FDA Clears Modules of AI-Rad Companion Chest CT From Siemens Healthineers

• AI-based software enables automated enhanced visualization of CT images of the lungs, heart, and aorta
• Automatically highlights abnormalities and pathological findings
• Enables automated structured reporting for radiology examinations

MALVERN, Pa.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cleared three modules of AI-Rad Companion Chest CT¹, an intelligent software assistant from Siemens Healthineers that brings artificial intelligence (AI) to computed tomography (CT). Representing the first intelligent assistant of the new AI-Rad Companion platform, AI-Rad Companion Chest CT helps radiologists interpret images of the thorax (chest) quickly with desired accuracy and precision, and automatically documents these findings as structured reports.

Although CT chest images are mainly assessed by radiologists with regard to the primary indication, these images contain additional clinically relevant information. The algorithms in AI-Rad Companion Chest CT were trained on extensive datasets and annotated by qualified clinical specialists to provide segmentation, measurement, and highlighting of key anatomical structures, to support quantitative and qualitative analysis.

Using CT images of the chest, AI-Rad Companion Chest CT differentiates among various structures in that region – including the lungs, heart, and aorta – highlights them individually, and marks and measures potential abnormalities, such as coronary calcifications. It supports a variety of tasks, including: automated detection of lesions, localization of abnormalities, and measurement of lung lesions; quantification of per-lobe low-attenuation parenchyma; enhanced visualization of lung lesions; automated segmentation of lung lobes and enhanced visualization of low-attenuation parenchyma; segmentation and measurement of maximum diameters of the thoracic aorta; quantification of the total calcium volume in the coronary arteries; and detection of nine anatomical landmarks as identified by American Heart Association (AHA) guidelines.

Based on the AI-supported analysis, AI-Rad Companion Chest CT automatically generates standardized, reproducible, and quantitative reports in Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) SC format. In addition to reducing time spent on manual results documentation, these reports can be accessed by radiologists on the picture archiving and communication system (PACS) in the clinical routine. AI-Rad Companion Chest CT also highlights potentially clinically relevant changes that might otherwise remain unnoticed because they were not the primary indication for the exam.

“AI-Rad Companion Chest CT builds on our decades-long expertise in AI and machine learning, digitalizing healthcare and helping providers perform multi-organ image interpretation of the chest with enhanced detection, accuracy, and precision, which can potentially improve outcomes,” said David Pacitti, President and Head of the Americas at Siemens Healthineers.

AI-Rad Companion Chest CT is a cloud-based solution that has been tested and validated for CT scanners from Siemens Healthineers, GE Healthcare, and Philips Healthcare. It uses certified, secure teamplay infrastructure and integrates seamlessly into existing clinical workflows.

¹ AI-Rad Companion Engine (K183272), Pulmonary (K183271) and Cardiovascular (K183268) modules

Siemens Healthineers enables healthcare providers worldwide to increase value by empowering them on their journey toward expanding precision medicine, transforming care delivery, improving the patient experience, and digitalizing healthcare. A leader in medical technology, Siemens Healthineers is constantly innovating its portfolio of products and services in its core areas of diagnostic and therapeutic imaging, and in laboratory diagnostics and molecular medicine. Siemens Healthineers is also actively developing its digital health services and enterprise services. In fiscal 2018, which ended on September 30, 2018, Siemens Healthineers generated revenue of €13.4 billion and adjusted profit of €2.3 billion and has about 50,000 employees worldwide. Further information is available at www.siemens-healthineers.com.

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