AI in Medicine Gets Closer to Making Regular Rounds

The Food and Drug Administration recently approved a software algorithm that helps doctors identify hand fractures in X-rays. On its own, it's not ground-breaking news, but it is a sign artificial intelligence in medicine is getting closer to making regular rounds. In addition to finding new health care veins to mine, AI developers also need operate within the business world of health care and meet basic requirements such as cost-effectiveness. On May 24, FDA gave the green light to market Imagen OsteoDetect, an AI algorithm that uses machine learning techniques to analyze wrist radiographs (X-ray images) to assist clinicians in locating areas of distal radius fracturing. It's designed to be used in a variety of settings, including primary care, emergency medicine, urgent care and specialized care such as orthopedics, FDA said.