Medicosnext
Dr. Bodhraj Acharya, Phd, FAACC
As 2023 comes to an end, we find ourselves on the cusp of a groundbreaking epoch in laboratory medicine, driven by the extraordinary advances in artificial intelligence (AI), automation, and neural networks. These technologies are set to revolutionize diagnostic and therapeutic approaches, offering substantial improvements in the efficiency, accuracy, and customization of laboratory processes. AI’s role in deciphering the large quantities of clinical data produced by growing automation is fostering the creation of innovative diagnostic and prognostic instruments. This fusion of automation and AI is a crucial progression towards personalized medicine, prompting the need for comprehensive reform in the educational programs for pathologists and clinical doctorate scientists.
The year 2023 signifies a notable landmark in the evolution of laboratory medicine, marking the point where the fusion of technology and healthcare ascends to unprecedented levels. AI’s contribution to this metamorphosis surpasses simple mechanization; it entails the conversion of intricate data into practical insights, granting a more profound comprehension of diseases down to the molecular detail. As we step into this new age, the potential for AI to bring forth extraordinary precision in patient care is tremendous, highlighting the pressing need for the healthcare sector to adjust and progress alongside these technological advancements.
Looking ahead, various laboratory companies are poised to leave an indelible mark on the field with their innovative uses of AI. These organizations are not merely riding the wave of change; they are the architects of a new era in healthcare. Their commitment to integrating AI is reshaping the landscape of laboratory medicine, setting new standards for efficiency, accuracy, and patient-centric solutions.
Siemens Healthineers is advancing healthcare with its strong focus on AI, having developed over 70 AI-powered applications for diagnostics and patient care. They have also launched a centre of excellence in Ireland, dedicated to innovating laboratory instruments for disease detection, enhancing disease detection and patient outcomes. They have introduced middleware solutions like ADM, APM and DMS, which are equipped with a wide range of AI technologies. These middleware systems are designed to significantly improve the user experience for lab professionals, offering sophisticated tools that streamline workflow and increase efficiency in the laboratory setting, leveraging cutting-edge technology to enhance laboratory operations and support healthcare professionals.
Roche is set to unveil a new mass spectrometry-based clinical analyzer in 2024, which is fully automated and designed to significantly simplify the use of mass spectrometry in laboratory settings. Historically, the complexity and demanding nature of mass spectrometry have limited its use in smaller, routine labs. Roche’s new instrument, however, focuses on mirroring the automation, reliability, and user-friendly interface of traditional analyzers, potentially making advanced mass spectrometry more accessible and practical for a wider range of laboratory environments.
Abbott has developed a machine-learning algorithm for a high-sensitivity troponin-I blood test, aiding in faster and more accurate heart attack diagnoses. This algorithm considers variables like age, sex, troponin levels, and blood sample timing, offering more personalized assessments for heart attack risks. Abbott uses AI automation in optical coherence tomography (OCT) to provide precise image and risk data in the arteries. This technology, known as Ultreon, enables clinicians to view heart and eye vessels before and during surgeries, assisting in critical decisions like stent placement. Furthermore, Abbott has partnered with Redcliffe Labs to introduce the first AI-based Clinical Decision Support (CDS) system known as AlinIQ. This system, powered by big data engines and AI, is a significant step towards revolutionizing medical decisions. The CDS system aim to go beyond traditional laboratory reporting by using AI-driven algorithms to automatically apply decision-making to individual patient cases.
Beckman Coulter’s DxI 9000 Immunoassay analyzer represents a leap in laboratory diagnostics with its innovative Lumi-Phos pro substrate and PrecisionVision Technology. This advanced analyzer is designed for highly accurate testing, employing real-time inspection to prevent errors in reporting. Their middleware, Remisol advance, offers a centralized connection of instruments to the laboratory information system (LIS). The integration of Scopio Labs technology with Beckman Coulter’s hematology analyzers allows for full-field peripheral blood smear reviews with AI-powered image recognition, enhancing clinical decision support capabilities. StoCastic’s TriageGo, a triage decision support tool, is now a cornerstone of Beckman Coulter’s clinical decision support portfolio. This tool integrates electronic health records and emergency department workflows to aid in patient triage by improving decision-making times and streamlining patient care processes.
