Philips receives FDA clearance for MR acceleration software
Philips has received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 510(k) clearance its SmartSpeed artificial intelligence (AI) powered MR acceleration software.
Adding advanced AI data collection algorithms to Philips’ existing Compressed SENSE MR acceleration engine, Philips SmartSpeed aims to deliver higher image resolution with three times faster scan times and virtually no loss in image quality.
With personalised treatment for complex diseases such as cancer increasing the need for high-confidence precision diagnoses, coupled with soaring caseloads due to ageing populations and high levels of clinician burnout, radiology departments are under increasing pressure to improve performance, productivity, and profitability.
Dr. Grischa Bratke, radiologist and expert in musculoskeletal imaging at the University Hospital of Cologne, said: “Philips’ AI-based SmartSpeed reconstruction is the new benchmark among acceleration techniques for us. It improves on the company’s existing Compressed SENSE in all aspects and allows a reduction in scan times with excellent image quality and diagnostic confidence.”
Philips SmartSpeed, the latest addition to Philips’ expanding portfolio of AI-driven, smart, connected imaging and smart workflow solutions, helps achieve the Quadruple Aim of improving diagnostic outcomes, enhancing patient and staff experiences, and reducing healthcare costs overall.
This latest AI-powered MR software increases resolution up to 65% and achieves up to three times faster scanning times compared to conventional MR scans. Coupled with its support for 97% of current clinical protocols – including advanced contrasts and diffusion weighted imaging and quantitative scans for brain, liver, heart or musculoskeletal (MSK) imaging – Philips SmartSpeed helps increase diagnostic confidence in a wide range of patients, including the most complex cases. The deep learning technology of Philips SmartSpeed is applied at the source of the MR signal and is integrated with Philips leading Compressed-SENSE speed engine to deliver higher resolution and high signal-to-noise ratio needed for detailed images, small lesion detection and enhanced diagnosis.
Philips SmartSpeed uses an award-winning AI reconstruction algorithm at the front-end of the MR signal to remove noise and preserve details while enabling k-space data consistency check for trustworthy AI. The unique ‘Adaptive-C-SENSE-Net’ AI technology used in Philips SmartSpeed, which was co-developed by Philips and several of its academic partners, won the 2019 fastMRI Challenge hosted by Facebook AI research and New York Langone Health.
Arjen Radder, general manager of Magnetic Resonance and Diagnostic X-ray at Philips, said: “By taking the Quadruple Aim as a starting point to develop and deploy AI solutions, we have a tremendous opportunity to address the inefficiencies and growing demand that our customers and partners face every day. Powered by AI, our leading technologies and smart connected imaging solutions help turn data into actionable insights to increase diagnostic confidence and help improve clinical outcomes for patients.’’