"Gad Free" Imaging - One Step Closer

RNS Number : 0670Y

IQ-AI Limited

04 September 2020

 

IQ-AI Ltd

("IQ-AI" or the "Company")

 "Gad Free" Imaging - One Step Closer

The development team at Imaging Biometrics ("IB"), the wholly owned subsidiary of IQ-AI, Ltd, achieved a significant milestone in the development of a zero percent Gadolinium-based contrast agents ("GBCA") approach. The team's initial goal is focused on the generation of a brain image equivalent to a post-contrast image using information provided from anatomical and functional images acquired without any administration of exogenous contrast material. Led by Dr. Jay Urbain PhD, a leading Artificial Intelligence (AI) expert, a Deep Learning (DL) algorithm was developed that uses T1-weighted, T2, and fluid attenuation inverse recovery (FLAIR) as inputs. These inputs are common MR sequences collected as part of routine brain scans. The DL model ("Model") then extracts feature-derived information to create images analogous to post-contrast (T1+C) images.

This Model is now ready to begin the next phase of development. This phase includes comparing the algorithm's output to "ground truth", or images acquired with GBCA, on a much larger dataset from multiple scanner vendors and field strengths.

Along with the longstanding toxicity concerns related to Gadolinium-based ("Gd") retention in the body, recent reports identified increased Gd levels are being detected in rivers, in lakes, and even in sodas at fast food chains. While the long-term use of GBCAs as a paramagnetic material for medical resonance (MR) imaging are not known and the benefits of scanning with GBCAs are well acknowledged, there is a continued effort by multiple groups to reduce and/or eliminate GBCAs in medical imaging. This effort, driven in part by the accessibility of AI networks and computing horsepower through the likes of Google and AWS (Amazon Web Services), continues at Imaging Biometrics (IB).

GBCAs are fundamental to imaging. Since obtaining approval in 1988, nearly half a billion GBCAs have been administered. Successfully translating this technology to routine clinical use represents a significant disruption to current practice and, for IQ-AI, the pipeline for distributing a validated solution is already well established.

In October of 2018, IQ-AI announced that it had filed for a patent to the United States Patent and Trademark Office. This application is still pending review.

The Directors of the Company accept responsibility for the contents of this announcement.

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For further information, please contact:

IQ-AI Limited Trevor Brown/Vinod Kaushal/Qu Li Tel: [phone]

Peterhouse Capital Limited (Financial Adviser and Broker) Lucy Williams/Heena Karani Tel: [phone]

ABOUT Imaging Biometrics , LLC

Imaging Biometrics®, a subsidiary of IQ-AI Limited (LON:IQAI), develops and provides visualisation and analytical solutions that enable clinicians to better diagnose and treat disease with greater confidence. Through close collaboration with top researchers and clinicians, sophisticated advancements are translated into platform-independent and automated software plug-ins which can extend the base functionality of workstations, imaging systems, PACS, or medical viewers. By design, IB's advanced visualisation software seamlessly integrates into routine workflows. For more information about Imaging Biometrics, visit the company's website at www.imagingbiometrics.com .

 

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