Seven AI-Based Healthcare Apps That Save People

 

2023 marks the 10th anniversary of IBM Watson, a digital tool to fight cancer. The launch of this program was the first-ever use of AI for medical purposes. Since then, science has stepped forward, and new AI-based healthcare apps regularly appear. MarketsandMarkets estimates that by 2027, AI will bring $67.4 billion to the industry, which is nearly 10 times more than in 2021. Let’s see how AI in healthcare helps save lives.

AIND smart disease diagnosis tool

AI research has taken a step forward, turning a smart algorithm into a tool for the early detection of diseases. The British project AIND is a good example of this. Together with a European software developer, the company has implemented an AI platform that can process DICOM images (MRI, CT, X-ray, and PET) and non-graphic data.

A cloud-based AI tool collects and analyzes data obtained from research (medical scans, EHRs, IoT devices, genomic storage) and predicts the possibility of a person developing neurological diseases (Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and so on). The algorithm can also predict the rate of deterioration of memory and cognitive functions.

In this way, doctors can use AIND to detect degenerative brain diseases in advance. These serious conditions have become the scourge of the 21st century. According to statistics, morbidity increases as the population ages. If doctors do not find an effective treatment soon, in 30 years, more than 12 million Americans will suffer from neurodegenerative diseases.

 

Smart lab assistant for rapid diagnosis of coronavirus

At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, a PCR test took from several hours to a week. Everything depended on the degree of the workload of a laboratory, the number of employees and machines, and the availability of supplies. My lab, a project implemented by a European software development company, was meant to solve the problem of waiting for test results.

An AI-powered web platform simplifies and speeds up the work of lab technicians. The program scans raw results from laboratory machines, analyzes them, displays data on dashboards, and generates reports.

The AI ​​platform performs up to a hundred tests per minute, providing doctors with accurate results. A physician only needs to review the data and sign it. As a rule, data is reliable because the algorithm has been trained on tens of thousands of tests. But if some results are questionable, a lab technician changes the data manually.

The smart platform increases lab productivity without sacrificing quality and reduces testing costs.

 

Buoy Health smart chatbot for diagnosing diseases from symptoms

Harvard Medical School has developed an AI-powered chatbot that communicates with patients and makes diagnoses. The virtual interlocutor asks a user how they are feeling and, depending on the answer, suggests a diagnosis.

After analyzing the health state of a person, a smart algorithm names the suspected disease and its causes. Then, depending on the person’s condition, it either offers an appointment with the doctor or the necessary service (teleconsultation or virtual assistance).

The platform also offers patients a treatment progress tracking feature (user permission is required). Those wishing to discuss similar illnesses can join the Buoy community. Thus, this smart chatbot solves the problem of autotherapy. As a result, people are less likely to complain of far-fetched diseases and do not neglect their health.

 

Freenome cancer screening platform

Healthcare professionals have long been discussing a new stage in the development of medical science – preventive medicine. Research institutes are looking for technologies that will allow clinics to analyze information about a patient’s genome, the biological and clinical composition of blood, and the quality of life. Based on the data collected, they can establish what diseases a person is susceptible to and adjust their schedule, diet, plan for taking vitamins, and medications. Thus, they can prevent the development of disease at a very early stage, when there are no symptoms.

Freenome, a multiomics AI healthcare platform, has taken a step toward preventive medicine with innovative tests for the early detection of colorectal cancer. Multiomics blood testing reveals early signs of cancer, including a multidimensional representation of a tumor and immune signatures.

Freenome looks for two main biomarkers in the blood of a patient. It also tries to “catch” DNA fragments that enter the bloodstream from the tumor and capture the responses of the human immune system. As of 2020, the technology had an accuracy of 94% and better results than the standard fecal analysis. Recently, the company announced the launch of a study to detect many types of cancer.

 

VirtuSense fall prevention solution

Sometimes personal tragedies lead to great discoveries. In 2009, the grandmother of the future VirtuSense founder Deepak Gaddipati fell on the street and broke her hip. The woman died from her injuries, and Deepak was shocked that a fracture could have such consequences. After studying the issue in depth and learning that every year 26.5% of the elderly fall, the doctor realized that the problem had a global scale. For this reason, there emerged a custom healthcare solution. VirtuSense is a set of AI tools and sensors that can predict fall-risk in old people.

The company’s product, VSTBalance, uses a smart algorithm to identify a person’s lack of balance, lack of coordination, and predict the probability of a fall in the coming year with percentage accuracy. Doctors rely on this data to plan patient care and select a set of exercises for recovery. Thanks to the work of researchers and developers, VirtuSense has reduced the number of falls by 73%.

 

One Drop AI Solution for Diabetes

According to the WHO, about 422 million people worldwide have diabetes. Over the past 30 years, the prevalence of diabetes (in particular, type 2), has increased dramatically in countries of all income levels. Accordingly, an increasing number of patients need help and supervision in the treatment of this disease.

One Drop offered an AI solution combined with additional equipment (glucometer, test strip plan) and personal consultations. Based on the history of blood sugar measurements, a smart algorithm makes an eight-hour forecast with 99.5% accuracy. Thus, a patient can plan meals and activities for the day. This AI-based application also keeps users in touch with coaches to adjust their diet and exercise.

As a result of research, One Drop found that in just 2 months of using the platform, patients with type 2 diabetes reduced A1C by 1.9%. One Drop was named Best Personal Health App at the 2022 MedTech Breakthrough Awards for ease of application and useful features.

 

Vicarious Surgical for performing operations

Robotic surgery is one of the most promising AI applications. According to Statista experts, by 2026, the market for “smart surgeons” will be the largest and will be worth $40 billion. According to surgeons working with smart machines, patients experience less pain due to smaller incisions. Thus, they recover faster and easier, and there are fewer scars left.

Vicarious Surgical’s AI-powered surgeon robot performs minimally invasive abdominal surgery. Smart equipment needs one port and a 1.5-centimeter incision to insert a camera and two tiny instruments through it. The surgeon puts on camera glasses that transfer them “inside” the patient’s body. The camera inside the patient’s body zooms in the area to be operated on, providing the doctor with 360-degree visibility.

Robotic arms equipped with 28 sensors accurately follow the natural movement of the surgeon’s hands, allowing the doctor to make perfect small incisions. After such a delicate operation, patients are less likely to get complications and their wounds heal faster.

 

Conclusion

Humankind’s first acquaintance with AI through cinema was by no means positive as it was associated with destruction (the Terminator series). But 20-30 years later, humanity was convinced that AI can serve for the benefit of people, saving lives. AI-based healthcare apps prove this. Smart algorithms detect dangerous diseases faster than doctors and traditional diagnostic methods. They help healthcare professionals remotely treat patients, invent effective medicines, and perform complex operations. No wonder AI is considered one of the most influential technologies in healthcare.