Aidence, a Dutch start-up focusing on artificial intelligence (AI) for interpreting medical images, has raised 2.25 million euros from investors. Both Northzone, HenQ, Health Innovations and the Haaglanden hospital group's investment fund are putting money into the company. The investment will be used to strengthen both Aidence's sales and technical team. In addition, the company aims to expand its international reach.
The start-up is developing deep learning-based AI that can make accurate diagnoses of X-ray, MRI and CT images completely independently. Currently, these images are still manually reviewed by trained radiologists. By largely automating this process, Aidence aims to reduce misdiagnosis, increase efficiency and address the shortage of radiologists facing many countries.
'Both patients and medical specialists benefit'
"The promise of AI has been around for decades, but it is now that we are finally able to fulfil this promise. We believe AI will improve patients' lives by increasing the number of early and accurate cancer diagnoses. Medical specialists performing diagnostic imaging will also benefit, by reducing the burden on them and giving them a second reader at their disposal that never tires," said Mark-Jan Harte, CEO of Aidence.
"Based on our scientific results, we are working hard to bring our lung module detection product to market. Our ultimate goal is to achieve a level of diagnostic accuracy that rivals the collective knowledge of all human experts, and bring it to every hospital in the world." Aidence's AI is vendor-neutral, meaning the system is applicable to medical images taken with equipment from any manufacturer. The software platform can be integrated with existing Picture Archiving and Communication Systems (PACS) and workstations.
Other applications
By the way, the deep learning technology on which Aidence's AI is based cannot only be used for detecting lung nodules. The start-up is currently exploring other applications of this technology, including assessing CT scans of the thorax and MRI images of joints and the brain. In addition, Aidence expects to use the technology for triage, optimising workflows, screening programmes and daily clinical practice.
Developing such applications requires a detailed understanding of diagnostic and clinical practice. Aidence therefore collaborates with innovative and fast-growing commercial radiology and healthcare companies worldwide. The company invites interested organisations to partner with Aidence around the development and implementation of its solutions.
Author: Wouter Hoeffnagel
Source: HenQ
Source: Aidence
