To carry out research and development work aimed at implementing an AI-based process innovation in MRI diagnostic imaging departments

This research and development project forms part of the strategy for implementing artificial intelligence in diagnostic imaging. According to the literature, the frequency of diagnosis and treatment of spinal pain has increased significantly in recent years.

Spinal dysfunction and pain syndrome has become a lifestyle-related condition, just like high blood pressure or diabetes. This problem affects an ever-increasing proportion of the population, including, increasingly, people under the age of thirty. Lower back pain is currently one of the most common reasons for patients to consult a doctor, including their GP. This situation is exacerbated by sedentary lifestyles and working patterns, an ageing population, neglect resulting from a lack of physical activity, and the rising proportion of overweight and obese people in the population. From the perspective of the patient’s further treatment, the rapid provision of an MRI report is crucial. The aim of the project is to create an innovative system based on artificial intelligence to assist radiologists in interpreting scans. The system will optimise the working time of doctors and the Voxel network of diagnostic centres. The project is interdisciplinary in nature and will bring together experts in radiology and computer science; at the same time, it responds to the demand arising from the growing number of spinal MRI scans. The implementation of the project will enable the roll-out, across the entire Voxel network of diagnostic centres, of process and product innovations resulting from the research and development work carried out.