Amol Karnick, President & CEO of KA Imaging – 2022: A Year for Preparedness with Efficiency, Quality and Speed

Amol Karnick, President & CEO of KA Imaging writes……

As we dive deep into 2022, healthcare preparedness seems to be a major topic of discussion. If there is a single thing that we can learn from the pandemic, it is that we must be ready for whatever comes next. And what is the impact for an imaging department? How can it be prepared? I would say that there are two approaches: (1) through solutions that can be easily deployed and provide accurate images; (2) through solutions that help radiologists (and other physicians) read fast and with confidence. As expected, these approaches don’t work separately, but complement each other benefiting the entire chain.

Mobile imaging has been on the rise in the past years. Recent market research shows that there is still room to grow. It is a modality that is definitely easily deployed. Nevertheless, most people working on Emergency Departments, for example, know that it historically has poor quality. And yet it’s the most used imaging modality in that setting. Good mobile X-ray is crucial, not only for Emergency Departments but also for other applications like critical care units and long-term wards. COVID-19 has shown us that taking every single patient for a CT scan is impractical, as there are too many patients while machines, staff, and time are variables that are limited. The radiation dose of a CT scan is also higher, which limits – or should limit – its clinical uses to specific cases. General radiography remains paramount because it is widely available globally, far more than other modalities, at a lower cost in terms of radiation.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is also a hot topic for 2022. This is a solution that seems to address the requirements of ease of access, quality, and speed. However, since AI is premised on data, an AI is only as good as the data it works with, or the algorithms it’s optimized for. The development of AI algorithms has had considerable improvements in the past few years, especially for chest and musculoskeletal applications. And yet, AI is a subject that is still shrouded in suspicion by many radiologists. Hopefully, the recent advances can contribute to consolidating its use in the imaging field.

The question that manufacturers – like ourselves – should ask is “how can I help?”.  From our perspective, dual-energy subtraction (DES) X-ray has an underestimated value.

For those who are unfamiliar with this technology, dual-energy subtraction has been used for more than 30 years. Along with the traditional Digital Radiograph, it also provides two supplementary images: one highlighting the bones, and another highlighting the soft tissue. The problem with older Dual-Energy systems is that they can’t be used in mobile applications and can result in images with motion artifact – issues that our engineers have recently been able to overcome. Because of those issues, DES has been restricted to some particular use cases, notably chest nodules.

However, studies show that DES has considerable clinical benefits not only to find lung nodules, but for other diseases, like pneumonia, pneumothorax, and even cardiac calcifications. Likewise, lines and tubes can be more easily seen thanks to the supplementary dual-energy images. That is, dual-energy doesn’t have to be a niche product. As long as any technical limitations are resolved, it can replace, or rather upgrade, virtually any DR system.

Recent enhancements in DES technology made it possible to use it in portable/mobile settings. The emergence of a single-exposure dual-energy solution also eliminated motion artifacts. This means we are finally able to introduce a new use for this technology. Emergency rooms, ICUs, long-term facilities… there are a number of different applications that can benefit from not only better DR, but from supplemental dual-energy images, which can help the physician better visualize lesions. It brings efficiency, quality and speed.

All these technological advances make single exposure DES an effective solution for all the different stakeholders involved. It is good for radiologists, who can access better DR as well as supplementary dual-energy X-ray images for faster and easier reading. It is good for imaging technologists, who can offer patients more comfort by bringing the detector to the point of care and getting high-quality images even in challenging settings such as emergency rooms and critical care units. It is good for administrators, who can optimize the use of other equipment across multiple departments, to avoid unnecessary diagnostics by early detection of various diseases. And it is especially good for patients, who have more comfort and early access to treatment for diseases that could go unnoticed until they become more serious.

As for AI, DES can also be a good lever for it. Currently, AI companies usually use one image to train their algorithms. Single Exposure Dual-Energy X-ray can train on six images per patient (native 3-spectral layers, composite DR, and subtracted images). This additional data results in better AI.

As the new chapters of 2022 unfold, we reiterate the need for preparedness as a key driver. Efficiency, quality, and speed go hand in hand, more than ever.

Editor’s Note:

Amol Karnick is a seasoned executive in the medical device industry. His experience covers the whole spectrum; from start-ups (Ultrasonix, Sentinelle Medical, Ventripoint) to large OEMs (GE Healthcare). Entering into the profession with a Bachelors in Engineering from the University of Waterloo and a Masters in Electrical Engineering from McGill, Amol spent 20 years in the medical imaging space to become a leader of multidisciplinary teams (sales, engineering, and operations). Amol is now poised to steer KA Imaging into a position of global leadership.

Medical Device News Magazinehttps://infomeddnews.com
Our publication is dedicated to bringing our readers the latest medical device news. We are proud to boast that our subscribers include medical specialists, device industry executives, investors, and other allied health professionals, as well as patients who are interested in researching various medical devices. We hope you find value in our easy-to-read publication and its overall purpose and objectives! Medical Device News Magazine is a division of PTM Healthcare Marketing, Inc. Pauline T. Mayer is the managing editor.

More News!

Data from clinical studies of STK-001 demonstrated clinical benefit for patients ages 2 to 18 years old, including reductions in seizures and improvements in cognition and behavior that support the potential for disease modificatio. Analysis of 72 patients treated in STK-001 clinical trials suggests that higher STK-001 drug exposure in brain leads to greater seizure reductions. Two-year data from the longest prospective natural history study of Dravet syndrome showed that, on average, patients experienced no meaningful improvement in convulsive seizure frequency and exhibited widening gaps in cognition and behavior despite treatment with the best available anti-seizure medicines.
"Exact Sciences is looking forward to presenting new evidence at SABCS that adds important perspectives to treating breast cancer patients and showing that some patients may be able to de-escalate treatments and still have positive outcomes," said Dr. Rick Baehner, Chief Medical Officer, Precision Oncology, Exact Sciences. "Every year, we build upon the precedent set by the Oncotype DX Breast Recurrence Score® test and its prognostic and predictive abilities to determine the chemotherapy benefit for specific breast cancer patients. We are pleased to see authorities expanding access to this test as we continue to develop key evidence in collaboration with some of the world's most prestigious, breast cancer-focused organizations."
Clozapine has been established as the most effective antipsychotic medication for treatment-resistant schizophrenia. However, it is significantly underutilized mainly due to the risk of developing agranulocytosis and the need to frequently monitor the absolute neutrophil count (ANC).
Dagi-Ben Noon, CEO of Inspira Technologies, reflects on the partnership's significance: "By Integrating our technology to oxygenate blood directly with Ennocure's infection prevention solutions, we are focusing on potentially improving patient outcomes in ICUs and paving the way for safer, more effective life-support treatments. This collaboration is expected to accelerate the development and broaden the implementation of our advanced technology."
The findings suggest that the novel, non-invasive genomic test can help physicians guide next steps for these patients, enabling them to potentially avoid unnecessary invasive procedures or accelerate time to appropriate treatment.

By using this website you agree to accept Medical Device News Magazine Privacy Policy