +0.07%)
Medtronic plc (MDT +0.07%)
Medtronic is a major supporter of AI integration and their product line reflects the belief that these systems can improve results. The company has a selection of AI systems, including the GI Genius Intelligent Endoscopy Module which was designed to identify colorectal polyps during colonoscopies.
The company also offers robotic surgical assistants called StealthStation and Mazor X. These devices have helped thousands of surgeons complete difficult procedures successfully. As such, they have earned a reputation as a powerful surgical assistant that reduces recovery time and human error.
Medtronic remains a popular stock option. As one of the largest medical device companies, the firm holds a prime position in the market. This positioning is set to increase as demand for the company’s many products, including pacemakers, defibrillators, heart valves, stents, and more, is on the rise. All of these factors make MDT a smart “buy” for traders.
Future of AI Healthcare
The future of AI healthcare will see new systems combined with emerging technology like holographic 3d printing to create science fiction-like treatments. For example, you could see a day when an AI system diagnoses you, and a holographic printer then creates nanobots printed through your skin to deliver your treatment directly to the source. From there, the AI monitors and tracks the effectiveness of the treatment, utilizing the new data to improve future tasks.
Additionally, AI healthcare integration will result in better healthcare options for everyone. In remote areas, where healthcare professionals and treatments are not an option, AI-powered systems could open the door to better care opportunities. As such, there are many who see the use of AI in healthcare as a necessity that will provide patients access to a fair and open global healthcare system.
AI Healthcare – A Brighter Future
The more AI integration into the healthcare system, the better. These protocols can connect the dots to form new data patterns that will help guide healthcare professionals and researchers moving forward. As more AI-powered healthcare systems go live, their effects will become more evident, resulting in even greater integration. For now, the AI healthcare revolution is underway.
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