AI ML Models Analysing USG Scans for Clinical Decision Support in Perinatal Care

Perinatal, as per the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary, means at or around the time of birth. The Farlex Partner Medical Dictionary defined it as, "occurring during, or pertaining to, the periods before, during, or after the time of birth; that is, before delivery from the 22nd week of gestation through the first 28 days after delivery." Perinatal period care, or the care provided to expectant mothers and the respective child during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period, is a crucial aspect of the healthcare domain. One key aspect of perinatal care is the use of USG or ultrasound scans, which use high-frequency sound waves to create images of the developing foetus, placenta, and surrounding maternal structures. Analysis of a USG scan, like many other medical scans, requires the expert eyes of a radiologist or gynaecologist to decipher various symptoms beyond the overall well-being parameters mapping the gestation period. Artificial intelligence (AI), Computer Vision (CV) and Machine Learning (ML), offer groundbreaking possibilities in analysing data from USG scans in order to improve the quality and effectiveness of perinatal care.