Advanced Technology Collaborates with Addenbrooke's Hospital to Cultivate Artificial Intelligence Technology for Neonatal Eye Examination
In a groundbreaking development, 42 Technology and Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust are collaborating to integrate new edge AI algorithms into the first commercially-available eye screening units, known as the Neocam device. This innovative technology aims to be an affordable, easy-to-use tool to improve the accuracy of diagnosing congenital cataracts in babies.
Dr Louise Allen, a consultant paediatric ophthalmologist at Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge and the inventor of the Neocam technology, has stated the primary goal of the new eye screening technology. The aim is to provide a more accurate diagnosis of congenital cataracts in newborns, which could potentially save sight and improve the quality of life for many infants.
The Neocam device is currently being evaluated in a multi-centre clinical trial funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The study, known as the Digital Imaging versus Ophthalmoscopy (DIvO) study, involves 30 NHS maternity units across England. The study aims to determine whether Neocam's digital imaging technology can improve the detection of congenital cataracts compared to the standard ophthalmoscope test.
Meanwhile, a separate technology aimed at addressing threatened miscarriage has secured £1 million in funding, though the source of this funding was not specified. This new tech is not the same as the AI feature being developed for the Neocam device.
The software engineering team at 42T will use 46,000 de-identified images from the DIvO study to train the machine learning model for the Neocam device's AI feature. This AI development project is being funded jointly by 42T and Addenbrooke's Charitable Trust (ACT).
While the government's commitment to life sciences for economic growth is not directly linked to the Neocam device or the AI feature development project, it does reflect a broader support for innovation in healthcare technology. However, specific details about the life sciences initiatives for economic growth were not provided.
The new AI feature will enable Neocam to immediately assess the quality of images as they are taken, providing instant feedback to maternity staff. This real-time analysis could significantly improve the speed and accuracy of diagnoses, potentially saving valuable time in critical situations.
For the latest updates on the status and future developments of the Neocam device, it's recommended to contact 42 Technology and Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust directly. Keeping an eye on scientific journals, press releases, healthcare conferences, and relevant news outlets may also provide valuable insights into the progress of this innovative technology.
- Clinical trials for the Neocam device, which integrates new edge AI algorithms into eye screening units, are currently being conducted in a multi-centre study called the Digital Imaging versus Ophthalmoscopy (DIvO) study.
- The software engineering team at 42T is using de-identified images from the DIvO study to train the machine learning model for the Neocam device's AI feature, a project funded jointly by 42T and Addenbrooke's Charitable Trust.
- In the realm of femtech news, a separate technology aimed at addressing threatened miscarriage has recently secured £1 million in funding, though the source of this funding was not specified, marking a significant step forward in health-and-wellness and medical-conditions research.
