
The Radiological Society of North America is internet hosting its annual assembly in Chicago this week, permitting clinicians and tech professionals from all around the world to share concepts and show the most recent improvements within the area.
The exhibit corridor is populated by a whole lot of corporations, starting from small AI startups to huge medtech incumbents. On Monday, I visited a type of medtech giants — Philips — to be taught extra in regards to the partnerships and know-how that the corporate was showcasing at this 12 months’s present.
Deepened collaboration with AWS
Philips introduced that it’s increasing its longstanding relationship with AWS. The corporate initially chosen AWS as its cloud accomplice about seven years in the past, and the 2 have labored carefully collectively ever since, mentioned Shez Partovi, chief innovation and technique officer at Philips, in an interview.
For instance, the companions started an effort final 12 months to construct generative AI instruments for HealthSuite, Philip’s imaging archiving and communications system.
As the businesses deepen their collaboration, they’re specializing in shifting Philips’ built-in diagnostics portfolio to the cloud, Partovi declared.
“The explanation we’re doing that’s as a result of that’s what clients need. [Radiology images] are very giant photos that require very giant storage, and their IT departments don’t need to handle this on their premises,” he remarked. “So step certainly one of this partnership is to combine diagnostics, radiology, pathology and cardiology — and to maneuver to the cloud.”
This effort seeks to unify diagnostic workflows, with the final word aim of driving higher outcomes throughout numerous medical specialties, Partovi added.
He additionally identified that as a way to embed AI into imaging methods, suppliers want excessive efficiency computing capabilities. The mixing of radiology AI instruments typically requires graphics processing items (GPUs), that are processors designed to quickly carry out advanced calculations, primarily for rendering photos and video.
“It’s very exhausting to place that on premise. It’s very costly, and information facilities typically don’t need to have GPUs on premise. If you transfer and combine the software program into the cloud, it unlocks the flexibility to embed much more AI instruments — as a result of it makes use of the facility of the computing that’s obtainable within the cloud to have the ability to do all of the AI that’s wanted,” Partovi mentioned.
BlueSeal MRI machine
At RSNA 2024, Philips unveiled its new BlueSeal MRI system. The 1.5T MRI system operates with a lot much less helium than a typical MRI machine, a characteristic that would assist enhance sufferers’ entry to MRI scans, Partovi famous.
Conventional MRI magnets usually require practically 400 gallons of liquid helium to successfully cool the magnet’s coils and due to this fact permit them to keep up superconductivity, he identified.
“This makes the MR very heavy. That’s why, should you go to a hospital right now, most MRs are on the primary flooring or the basement,” Partovi remarked.
The BlueSeal MRI system requires simply 1.8 gallons of liquid helium due to its totally sealed, helium-efficient design that eliminates the necessity for steady helium refills, he defined.
He additionally identified that conventional MRI machines require a “quench pipe,” which is a chimney-like fixture meant to securely vent helium fuel exterior the constructing in case of a sudden magnet quench.
The BlueSeal machine doesn’t require a quench pipe, neither is it stuffed with a whole lot of gallons of helium, so it’s about 2,000 kilos lighter than a conventional MRI system, Partoci declared. This implies Philips’ system can exist on second, third and fourth flooring inside hospitals, and even in cellular vans, he famous.
The system additionally now options Philips’ cloud-based picture studying know-how, which makes use of AI to combine imaging and studying on the MR scanner, Partovi added. To assist construct this know-how, the corporate partnered with digital diagnostics agency icometrix and imaging biomarker specialist Quibim to flag indications for illnesses like Alzheimer’s, a number of sclerosis and prostate most cancers on the level of care, he acknowledged.
CT 5300 system

Philips’ newest CT scanner made its North American debut at RSNA 2024, geared up with AI instruments to assist clinician workflows and resolution making. The machine had been deployed by European suppliers earlier within the 12 months.
The system comprises camera-based know-how to enhance the accuracy of the affected person’s positioning, which helps save time for busy technicians, Partovi remarked.
Philips additionally used iterative reconstruction and AI fashions to reinforce the scanner’s picture high quality whereas minimizing the radiation dose required to acquire these photos, Partovi identified. Philip’s system makes use of as much as 80% much less radiation than conventional CT scanners, he declared.
“Meaning 80% much less radiation on the affected person, and the photographs are simply nearly as good,” Parvoti mentioned. “That has significance in a bunch of various methods. Initially, radiation to kids’s eyes is a essential downside as a result of this will trigger cataracts later in life. Two, in case you have, God forbid, some illness that requires you to be scanned each six months, that radiation begins so as to add up. And three, it’s not good for the atmosphere to have a lot radiation.”
Photograph: Khanisorn Chaokla, Getty Pictures