FDA Okays Use of Israeli Startup’s AI Algorithms To Detect COVID-19 In Scans

Aidoc, the Israeli startup that developed AI-powered software that analyzes medical images, announced that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has allowed the use of its AI algorithms to detect findings associated with COVID-19.

Aidoc’s solution can detect and help prioritize incidental CT findings associated with COVID-19 in any CT study that contains the lung or part of the lung – for example chest, abdomen or cervical spine, the company said on Friday. Prioritization of these incidental findings may help manage the adverse effects of COVID-19 by providing adjunctive information that can promote further patient evaluation, it added.

“In our experience, it is not unusual for the radiologist to be the first to diagnose COVID-19 disease in patients especially when the disease is clinically unsuspected. The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic may occur in waves and should these waves occur, it will become increasingly important to identify imaging findings suggestive of COVID-19 in a variety of clinical settings,” said Dr. Paul Chang, vice chair of radiology informatics at the University of Chicago Medicine, in a statement.

“Aidoc’s ability to detect and triage patients with incidental findings associated with COVID-19 acts as another layer of protection as the disease may continue to circulate in the months to come.” Dr. Chang said.

Founded in 2016, Aidoc develops full-body AI medical imaging software designed to detect and pinpoint critical anomalies for radiologists, through deep learning and AI algorithms. The medical scans are quickly analyzed to help doctors prioritize patients and care.

The FDA has already cleared the technology developed by the Tel Aviv-based medical imaging startup for a number of solutions: to flag strokes, spine fractures, Pulmonary Embolism (PE) in chest scans, and brain hemorrhages.

The product is the latest addition to Aidoc’s suite of AI radiology solutions with FDA and CE clearances. The company’s solutions are in clinical use at over 300 leading medical centers worldwide.