Artificial intelligence (AI) is currently being talked about everywhere. In medicine, and especially in diagnostic imaging, it is no longer just a buzzword, but has become a fully functional tool. How are machine learning algorithms changing the face of modern ultrasound machines?
1. Automating repetitive measurements
The daily work of a diagnostician involves performing hundreds of repetitive, manual measurements. It is in this area that artificial intelligence achieves its greatest successes. The latest machines from brands such as Samsung, GE Healthcare, or Siemens can recognize anatomical structures and place the appropriate calipers with a single click.
A good example is gynecology and obstetrics. AI-based software can automatically identify the cross-sectional plane and perform instantaneous fetal biometry (BPD, HC, AC, FL) in just a fraction of a second. In cardiology, algorithms automatically outline the endocardium and calculate the heart's ejection fraction (EF), significantly reducing the risk of human error resulting from fatigue.
2. Unprecedented image quality and noise reduction
Obtaining a clean and clear image when examining patients with difficult anatomical conditions can be a challenge. Traditional speckle reduction filters often involved a loss of sharpness at tissue edges or a drop in the frame rate.
Thanks to the application of Deep Learning, the software of today's ultrasound systems can distinguish acoustic noise from actual tissue. The system "knows" what a healthy organ should look like, which allows for the generation of an image with unprecedented clarity, while maintaining sharp contours of focal lesions or tumors.
3. Intelligent Workflow
The use of AI technology reduces the duration of a single examination by up to 30%. Intelligent examination protocols can predict the doctor's next step, automatically selecting the appropriate imaging preset or suggesting which measurements are missing to complete a full medical report.
Summary
Will artificial intelligence replace ultrasonographers? Definitely not. Its goal is to take over repetitive, tedious tasks, allowing the diagnostician to focus on what is most important – analyzing difficult clinical cases and direct contact with the patient. If you want to see how these functions work in practice, contact Demo-USG and arrange a free demonstration of the latest equipment in your office.
