This month, VIDA Diagnostics Inc. received Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance (510 k) for advancements in their LungPrint solution. The advanced technology conducts computed tomography (CT) scans using artificial intelligence.
In the United States, over 200,000 adults are estimated to be diagnosed with lung cancer every year. Nearly 13% of all cancer diagnoses are in the form of lung cancer.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), nearly 65 million people worldwide suffer from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Lung disease is the third leading cause of death, amounting to almost three million deaths per year.
Moreover, more than 300 million people have asthma. Pneumonia is a leading cause of death for children younger than five years old, and more than 10 million develop tuberculosis. "Prevention, control, and cure of these diseases and promotion of respiratory health must be a top priority in global decision-making in the health sector," wrote the WHO in a report.
Lung conditions also affect other health conditions, such as heart disease, depression, diabetes, and sleep apnea. Millions of people also suffer from pulmonary hypertension (high blood pressure) and sleep-disordered breathing.
VIDA's LungPrint Solution
VIDA has been a leading company in advancing lung and respiratory care by providing efficient clinical solutions. In 2019, VIDA partnered with TeraRecon's AI technology, EnboyAI, to expand pulmonary care solutions. AI enables the company's system to create precise imaging and accurate analytics.
LungPrint Discovery is a fully automated tool to assist radiologists in making accurate patient assessments. Dr. John Newell shared that technology enables him to save time and be more confident in his reviews. In a pilot study, LungPrint allows physicians to reduce read time by 35 percent.
LungPrint Insight analyzes chest CT scans and provides predictive decision support for treatments with either the Lung Cancer Resection of the Lung Volume Analysis. For example, AI will examine the condition of lung cancer patients to determine surgical suitability with better precision than traditional methods.
For patients with emphysema, the Lung Volume Analysis will support treatment decisions with a quantitative CT scan analysis. Emphysema is when the lung's air sacs or alveoli are damaged, causing shortness of breath.
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Advancing Pulmonary Analysis
CEO Susan Wood shared that personalized medicine involves precision algorithms "to optimize outcomes for patients." Adding the algorithms to the company's deep-learning capabilities "is a critical step towards diagnosing and treating lung disease with anatomical precision based on clinical best practices."
VIDA's respiratory AI solutions are especially important to diagnose and assess complex lung diseases such as coronavirus-related lung damage and many other pulmonary illnesses affecting millions worldwide. Pharmaceutical companies also rely on the company's drug research therapies to develop effective treatments against lung disease.
Wood shared, "Technology supporting early and accurate diagnosis and management of lung and respiratory disease have become of increasing importance amidst the global COVID-19 pandemic, especially as evidence builds for long-term lung damage."
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