Kheiron Launches AI Tools to Improve Breast Cancer Screening

Kheiron Medical Technologies, along with collaboration from the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA), is launching two new artificial intelligence (AI) advances that will have big implications for breast cancer screening. Kheiron is an applied science company that works to improve and support cancer screening with machine learning. 

The new advancements could transform the entire breast cancer screening pathway, which involves two critical stages where the AI can improve outcomes. 

These two stages are: 

1. When women are invited to schedule their screening mammogram.
2. During the image acquisition and audit process.

The Kaplan Project

The company has also announced that it is working with Stanford University to use AI in new areas of oncology. Their work will be focused on designing funcional proof-of-concept deep learning models that could be used to solve clinical challenges, with the first involving Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (NHL).

The new collaboration, which is called The Kaplan Project, will apply Kheiron’s deep learning technology to FDG-PET/CT images of lymphoma patients. The goal is to improve radiologist efficiency and accuracy. 

Dr. Peter Kecskemethy is CEO of Kheiron. 

“This groundbreaking project marks a new chapter in the application of AI to transform cancer diagnostics across the entire patient pathway,” Dr. Kecskemethy says. “Uniting new deep learning technologies with the clinical expertise of academic research institutions like Stanford will lead to the development of a completely new category of AI diagnostic and ultimately improve patient outcomes.” 

RSViP 

Kheiron has also launched RSViP, a new AI-enabled tool that optimizes scheduling of breast screening programs for at-risk women. According to the initial research, the tool has successfully flagged higher risk women for screening, and with earlier detection rates, there can be improved survivorship and a lower cost of care. 

“Clinical research has shown that delays in breast cancer diagnosis can lead to worse outcomes, including the risk of the cancer metastasizing, decreased survivorship, and increased treatment costs,” Dr. Kecskemethy says. “At Kheiron, our goal in bringing RSViP to the breast screening community is to leverage the power of AI to identify those women who should be scheduled for their mammograms first, based on her prior mammogram, allowing those women who would benefit most to be moved to the front of the line.”

The RSViP tool analyzes images from each woman’s prior screening before assessing each case based on AI-detected signals of suspected lesions. Machine learning insights also indicate the potential to develop breast cancer. The tool then generates an actionable list that the scheduler can use to book appointments for the most at-risk women. 

Mia IQ Software Device

The last announcement coming from Kheiron involves the introduction of its new Mia IQ software device in the United States. The device will aid breast screening providers in the improvement of image quality, training, and audit preparation. 

The device runs on AI and machine learning, which enable it to retrospectively review mammograms. It can then identify potential discrepancies in breast positioning and compression, which are crucial to breast cancer detection. 

“At Kheiron, our goal is to empower the breast screening community with AI and deep learning to improve the early detection of cancer,” says Dr. Kecskemethy. “Breast positioning during mammography is crucial to the detection of potential malignancies. Mia IQ provides a new tool for imaging professionals to use in the review and auditing of mammography images, which can yield important insights for training and quality improvement purposes.”

These three new advancements announced by Kheiron will go a long way in improving breast cancer screening, and they highlight the power of AI technologies in the health sector.