Image Analysis targets UK market

Image Analysis, the company that specialises in developing computer-aided algorithms for MRI data analysis, is calling on the NHS to adopt its technology, which is widely used in the rest of Europe.

The company, which develops the algorithms for faster and more accurate detection of disease, has already deployed the software in hospitals across Poland, Denmark, the Netherlands and Italy but says that there is reluctance in the UK to use the software.

Dr Kubassova said that while MRI scans enable clinicians to diagnose whether a patient has a disease, the cost of analysing the scan can often be expensive and time consuming as clinicians assess up to a thousand images per patient.

However, the Dynamika-RA software allows all of the images to be condensed into one and uses colour coding to focus the consultant’s attention on the areas where there is cause for concern using a single statistical map.

The company claims it is the only software provider to provide image analysis that is not specific to an MRI hardware vendor.

Dr Kubassova told E-Health Europe: “It’s completely independent from MRI hardware manufacturers, which is important when looking at the regional deployment of MRI images, if its vendor specific then you can’t read it.

“The software also looks at retrospective data, so if a hospital changes its equipment then it can still view it which is really essential in planning.”

As well as providing more accurate and earlier disease detection the software is also able to show how well a particular drug is working in order to manage a patients’ condition.

The company is now working with larger companies such as Accenture and pharmaceutical companies to provide an objective way of analysing their data but wants to work with more organisations in the UK.

Dr Kubassova added: “We believe that though this service is offered in places such as Denmark it should be available in the NHS in order to improve the quality of care.

“There is very little proven research in this area in the UK. If academia were to demonstrate what clinicians are doing in Denmark with this technology it would, without a doubt, be the defacto standard.

"Although we’re not trying to replace a clinician’s judgment it provides diagnostic decision support and a second opinion option for less experienced clinicians, which is a great educational tool for those that have just finished their clinical training.”

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