Artificial intelligence platform supported by CBR helps diagnose patients with COVID-19 more quickly

Technology developed by InovaHC, the innovation arm of Hospital das Clínicas da USP, has already had more than 20,000 accesses and almost 7,000 exams analyzed in one month   The RadVid-19 artificial intelligence platform for diagnosing the new coronavirus has helped doctors and health institutions across the country to optimize diagnosis and treatment against covid-19. Developed by the Institute of Radiology (InRad) at USP, and by InovaHC – the innovation and technology arm of the Hospital das Clínicas of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of São Paulo (HCFMUSP) --, since it was launched, just over a month ago , has already received 21,500 hits and registered nearly seven thousand imaging tests sent by radiologists from 12 Brazilian states, with 71% of positive results for covid-19. Powered by a vast image bank of X-rays and chest CT scans of patients from 50 registered hospitals across Brazil so far -- the platform is capable of identifying evidence of the presence of covid-19 in exams, from artificial intelligence algorithms and technology. The service is available free of charge to doctors and health institutions throughout Brazil. The objective is to help decision-making on the best treatment to be indicated against the disease caused by the new coronavirus, based on a more accurate diagnosis. The purpose of the system is to read x-rays and CT scans, and indicate the probability of whether or not the person is infected with covid-19. The process, quick and simple, happens by identifying common patterns of the disease in imaging tests. The tool also shows the degree of lung impairment and, thus, creates a large database, which can help physicians to define conduct and possible treatment even before the results of other types of tests. In addition, the platform allows radiologists on duty online to clarify diagnostic doubts based on image exams – indicating, for example, high or low probability for covid-19. “Since the end of May, we have experienced radiologists on duty. The idea is to help other doctors from hospitals across the country who use the platform, to answer questions and discuss patient cases, with an accurate diagnosis based on the artificial intelligence algorithm available on the platform”, highlights the director of InovaHC, Marco Bego. In addition to the on-call workers, “the platform is constantly being improved. New functionalities will soon be released to help professionals who are in places with more critical cases due to the pandemic”, completes Giovanni Guido Cerri, president of the institute. Partner companies The platform is a project by InovaHC and the Institute of Radiology (InRad), both at the Hospital das Clínicas of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of São Paulo (HCFMUSP), made possible by Todos pela Saúde with the support of Itaú Unibanco and Petrobras. Among the technological partners are Amazon Web Services, GE Healthcare – Division of Enterprise Digital Solutions (EDS), Huawei Cloud and Siemens Healthineers – Digital Health Area. Institutions such as the Brazilian College of Radiology and Image Diagnosis (CBR), the São Paulo Society of Radiology and Image Diagnosis (SPR) and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) are also part of the project as institutional support. Deloitte supports project strategy, advice and governance. Among the partners are Grupo Fleury and Instituto Tellus. Hospital Sírio-Libanês is a partner in the idealization and construction of the project. The RadVid platform also has the Novartis Foundation as a strategic partner and support from the state departments of Economic Development and Health and the Ministry of Science, Technology, Innovations and Communications (MCTIC). Health professionals and medical institutions across the country can access the platform via the internet radvid19.hc.fm.usp.br.   About InovaHC The Technological Innovation Center – InovaHC has as its main objective to encourage innovation within the scope of HCFMUSP, manage the intellectual property generated in this environment, and provide means to promote the transfer of scientific, technological and cultural knowledge to the public and private productive sector, aiming at the improvement of the health of the State and the Nation. This general purpose is in accordance with state and federal laws, which are motivated to make technological innovation a strategic component of economy and development. Inova is a movement with the objective of encouraging innovation inside and outside the Hospital das Clínicas of the Faculty of Medicine of USP.   About InRad The Institute of Radiology (InRad) of the Hospital das Clínicas of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of São Paulo (HCFMUSP) is a center of excellence in research, diagnosis and imaging therapies. It is also responsible for the pharmaceutical production of items used daily for clinical research and also for products used in clinical routine and drugs produced in the nuclear medicine sector where the cyclotron is located, a particle accelerator that produces the radioactive formula of glucose FDG (Fluorodeoxyglucose). used in PET (Positron Emission Tomography) scans. During the process, if the patient has a cancer cell, it glows. In addition, InRad was ranked as the best nuclear medicine center in the world by the International Atomic Energy Agency. Every year, 215,000 patients pass through InRad. In the last four years, more than 1.5 million tests were performed, including ultrasound, general radiology, computed tomography, magnetic resonance, nuclear medicine and mammography. At the institute there are 82 state-of-the-art radiology equipment to perform more than 300,000 exams per month, 25,000 of which are X-rays alone.   Amazon Web Services Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Brazilian College of Radiology and Diagnostic Imaging (CBR) deloitte Novartis Foundation GE Healthcare – Division of Enterprise Digital Solutions (EDS) Fleury Group Syrian-Lebanese Hospital Huawei Tellus Institute Ministry of Science, Technology, Innovations and Communications (MCTIC) Petrobras State Departments of Health State Departments of Economic Development Siemens Healthineers - Digital Health Area Paulista Society of Radiology and Imaging Diagnosis (SPR) All for Health – with the support of Itaú Unibanco