Summary: Philips and Mayo Clinic are researching AI-driven solutions to improve cardiac MRI accessibility and efficiency, addressing challenges like high costs, limited availability, and patient restrictions due to implants.
Key Takeaways
- Philips and Mayo Clinic are partnering to use AI technology to reduce cardiac MRI scan times and improve radiology workflows.
- High costs and limited availability hinder access to cardiac MRI, despite its role as the gold standard for diagnosing certain heart conditions.
- The research includes exploring lower-field-strength MRI solutions to expand access for patients with metallic implants, who are often excluded from standard MRI procedures.
————————————————————————————————————————————————
Royal Philips and Mayo Clinic announced a research partnership to enhance cardiac MRI using AI technology. This collaboration aims to improve workflow for radiologists and shorten complex MRI exam times, increasing operational efficiency.
Ischemic heart disease, the leading global cause of mortality, accounted for 13% of all deaths and cost $252.2 billion in the U.S. in 2021. While CT scans are common for cardiac imaging, MRI remains the gold standard for diagnosing congenital heart disease and heart muscle disorders. However, high costs and limited availability restrict access to this critical diagnostic tool.
“From the patient perspective, MRI scans can be stressful. A complex cardiac MRI exam can take over an hour, which is often challenging for patients who suffer from claustrophobia inside the bore of the scanner, find it difficult to lie still or are unable to hold their breath for the required time,” says Ioannis Panagiotelis, PhD, business leader of MRI at Philips. “By applying AI at every stage of a cardiac MRI exam, we intend to expand access and greatly improve the patient experience, increase departmental efficiency, and deliver the detailed diagnostic information needed for optimal patient outcomes.”
AI-Driven Innovations
The research seeks to combine Mayo Clinic’s proprietary AI with Philips’ AI-driven technology to reduce MRI scan times and ease the workload on healthcare professionals. These advancements could empower even less experienced radiographers to conduct complex cardiac MRI exams successfully.
Expanding MRI Access for Patients with Implants
Philips will also explore the use of lower-field-strength MRI solutions, designed to expand access for patients with metallic implants, who are often excluded from standard MRI procedures. These solutions have the potential to benefit the 3.9% of the U.S. population with orthopedic or cardiac implants, including up to 75% of individuals with cardiac devices.
