TechBio News: Automated Image Diagnosis Europe (part I)
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Hi everyone 👋 and welcome back to another edition of MetaphysicalCells 🛸 only for paid subscribers, this time is all about Medical Imaging Data and Automated Image Diagnosis in Europe (part I).
Automated Image Diagnosis Europe (part I)
Medical automated image diagnosis involves the use of artificial intelligence (AI), particularly machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL), to analyze medical imaging data (e.g., X-rays, MRIs, CT scans) for detecting diseases or abnormalities. Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) are widely used for tasks like image classification, object detection, and segmentation of anatomical structures (e.g., tumors or blood vessels), which is critical for treatment planning. In fact, CNNs are a cornerstone of this technology, enabling pattern recognition and classification akin to human experts.
As we talk, automated medical image diagnosis is transforming healthcare by leveraging AI and advanced imaging technologies to enhance diagnostic accuracy, efficiency, and patient outcomes. AI algorithms, particularly DL models, are capable of detecting complex patterns in medical images that may not be visible to the human eye. These include early-stage cancers, fractures, or subtle abnormalities (How Artificial Intelligence Is Shaping Medical Imaging Technology: A Survey of Innovations and Applications, and Advances in Medical Imaging Technology: Unlocking the Mysteries of the Human Body).
Moreover, AI-driven tools can analyze large datasets rapidly, enabling faster and more accurate diagnoses. For instance, CNNs and generative adversarial networks (GANs) are used for precise image analysis (tumors, retinal diseases) (Artificial Intelligence in Medical Imaging). CNNs are improving the detection of subtle abnormalities in various imaging modalities, including mammograms, CT scans, and MRIs. Natural language processing (NLP) is also being employed to automate the generation of structured radiology reports, reducing administrative burden and errors.
Overall, AI-powered systems excel at identifying early signs of diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular conditions, and neurological disorders. This capability allows for timely interventions, which are critical for improving patient outcomes. On top of that, by integrating imaging data with genomic and proteomic information, AI helps tailor treatments to individual patient profiles. This approach enhances the effectiveness of therapies while minimizing side effects. In addition, AI automates routine tasks like flagging abnormal scans or prioritizing urgent cases, reducing radiologists' workload and ensuring faster care for critical patients.
In today's newsletter I am going to illustrate several companies in Europe that are leveraging AI and advanced technologies to transform medical imaging, radiology, and healthcare diagnostics.
▶️ Visiopharm A/S
Visiopharm in Hoersholm, Denmark is a leading provider of AI-driven precision pathology software for research and diagnostics. They are providing tools that help scientists, pathologists, and image analysis experts produce accurate data for all types of tissue-based research. They have eight diagnostic algorithms cleared under IVDR for EU customers that provide diagnostic decision support and can be easily activated and integrated into existing lab workflows. Founded in 2002, they are privately owned and operate internationally with over 750 customer accounts in more than 40 countries. The company’s headquarters are located in Denmark’s Medicon Valley, with offices in Sweden, the UK, Germany, the Netherlands, and the United States, and local representation in France and China.
In 2022 Lunaphore and Visiopharm announced a new partnership in order to combine staining and imaging with AI analysis capabilities. Lunaphore in Switzerland 🧀 is a developer of microfluidic-based instruments for tumour analysis, offering a full-stack solution capable of visualising up to 40 markers in a single sample within a day. Their products include LabSat, a tumour tissue staining device, and COMET, an automated staining and imaging platform that performs sequential immunofluorescence. Founded in 2014 and headquartered in Tolochenaz, Switzerland, on June 22, 2023 Lunaphore Technologies SA announced it has reached an agreement to be acquired by Bio-Techne Corporation (NASDAQ:TECH), a global life sciences company providing innovative tools and bioactive reagents for the research and clinical diagnostic communities. Finally during 2022, Lunaphore, and Nucleai (Israel)—the leader in AI-powered spatial biology transforming precision medicine—announced a collaboration to accelerate the discovery of novel biomarkers and drug targets using the latest spatial imaging and ML technologies.
In November 2024, Molecular Instruments and Visiopharm Announced Strategic Partnership to Combine AI-Driven Precision Pathology with HCR™ Pro Assays to Advance Clinical-Grade RNA-ISH. Molecular Instruments®, is the inventor of the HCR™ Imaging technology, and this collaboration brings together MI's clinical-grade HCR™ platform with Visiopharm's Oncotopix® Discovery software, empowering users with a highly flexible, DL approach for precise and efficient image analysis for RNA-ISH assays. Molecular Instruments (US) develops and synthesizes molecular kits powered by the breakthrough HCR™ imaging platform for applications in academic research, drug development, synthetic biology, and clinical pathology and diagnostics.
Finally, in 2023 Visiopharm A/S acquired LRI Imaging AB, a company with more than 10 years of experience in the field, many successful installations in routine diagnostic pathology labs, and the leading diagnostic digital pathology provider in Sweden. With a staff of almost 50 digital pathology experts, Visiopharm A/S and LRI Imaging AB after the acquisition jointly became a highly specialized European leader in Diagnostic Digital Pathology solutions.