Sysmex, a Japanese corporation specializing in medical equipment and devices, is actively using artificial intelligence (AI) in various innovative ways. They have alliance with OPTiM Corporation to develop medical IT solutions utilizing AI and the Internet of Things (IoT). This collaboration aims to connect medical equipment at medical institutions over networks and analyze the data using AI, contributing to the advancement of next-generation healthcare and diagnostics. Sysmex has also teamed up with the biotechnology startup ThinkCyte to develop AI-powered technology for in-vitro diagnostics (IVD). This collaboration focuses on a new technique of flow cytometry, known as Ghost Cytometry, which combines high-speed imaging with AI-enabled analysis. This technology allows for the fast and accurate classification of cells based on detailed morphological information, surpassing what can be obtained using conventional flow cytometry techniques.
GE HealthCare have 42 medical devices approved by the FDA that incorporate AI, improving workflow efficiencies in procedures like MRI scans. GE HealthCare has developed AI solutions like the AIR Recon DL reconstruction algorithm for MRI, which produces sharper images.
Innovative companies such as Day Zero Diagnostics, NanoPath, MEMED, Pattern Bioscience, MS Pen Technologies Inc., and Vital are leading the way in the transformation of medical technology. They have gained recognition as finalists in the ADLM disruptive technology award, showcasing their significant contributions to the field. These companies are developing a range of groundbreaking technologies, from swift and precise infection diagnostics to AI-powered devices for tissue analysis. Their advancements are not only speeding up diagnosis processes but also enhancing the accuracy of these diagnoses.
Day Zero Diagnostics (DZ) has developed a technology utilizing whole genome sequencing to diagnose infections rapidly and accurately directly from clinical samples, bypassing the need for culture growth. This technology can discern both the type of infection and its antibiotic susceptibility within hours, offering a significant time advantage over traditional methods. It operates effectively even in samples with a high presence of human DNA, leveraging advanced algorithms for comprehensive organism identification and antibiotic resistance profiling.
MeMed has introduced MeMed BV®, a diagnostic test that distinguishes between viral and bacterial infections in sepsis patients. This critical differentiation is achieved through the computational analysis of three protein levels (TRAIL, IP-10, CRP) in the bloodstream.
Pattern Bioscience has created a novel culture-free test that rapidly identifies pathogens causing infections and their antibiotic susceptibility. Unlike traditional PCR or sequence-based methods, this test utilizes a combination of single-cell analysis and AI to directly measure how individual bacterial cells react to antibiotics. This approach aids healthcare teams in selecting the most effective antimicrobial therapy quickly, akin to standard culture methods but significantly faster.
MS Pen Technologies is revolutionizing tissue diagnostics with its AI-powered MasSpec Pen technology, providing real-time molecular data at the point of need. This technology supports surgeons and clinicians in making optimized diagnostic decisions, surgical interventions, and treatment plans. The company’s vision is to enable early disease detection for prompt and effective treatment, overcoming current limitations in diagnostic and surgical pathology.
Vital is developing an innovative automated device capable of delivering a comprehensive suite of diagnostics directly to patients. The technology requires only a small blood sample (600 uL) to quantify over 50 primary care biomarkers in just 20 minutes. It integrates hematology, clinical chemistry, and immunoassays in an automated microfluidic workflow, ideal for use in CLIA-waived settings due to its ease of operation and minimal user input.
Nanopath is making significant advances in molecular diagnostics with its solid-state biosensing platform, which offers rapid, ultrasensitive optical detection for genetic information in under fifteen minutes, without the need for nucleic acid amplification. Focusing initially on women’s health, Nanopath’s technology is designed to address unmet needs with its benchtop instrumentation and test cartridges. It has shown promising preliminary data in HPV genotyping and UTI characterization and is working towards FDA approval.
Conclusion
The impending revolution in laboratory medicine, spearheaded by AI and automation, brings with it a set of formidable challenges. These include the need to revamp laboratory infrastructure, establish robust data sharing protocols, and address privacy concerns, all while retraining the workforce to navigate this new landscape. The transition to an AI-enhanced framework signifies a paradigm shift in healthcare, emphasizing a more nuanced approach to disease management that caters to the unique biological profiles of individuals. As we step into 2024, we stand on the threshold of a new era in medicine, one marked by groundbreaking advancements and a deeper, more personalized approach to patient care. This pivotal year promises not just technological innovation, but a redefined vision of healthcare, where precision and personalization are at the forefront of medical practice.