CHICAGO, Ill. -- By Lee Han-soo/Korea Biomedical correspondent – Canon Medical Systems Corporation recently showcased its wide radiology portfolio, including computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), molecular imaging, ultrasound, and X-Ray solutions at the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) 2022.

Notably, during this year's RSNA, the company presented ways to improve further the confidence of physicians, such as clinical stability, and ways to build a true patient-centered design using artificial intelligence (AI).

Shim Hack-joon, head of the Medical Imaging AI Research Center at Canon Medical Systems Korea, explains the company’s devices and software during an interview with Korea Biomedical Review during the RSNA 2022 congress at Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk Hotel in Chicago, Ill., last Friday.
Shim Hack-joon, head of the Medical Imaging AI Research Center at Canon Medical Systems Korea, explains the company’s devices and software during an interview with Korea Biomedical Review during the RSNA 2022 congress at Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk Hotel in Chicago, Ill., last Friday.

"Using AI for CT scans has become an essential technology for vendors of radiology equipment," said Shim Hack-joon, head of the Medical Imaging AI Research Center at Canon Medical Systems Korea, during an interview with Korea Biomedical Review. “The company is particularly focusing on improving image quality using AI using two tools."

First, Canon is improving the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) by reducing the noise through AiCE (Advanced Intelligence Clear Engine), the world-first deep learning reconstruction technique. Secondly, the company aims to increase special resolution through PIQE (Precise Image Quality Engine), Canon's super-resolution deep-learning reconstruction technology for cardiac CT scans.

"SNR and special resolution are highly correlated as when SNR improves, the special resolution also improves," Shim said. "However, since they are distinctly different scales, we are creating technologies that fit each criterion."

The company is using the same solutions for MRI as well, Shim added.

When asked how such features on improving image quality help radiologists in the long run, Shim replied that using AiCE can improve patient safety and comfort by reducing radiation dose for CT and scan time for MR. It also contributes to the acceleration of radiologists' workflow by reducing scan repeats and the time patients have to spend, especially on MRI devices.

"The quality of MRI images improves with time, which means radiologists can get a better image if they increase the MRI time," Shim said. "However, patients have a hard time staying put for a long period, which forces radiologists to shoot quickly, and this is where AiCE can help maintain the image quality."

Regarding the company's work in improving radiologists' workflow, Shim also stressed that Canon has unveiled a new system called Automation Platform.

 

An image of how the Automation Platform operates. (Source: Canon Medical Systems)
An image of how the Automation Platform operates. (Source: Canon Medical Systems Corporation)

"Automation Platform can effectively operate multiple quantification and analytics solutions, and aims to streamline workflows using deep learning technology," Shim said. "Multiple steps in the window required from imaging to clinical decisions, such as accurate classification, prioritization of task lists and treatment decisions, are handled without human intervention by applying state-of-the-art deep learning technologies."

In addition to collecting images directly from multiple scanners, it automatically allocates image data into the appropriate quantification and analysis solutions based on patient information and image tags, Shim added.

Shim also stressed that quantification, analysis results, and priorities are delivered to clinicians and treating physicians under the name of "Insight Results" and used for severity determination, diagnosis, and treatment decisions.

"On top of Automation Platform, numerous solutions can run and AUTO Emergency solution is one of them and aims to heighten the speed and accuracy of the workflows which are paramount to optimizing treatment outcomes in emergencies," Shim said. 

Therefore, radiologists need a solution that can automatically streamline workflows, consolidate results into one summary, and alert on anomalies for quick triage and personalized treatment decisions, Shim added.

Shim explained that Canon Medical Systems Corporation currently offers a Stroke CT package and a Chest Pain package.

"Stroke CT packages can detect signs of ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke in minutes and facilitate treatment planning, and our Chest Pain Package, we offer a triage solution for life-threatening acute chest pain," Shim said. "The system embodies the recent trend toward precision medicine in medical imaging as it can quickly and accurately determine optimal treatments for a single patient."

While Automation Platform is more focused on increasing the workflow of radiologists, Shim noted that the company is also focusing on the needs of patients as well.

A patient is seen looking at the MR Theater while taking an MRI. (Source: Canon Medical Systems)
A patient is seen looking at the MR Theater while taking an MRI. (Source: Canon Medical Systems)

"Notably, MR Theater, provided by only Canon in the Korean MR market, is a solution that allows patients to comfortably undergo MRIs while watching the images they want during MRI examinations," Shim said. "In addition to peaceful natural scenery, patients can directly select videos from platforms such as YouTube and Netflix, greatly improving the patient's satisfaction during the examination."

In particular, it can relieve the anxiety of infants, the elderly, and claustrophobic patients, which prevents retesting and shortens the total examination time, Shim added.

Shim also explained that the platform also helps radiologists as various audio-visual effects distract the patient from the MRI scan and greatly improve the quality of the image by minimizing movement.

"We had received various compliments from radiologists who told us that after installing MR Theater, they succeeded in conducting an MRI for claustrophobic patients who were previously unable to have MRI scans and autistic patients who previously needed sedation," he said.

During the interview, Shim also discussed in detail the importance of the Korean market to Canon Medical Systems.

"Canon Medical Systems Corporation has currently divided its market into four sectors – Japan, EU, U.S., and ISD (international sales division)," Shim said. "The ISD sector includes about 12 countries, and Korea is one of the crucial markets for our company."

Shim stressed that Korea doesn't account for much in terms of global sales, with the Korean market accounting for probably 3 to 4 percent of Canon Medical System Corporation's global sales.

However, he does not believe that the sales amount simply determines the importance of the Korean market viewed by the Japanese headquarters.

"The Korean market is geographically the closest advanced market, and most importantly, Korean radiologists are very active in international conferences, such as RSNA, with some of them being key opinion leaders in the field," Shim said.

Shim also noted that Canon Medical Systems has been cooperating with Korean AI medical imaging startups as well.

"The company recently signed a memorandum of understanding with a company called Phantomics, a startup focused on cardiac MRI," Shim said. "The cardiac MRI market is not yet large worldwide as it takes at least an hour to undergo MRI screening, and the heart is the most difficult organ to take an MRI."

So, in terms of such a challenge, it is a field that Canon wants to pioneer, Shim added.

Shim also stressed that Canon is in cooperation with Neurophet, a local AI medical imaging firm, for automatic quantification and analysis of mainly dementia patients’ brain MR images.

 

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