iCAD, a global manufacturer of medical devices, has announced an amendment to its original agreement with Google Health. This amendment will allow iCAD to incorporate Google’s AI technology into its ProFound Breast Health Suite for 2D Mammography for a period of 20 years, pending regulatory approval.
ProFound AI for 2D Mammography is a cancer detection solution that utilizes AI to analyze mammography images and alert radiologists of suspicious areas. This technology helps optimize the double-reading workflow, which is commonly used in most countries. In this workflow, a mammogram is screened by two individual radiologists.
The initial strategic development and commercialization agreement between Google and iCAD was signed in November 2022. This recent amendment further expands the integration of the two companies. Dana Brown, President and CEO of iCAD, stated, “Combining Google’s artificial intelligence (AI) technology with our leading-edge ProFound Breast Health Suite of AI solutions will enhance our technology and expand access to the technology to millions of women and providers worldwide.
iCAD’s announcement references an independent research study conducted in 2020, which involved six radiologists. The study found that “Google’s mammography AI system outperformed all of the human readers.” Additionally, a simulation was run in which the AI system participated in a double-reading process. The results showed that the workload of the second reader was reduced by 88%.
As previously reported by ZDNet, a randomized trial involving 80,000 women demonstrated that both AI screenings and radiologist double screenings produced comparable results in terms of false positives and cancer detection. The potential of AI in the healthcare system is significant. It not only reduces the workload of radiologists, allowing them to focus on more important tasks such as face-to-face care, but it also improves healthcare access for more patients.
The incorporation of Google’s AI technology into iCAD’s ProFound Breast Health Suite for 2D Mammography has the potential to revolutionize cancer detection and improve patient care. With this partnership, iCAD aims to enhance its technology and make it accessible to millions of women and healthcare providers worldwide. Pending regulatory approval, this agreement will be in effect for the next 20 years, further solidifying the collaboration between iCAD and Google in the field of medical AI.
The integration of AI into the healthcare system is a growing trend, and this partnership between iCAD and Google Health is a significant development in this field. It demonstrates the potential of AI to improve medical diagnostics and streamline workflows, ultimately benefiting patients and healthcare providers alike. As technology continues to advance, we can expect further advancements in the field of medical AI, leading to more accurate and efficient healthcare practices.
