Computer Vision Applications in Healthcare

The healthcare industry has already reaped many benefits from the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) solutions. One of the emerging AI fields today is computer vision, which can efficiently support many different applications that provide life-saving functionality to patients.

Computer vision is already helping a growing number of doctors to better diagnose their patients, monitor the evolution of diseases and prescribe optimal treatments.

Technology can only help medical professionals save time on routine tasks and give more time to patients. The implications of computer vision for medical use based on tasks such as medical imaging analysis, predictive analysis or healthcare monitoring suggest several benefits for the healthcare industry.

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What is Computer Vision in Healthcare?

Computer vision is a relatively young AI technology that is revolutionizing the way machines and humans partner. It focuses on training intelligent computer algorithms to understand and interpret visual data without being explicitly programmed in a specific program or language.

As long as we depend exclusively on our own senses, doctors are responsible for testing and diagnosing diseases and health problems. The results depend on what their eyes, ears and touch can detect. Perception is limited to how the human eye and mind perceive reality.

Applications of computer vision in health monitoring

Now that you know what computer vision is and what role it can play in healthcare, let's take a look at some of the current and future applications of this cutting-edge technology.

1. Accurate measurement of blood loss

Orlando Health's Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women and Babies is using computer vision to measure blood loss during childbirth. One of the biggest causes of death during childbirth is postpartum hemorrhage. The AI-powered tool analyzes images taken with an iPad, looks at images of surgical sponges and suction canisters.

Before the technology was implemented, doctors could only guess how much blood a patient lost during childbirth.

2. Fast detection of problems

Another exciting application of computer vision is the detection of various diseases that are otherwise difficult to diagnose. At Mount Sinai Hospital, doctors are using an AI-powered tool to diagnose serious neurological diseases.

To achieve the necessary infrastructure for this type of project, the hospital invested in Nvidia graphics processing units. In fact, Nvidia has partnered with the Scripps Research Translational Institute to create a center of excellence focused on AI in genomics and digital sensors with the goal of developing best practices, tools and infrastructure for biomedical research.

3. More accurate diagnoses

Another potential application of computer vision systems is to reduce false positives in the diagnostic process. The technology can effectively reduce the number of unnecessary surgical procedures and expensive treatments.

Computer vision algorithms can be trained using massive amounts of data to detect the slightest presence of a condition. A human physician can easily miss it due to the sensory limitations of human bodies. By using computer vision in healthcare, diagnosis can reach much higher accuracy. Who knows, maybe in the future it will even reach 100%?

4. Timely detection of diseases

Some diseases like cancer are very dangerous when detected late. That is why biomedical research focuses on coming up with solutions to diagnose them at an early stage.

One of the approaches is based on computer vision. Thanks to computer vision tools, doctors are able to detect early symptoms with high accuracy thanks to AI's pattern recognition capabilities. As a result, they are able to provide timely treatment and save many lives in the long run.

5. Medical imaging

Applications for medical imaging backed by computers have significantly aided doctors in a variety of specialties during the past few decades. These tools assist clinicians in the interpretation of images in addition to producing and analysing them.

These applications will advance thanks to computer vision. For instance, a computer vision-powered programme may interpret scanned photographs and turn them into interactive 3D models that would help doctors better comprehend the patient's health and make a more precise diagnosis.

6. More efficient medical processes

Doctors usually spend a lot of time analyzing reports and images. By implementing a computer vision power tool, they can free up a lot of their time and spend more of it with patients, providing personalized advice.

Such tools can assist medical personnel in seeing more patients by improving the calibre of these interactions. Healthcare professionals can offer more effective treatments thanks to the use of computer vision.

7. Nuclear medicine

The application of radionuclide drugs for diagnosis is the main topic of this part of clinical medicine. Computer vision technology can also help nuclear medicine in the context of remote radiation therapy.

In diagnostics, physicians could take advantage of tools that will use single-photon emission computed tomography and positron emission tomography, and then analyze images with computer vision algorithms for greater accuracy.

The future of computer vision in healthcare

The healthcare sector will undoubtedly turn to computer vision as it adopts more new ideas and cutting-edge technology. From the interpretation of medical imaging to providing precise data regarding phenomena that are challenging to assess, technology offers support in many different aspects of medical practice.

In the future, Top 10 successful app development companies in Chicago we're going to see an increasing number of healthcare institutions experiment with computer vision to deliver better services.