Frimley Park is first to receive AI to assist vascular case reporting
The first NHS hospital installation of Advanced intelligent Clear-IQ Engine (AiCE), a deep learning reconstruction AI algorithm, is now live at Frimley Park Hospital in Surrey. It is integrated into an Aquilion One Genesis Edition CT scanner from Canon Medical Systems and is being used to improve the reconstruction and reporting of vascular cases by radiologists.
Canon says that AiCE delivers reliable and high quality image reconstructions from CT scans to assist reporting clinicians with more accurate image information to support diagnosis and treatment plans. The solution is trained to differentiate noise from true signal, reducing distortions, preserving edges and maintaining details in image outputs.
“From a CT scanning operative point of view, we don’t even know that we’ve entered the world of AI as we don’t need to do anything different when setting protocols before examinations – it’s all part of the CT system,” said Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust CT lead radiographer Carmina Esperanza. “There is no barrier to acceptance or AI change management issues from the installation of a new innovation. The
advantage of AiCE to our radiologists is much sharper images to report on. The benefit to our patient population is confidence that they are gaining the highest standard of care via investment in the latest medical imaging equipment.”
An Aquilion Prime SP CT system was also installed into Frimley Park Hospital for acute work to support A&E and inpatients, while another was installed at Aldershot Centre for Health, an outlying medical centre for outpatient
diagnostics.
Esperanza added: “We looked at other providers as part of our replacement evaluation, looking at the scope of the technology, the size of the system and after-sales service. It was a unanimous decision between the trust selection panel; Canon Medical Systems UK is best placed to serve our future needs.”
Picture: Canon Medical Systems UK account manager Iain Burley, site lead radiographer Megan Wilkins, radiology services manager Bridget Manock, Canon Medical Systems UK account manager Mark Foxall, senior radiographers Robert McFaul and Orianna Friday, CT lead radiographer Carmina Esperanza and CT deputy lead radiographer Alissa Andrews.
Published on page 20 of the June 2020 issue of RAD Magazine.