A new screening program from medical technology company Olympus Corp. uses artificial intelligence (AI) to screen and identify patients with severe emphysema.
The company said in a news release that its SeleCT Screening AI platform can help identify patients who could benefit from a minimally invasive procedure called bronchoscopic lung volume reduction (BLVR).
The system automatically reviews existing chest computed tomography (CT) scans throughout a health system to help identify patients who might benefit from the procedure. Then, it notifies physicians of the potentially qualified patients so they can be contacted for further evaluation.
“The use of AI technology is an exciting opportunity for us to help more emphysema patients in the communities we serve,” said Niral Patel, MD, interventional pulmonologist with UC San Diego Health. “Matching the right patients to the right treatment opportunity is not easy. The process takes time, and that’s a resource that a lot of our severe emphysema patients don’t have. Getting to them faster is critical.”
Kyle Hogarth, MD, University of Chicago Medicine, said BLVR is an effective tool in helping patients with certain types of emphysema, but they need to be diagnosed quickly.
The Spiration Valve System.Olympus Corp.
“Technology like SeleCT Screening is an effective way to more quickly identify those who most benefit from treatment and experience an improved quality of life,” he said.
The BLVR procedure uses the Spiration Valve System, which includes an umbrella-shaped device that is placed in targeted airways of the lung. The device allows air flow to be directed from the diseased parts of the lung to healthier parts, allowing the healthier lung tissue to expand and function more effectively.
