The period between November through February is pretty interesting for the field of medical imaging -- two major conferences bring out the latest developments in the field during this period. The Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) concluded its four-day annual meeting at the end of November 2018, the largest radiology event globally. Indeed, as healthcare looks to futuristic technologies, so does radiology. February saw the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) conference, where again technology for medical imaging is at display. From both the conferences, here's Frost & Sullivan's take on the top imaging technologies and how they will continue to evolve.

Subtle Medical today announced its artificial intelligence (AI)-powered image processing software, SubtleMR, received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). SubtleMR uses deep learning algorithms, denoising and resolution enhancement to improve the image quality of existing scanners. "We are pleased to received FDA clearance for SubtleMR, and we look forward to helping radiology departments and imaging centers get the most out of their existing MRI scanners," said Enhao Gong, Ph.D., founder and CEO of Subtle Medical. The software, which Subtle Medical said is compatible with any brand of MRI scanner and picture archiving and communication systems (PACS), could be beneficial for patients who have trouble staying still for long periods of time. Reducing the scan time for these patients not only improves the patient experience but could result in fewer artifact-ridden images and the need for physicians to re-scan an individual.

WIRE)-- Canon Medical Systems USA, Inc. has received 510(k) clearance on its Advanced Intelligent Clear-IQ Engine (AiCE) for the Aquilion PrecisionTM further expanding access to its new deep convolutional neural network (DCNN) image reconstruction technology. This technology, now available on both the Aquilion Precision and Aquilion ONE / GENESIS EditionTM premium CT systems, uses a deep learning algorithm to differentiate signal from noise so that it can suppress noise while enhancing signal, forging a new frontier for CT image reconstruction. Aquilion Precision - the world's first Ultra-High Resolution CT provides 2 times the resolution of conventional CT, revealing detail that is typically only seen in Cath labs. With AiCE, the system now enables clinicians to perform super-high resolution studies at doses equivalent to standard resolution CT (with traditional hybrid iterative reconstruction techniques). AiCE learns from the high image quality of Model Based Iterative Reconstruction (MBIR) to reconstruct CT images with improved high contrast spatial resolution*.

MIT neuroscientists have now identified two brain circuits that help tune out distracting sensory information, and they have found a way to reverse noise hypersensitivity in mice by boosting the activity of those circuits. One of the circuits the researchers identified is involved in filtering noise, while the other exerts top-down control by allowing the brain to switch its attention between different sensory inputs. The researchers showed that restoring the function of both circuits worked much better than treating either circuit alone. This demonstrates the benefits of mapping and targeting multiple circuits involved in neurological disorders, says Michael Halassa, an assistant professor of brain and cognitive sciences and a member of MIT's McGovern Institute for Brain Research. "We think this work has the potential to transform how we think about neurological and psychiatric disorders, [so that we see them] as a combination of circuit deficits," says Halassa, the senior author of the study.

"One of the most exciting things about deep learning reconstruction is how it redefines the usual negotiation between exam time and image quality. This could lead to significant downstream value for imaging operations and for patient experience," said Christopher Hess, MD, Chair of the Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging at UCSF. SubtleMR delivers a significant improvement in the quality of noisy images, which is particularly beneficial for patients who have difficulty holding still for long periods of time. Artifact-ridden images and the need for re-scans are a challenge for both patients and physicians. SubtleMR integrates seamlessly into the radiology workflow, and it is compatible with any brand of MRI scanner and PACS.

Investing in emerging technologies can be extremely risky. It can also be extremely rewarding – and not just for your bank account. Technologies like artificial intelligence have the potential to change the world in many different ways. One of the industries where AI is already making real advances is healthcare, such as the ability to design and validate drug candidates to treat disease in less than two months. That has attracted the attention of plenty of deep-pocketed investors into AI healthcare startups, which have made more deals than any other AI industry since 2014, according to research firm CB Insights, with more than 80 AI diagnostics and medical imaging companies leading the way across 150 deals and counting.

SAN DIEGO (KGTV) - Behind every mammogram Dr. Lisa Watanabe looks at is a woman waiting, and hoping, for good news. Dr. Watanbe is a radiologist, and the Chief Medical Officer for CureMetrix, an artificial intelligence (AI) technology company focused on early breast cancer detection. Their FDA-cleared software is able to learn, using millions of mammograms, to identify, mark, and score anomalies. "Cancers that were missed by a radiologist were detected by the machine, some of them weren't even small, sometimes they were just obscured by dense tissue," said Dr. Watanabe. She says the technology has found breast cancer up to five years earlier than it was found by the human radiologist.

After expanding its "all-in-one" AI bundle, which includes 3 FDA 510(k) clearances, the deep learning medical imaging analytics company, Zebra Medical Vision, is now announcing a new joint partnership with Intelerad Medical Systems, a leader in enterprise workflow solutions. The joint program will leverage Intelerad's newly released Odyssey designed to encourage the adoption of artificial intelligence without the prohibitive costs usually associated with such programs. The positive impact of artificial intelligence technology has been demonstrated in many fields, including that of radiology. Indeed, AI can help radiologists increase productivity, improve clinical decisions and, ultimately, provide high-quality care when the technology is tightly managed and smartly integrated in the workflow. Odyssey harnesses the power of artificial intelligence and the technology behind the Intelerad worklist to offer an unparalleled workflow management solution, comprised of the clinical AI engine, powered by Zebra-med's AI1 "all-in-one" bundle of FDA cleared AI applications.

As you leave for work, your car accesses your phone calendar to determine the destination you're headed for and already knows the shortest and fastest route to take. In case you encounter heavy traffic, the car automatically notifies your office that you are running late! While this might seem like a clip from a futuristic movie, scenarios like these are already taking shape. Enter the world of Internet of Things, popularly referred to as IoT. So far the internet had mostly connected people to information, people to people, and people to business.