Originally published on China Times News Network by Jia-Yu Wang.

The “Deep-Lung AI Multimodal Imaging Precision Health Platform” is now officially online. With just a single low-dose chest CT scan, AI computation and modeling can predict four diseases: lung cancer, emphysema, coronary artery calcification, and osteoporosis. (Provided by Taipei Medical University Hospital.)

 

Vice President Cheng-Yu Chen and his research team at Taipei Medical University have developed the Deep-Lung AI Multi-Modal Imaging Precision Health Platform, which can predict four diseases using a single low-dose CT scan with 90% accuracy. This groundbreaking innovation is the first of its kind in the world. (Provided by Taipei Medical University)

 

The “Smart Infusion Administration System” is integrated with a computer to verify the patient, the administering nurse, and the injection site, ensuring precise control of infusion speed. It also synchronizes medical orders, medications, patient information, and drug database records, significantly enhancing infusion safety. (Provided by Taipei Medical University Hospital)

The 2022 Taiwan Healthcare+ Expo kicks off today (1st) and will run for four consecutive days at Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center, Hall 1. This year, Taipei Medical University and its healthcare system are showcasing 29 key innovations, highlighting the unique strengths of its one university, six hospitals network.

One of the major highlights is Taipei Medical University Hospital’s “Deep-Lung AI Multimodal Imaging Precision Health Platform.” This cutting-edge platform can analyze a single CT scan to predict four diseases: lung cancer, emphysema, coronary artery calcification, and osteoporosis.

Taipei Medical University Hospital President Jeng-Fong Chiou stated that the COVID-19 pandemic over the past three years has transformed daily life, leading to the emergence of various “zero-contact” and “automated” infection control solutions. Among them, AI and robotics have rapidly advanced and become integral to the healthcare industry.

Taipei Medical University Hospital has introduced Taiwan’s domestically developed cutting-edge robotic surgical navigation system and established Taiwan’s first Robotic Rehabilitation Center equipped with high-, mid-, and low-level rehabilitation robots. Additionally, the hospital has implemented advanced smart infusion pumps and officially launched the “Deep-Lung AI Multimodal Imaging Precision Health Platform” in collaboration with Taipei Medical University. These advancements demonstrate that AI-driven big data healthcare is no longer just a concept but a reality in clinical practice.

The “Deep-Lung AI Multimodal Imaging Precision Health Platform” is a comprehensive AI-assisted early screening system for thoracic diseases using radiological imaging. Cheng-Yu Chen, Vice President for Research at Taipei Medical University and Principal Investigator of the project, stated that with just a single low-dose chest CT scan (LDCT), the system—powered by AI computation and modeling—can predict four diseases: lung cancer, emphysema, coronary artery calcification, and osteoporosis, with an accuracy of up to 90%. Additionally, the system can automatically generate internationally standardized health reports, making it a globally pioneering service.

Cheng-Yu Chen pointed out that as Taiwan’s population continues to age rapidly, the government is expected to gradually provide conditional subsidies for screening programs, including low-dose CT scans. When that happens, radiologists and diagnostic physicians will face a significant workload increase, and patients undergoing multiple CT scans for different body parts may be at risk of excessive radiation exposure. With the assistance of artificial intelligence, the time required for image interpretation can be drastically reduced from 15 minutes to just 2 minutes. Additionally, AI can help minimize the number of scans needed, significantly lowering patients’ radiation exposure.

Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic has driven the development of various contactless medical models, extending to common infusion therapy for patients. Taipei Medical University Hospital has introduced the Smart Infusion Administration System by Inventec Appliances Corp for clinical validation and has collaborated on optimizing integration processes. Through computer-based binding, the system verifies patient identity, administering nurse, and injection site while precisely controlling infusion speed, enabling remote adjustments and monitoring. Furthermore, it synchronizes and cross-references medical orders, medication details, patient information, and drug database records, significantly enhancing infusion safety.

Director of the Nursing Department at Taipei Medical University Hospital, Shu-Liu Guo, explained that traditional infusion therapy requires nurses to manually verify medications and adjust infusion rates. For critically ill patients, routine care involves nurses entering the patient’s room 15 to 20 times a day. If additional adjustments are needed due to changes in the patient’s condition, they may have to enter the room another 2 to 26 times to modify the infusion pump settings.

With the introduction of the Smart Infusion Administration System, nurses can complete the infusion setup, and the system will automatically and precisely control the infusion rate. It also allows for remote monitoring of the infusion process, adjustment of drip rates, and resolution of alerts. From the nursing station, nurses can simultaneously monitor multiple patients’ infusion statuses, enhancing infusion safety. Additionally, this reduces the need for direct contact with isolated patients, minimizing the time spent donning and doffing protective gear and lowering the costs associated with protective equipment.