Free Artificial Intelligence Software for Rapid Detection of COVID-19 from CT Scans Launched Globally

A new artificial intelligence software for the detection of COVID-19 from Computed Topography (CT) scans is available for free download worldwide, enabling fast, accurate diagnosis of the novel coronavirus at no cost for healthcare workers around the world.

Novarad (Salt Lake City, UT, USA) has launched its new COVID-19 AI Diagnostic Assistant worldwide to make fast, accurate diagnosis of COVID-19 possible - free of charge. In partnership with Intel Corp., and leveraging Azure, Microsoft’s cloud computing service, Novarad is offering free use of its diagnostic system that combines DICOM routing, encryption, an AI processing engine, and secure reporting for the detection of COVID-19 from CT scans. The unique algorithm can produce diagnostic results in seconds, rather than days, enabling clinicians to rapidly isolate and treat patients who are likely suffering from COVID. The report also provides invaluable information on the extent of lung involvement.

Up to 40% of patients with COVID-19 will be missed by a nasal swab or PCR test. When COVID is present in a patient with pulmonary symptoms, Novarad’s algorithm has a <1% false negative detection rate. Although CT scans are one of the most accurate tools for detecting COVID-19, they require a radiologist to examine hundreds of images looking for signs of COVID. Not all facilities have access to that expertise in a timely fashion. By utilizing Microsoft’s Azure cloud platform, Novarad is able to provide a powerful resource to physicians around the world to triage, prioritize and isolate sick patients quickly and accurately.

The report is accessed through a printable QR code that is generated when the CT scan is routed. The code is printed to a selected network printer and can be presented to both patients and other clinicians. The software system is quick, easy to install, and can be downloaded to run on most any machine on the same network as a PACS or DICOM compliant CT Scanner. The studies are routed from either the modality or the PACS directly to the COVID-19 AI Client for processing. No PHI is stored in the cloud. The COVID-19 AI Diagnostic Assistant runs in a secure cloud environment, and all studies are anonymized prior to being uploaded for analysis.

The COVID AI client is built upon the Novarad CryptoChart solution that can also aid in the fight against COVID-19. Using highly secure optical codes, CryptoChart makes it possible to share images, reports and medical records as easily as sending a text message or email. It also eliminates the need to burn CDs or print paper records.

“AI gives us the ability to analyze large amounts of data quickly. Leveraging tens of thousands of images from our training data set, you can get a quick COVID-19 diagnosis with a high degree of accuracy,” said Dr. Wendell Gibby, a practicing neurointerventional radiologist and CEO of Novarad. “Patients with COVID-19 can be identified faster and treated more appropriately, increasing the probability of recovery and significantly impacting our ability to minimize the spread within communities.”

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