Accessibility
Language
Artificial intelligence in healthcare
The potential applications of artificial intelligence in healthcare are large - from robotic systems in care to complex diagnostic procedures. The excellent sales forecasts create incentives for medical technology companies in particular to develop corresponding products.
AI-based software in use. (Photo credit: TOMTEC IMAGING SYSTEMS GMBH)
The worldwide sales for Artificial Intelligence in healthcare is estimated to reach $36 billion by 2025 - looking at about $2 billion in 2018, that would be tremendous growth. The main focus of AI is currently in diagnostic imaging, for example in MRI and ultrasound examinations. But the pharmaceutical industry is also using AI algorithms to develop drugs faster. And in personalized medicine, AI is being used to advance individualized treatment plans, stem cell therapies, and genetic research.
AI: Pros and Cons
AI is seen as a major opportunity for improvements in healthcare. Both healthcare professionals and patients themselves could benefit. This is because AI can play a decisive role in reducing misdiagnoses and thus increasing diagnostic certainty. Costs could also be reduced in many areas of healthcare thanks to more efficient processes.
Of course, AI also harbors risks - for example, incorrect diagnoses can result from an insufficient number or insufficient quality of training data. Companies that launch products with AI therefore bear great responsibility for the reliability of their AI algorithm.
I: Ultrasound of the future
One medical technology company that is already working successfully with AI is TOMTEC Imaging Systems GmbH from Unterschleissheim near Munich. Among other things, the company offers AI-based software for cardiac ultrasound diagnostics. The "Image Arena" enables automated evaluation of 2D and 3D images from multiple cardiac centers.
Currently, the company is working in cooperation with the University of Würzburg and the University Hospital of Würzburg on a project funded by the Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs. The goal of the project is to achieve that the automated measurement reflects the performance of an experienced, certified examiner. To perform a scientific evaluation for this purpose, the project integrates data from quality-assured, standardized echocardiographies from a population-based cohort study.
Technology funding programs for medical technology
The Free State of Bavaria offers several technology funding programs for medical technology, for example the "Medical Technology" research program ( BayMED ) or the "Masterplan Bayern Digital II - Digitale Medizin," a funding initiative of the Zentrum Digitalisierung.Bayern (ZD.B) . http://www.zentrum-digitalisierung.bayern
