Philips & Mayo Clinic Collaborate to Enhance Cardiac MRI with AI

This initiative aims to optimize the diagnosis and treatment of ischemic heart disease, a condition where MRI plays a vital role.

Royal Philips and Mayo Clinic have entered into a partnership to advance cardiac MRI technology, focusing on improving patient access and the quality of medical imaging.

The collaboration combines the capabilities of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance MRI procedures, making them more efficient and patient-friendly. This initiative aims to optimize the diagnosis and treatment of ischemic heart disease, a condition where MRI plays a vital role.

Improving Patient Experience

AI integration in cardiac MRI exams is expected to reduce the time required for procedures, which can often be stressful for patients. According to Ioannis Panagiotelis, PhD, the business leader of MRI at Philips, “From the patient perspective, MRI scans can be stressful. A complex cardiac MRI exam can take over an hour, which is often challenging for patients who suffer from claustrophobia inside the bore of the scanner, find it difficult to lie still or are unable to hold their breath for the required time.”

He further highlighted that AI would be implemented at every stage of the cardiac MRI process to enhance the patient experience, improve efficiency, and provide detailed diagnostic insights that lead to better patient outcomes.

This AI-driven solution aims to not only reduce the time patients spend in the MRI scanner but also make the procedure less daunting, particularly for individuals with difficulties such as claustrophobia or mobility restrictions. With the potential to simplify MRI processes, Philips and Mayo Clinic hope to expand access to high-quality cardiac imaging for a broader patient base, ensuring that more people can receive the timely diagnosis and treatment they need.

Addressing MRI Accessibility for Sensitive Patients

An additional aspect of the collaboration involves exploring the use of lower-field-strength MRI scanners. These devices could be especially beneficial for patients with medical implants, such as pacemakers or stents, that are sensitive to high magnetic fields. The two organisations plan to investigate the feasibility of these MRI scanners, which may offer safer alternatives for patients who would otherwise be unable to undergo MRI procedures.

While the partnership is focused on enhancing cardiac MRI specifically, it reflects a broader trend in healthcare technology where AI is being increasingly incorporated to improve diagnostic procedures and patient care. By incorporating AI, Philips and Mayo Clinic aim to streamline MRI workflows, reduce the burden on radiology departments, and improve diagnostic accuracy, ultimately benefiting both healthcare providers and patients.