Medical Design and Outsourcing

  • Home
  • Medical Device Business
    • Mergers & Acquisitions
    • Financial
    • Regulatory
  • Applications
    • Cardiovascular
    • Devices
    • Imaging
    • Implantables
    • Medical Equipment
    • Orthopedic
    • Surgical
  • Technologies
    • Contract Manufacturing
    • Components
    • Electronics
    • Extrusions
    • Materials
    • Motion Control
    • Prototyping
    • Pumps
    • Tubing
  • Med Tech Resources
    • DeviceTalks Tuesdays
    • Digital Editions
    • eBooks
    • Manufacturer Search
    • Medical Device Handbook
    • MedTech 100 Index
    • Podcasts
    • Print Subscription
    • The Big 100
    • Webinars / Digital Events
    • Whitepapers
    • Video
  • 2022 Leadership in MedTech
    • 2022 Leadership Voting!
    • 2021 Winners
    • 2020 Winners
  • Women in Medtech

How deep learning algorithms could detect diabetic eye disease

May 4, 2017 By Heather Thompson

deep learning algorithms diabetic eye disease

[Photo by Dan Foy via Flickr, Creative Commons license.

Researchers at the Byers Eye Institute at Stanford University believe deep learning algorithms, a form of artificial intelligence, hold the key to detecting diabetic retinopathy and averting blindness in patients.

Diabetic retinopathy damages the blood vessels at the back of the eye and is the leading cause of preventable blindness globally. Up to 45% of diabetic patients are likely to have diabetic retinopathy at some point in their life, but fewer than half of patients are aware of the condition. Early detection and treatment are integral to combating this worldwide epidemic of preventable vision loss.

The team created deep learning algorithms based on more than 75,000 images from a range of patients representing several ethnicities. They then used the algorithms to teach a computer to discern healthy patients, and mild to severe stages of the disease. The study, which was published online in Ophthalmology, the journal of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, showed 94% accuracy in detecting mild to severe symptoms of the disease. Those patients with any stage of the disease can be referred to an ophthalmologist for evaluation and study.

Diabetic retinopathy isn’t the only area where artificial intelligence could help with diagnosis. Stanford University researchers, for example, say that they’ve trained a deep learning algorithm to identify skin cancer as well as dermatologists. And IBM has been touting its Watson supercomputer as a tool to assist health providers with diagnoses.

Ophthalmologists typically diagnose the presence and severity of diabetic retinopathy by examining the back of the eye and evaluating color photographs of the interior lining of the eye. Given the large number of diabetes patients globally, this process is expensive and time-consuming. Also, previous studies have shown that detection is somewhat subjective, even among trained specialists. This is why an effective, automated algorithm could potentially reduce the rate of worldwide blindness.

The researchers believe the method could reduce the workload of doctors and increase efficiency in areas with limited healthcare resources. It can be run on a personal computer or smartphone and doesn’t require specialized computer equipment

The deep learning algorithms still need pilot studies, which the team is planning for later this year. The system will eventually require FDA approval.

[Want to stay more on top of MDO content? Subscribe to our weekly e-newsletter.]

You may also like:

  • Stanford skin cancer AI artificial intelligence
    This AI can spot skin cancer as well as doctors
  • IBM
    Watson identifies heart disease spots 25% of undiagnosed cases

Related Articles Read More >

CeQur Simplicity
CeQur is launching a discreet, convenient ‘wearable insulin pen’
A portrait of Dexcom VP of Global Clinical Initiatives Tomas Walker
Dexcom focuses on early diabetes diagnosis as COVID links emerge
A portrait of Proximie CEO Nadine Hachach-Haram
They said it at DeviceTalks Boston
Dexcom One
How Dexcom’s portfolio goes beyond highly-anticipated next-gen G7

DeviceTalks Weekly.

July 1, 2022
Boston Scientific CEO Mike Mahoney on building a corporate culture that drives high growth results
See More >

MDO Digital Edition

Digital Edition

Subscribe to Medical Design & Outsourcing. Bookmark, share and interact with the leading medical design engineering magazine today.

MEDTECH 100 INDEX

Medtech 100 logo
Market Summary > Current Price
The MedTech 100 is a financial index calculated using the BIG100 companies covered in Medical Design and Outsourcing.
DeviceTalks

DeviceTalks is a conversation among medical technology leaders. It's events, podcasts, webinars and one-on-one exchanges of ideas & insights.

DeviceTalks

New MedTech Resource

Medical Tubing

Enewsletter Subscriptions

Enewsletter Subscriptions

MassDevice

Mass Device

The Medical Device Business Journal. MassDevice is the leading medical device news business journal telling the stories of the devices that save lives.

Visit Website
MDO ad
Medical Design and Outsourcing
  • MassDevice
  • DeviceTalks
  • MedTech 100 Index
  • Medical Tubing + Extrusion
  • Drug Delivery Business News
  • Drug Discovery & Development
  • Pharmaceutical Processing World
  • R&D World
  • About Us/Contact
  • Advertise With Us
  • Subscribe to Print Magazine
  • Subscribe to E-newsletter
  • Attend our Monthly Webinars
  • Listen to our Weekly Podcasts
  • Join our DeviceTalks Tuesdays Discussion

Copyright © 2022 WTWH Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media LLC. Site Map | Privacy Policy | RSS

Search Medical Design & Outsourcing

  • Home
  • Medical Device Business
    • Mergers & Acquisitions
    • Financial
    • Regulatory
  • Applications
    • Cardiovascular
    • Devices
    • Imaging
    • Implantables
    • Medical Equipment
    • Orthopedic
    • Surgical
  • Technologies
    • Contract Manufacturing
    • Components
    • Electronics
    • Extrusions
    • Materials
    • Motion Control
    • Prototyping
    • Pumps
    • Tubing
  • Med Tech Resources
    • DeviceTalks Tuesdays
    • Digital Editions
    • eBooks
    • Manufacturer Search
    • Medical Device Handbook
    • MedTech 100 Index
    • Podcasts
    • Print Subscription
    • The Big 100
    • Webinars / Digital Events
    • Whitepapers
    • Video
  • 2022 Leadership in MedTech
    • 2022 Leadership Voting!
    • 2021 Winners
    • 2020 Winners
  • Women in Medtech