The analysis staff led by Prof. Li Xiaomeng has developed a novel AI-powered algorithm to generate high-quality 3D photographs of bones and anatomy in beneath a minute, utilizing as few as 2–4 X-ray snapshots. Credit score: Hong Kong College of Science and Expertise
Researchers at The Hong Kong College of Science and Expertise (HKUST) have developed a groundbreaking AI expertise that reconstructs exact 3D bones and organs fashions from minimal X-ray photographs, slashing sufferers’ radiation publicity by as much as 99% in comparison with CT scans.
This innovation not solely enhances affected person security but in addition reduces prices and wait instances, with potential purposes in surgical planning, real-time imaging, and customized implants. HKUST staff is collaborating with completely different business companions, together with bone printing firm Koln 3D Expertise (Medical) Restricted (Koln 3D), to implement this expertise in public hospitals.
Computed tomography (CT) scans are a standard medical imaging instrument used to diagnose a variety of situations, information surgical procedures, and produce 3D orthopedic and anatomical fashions to handle advanced situations similar to deformities, fractures and tumors. Nevertheless, CT scans expose sufferers to excessive ranges of radiation, which might be significantly dangerous to youngsters, pregnant girls and aged sufferers who require frequent monitoring.
The HKUST analysis staff led by Prof. Li Xiaomeng, Assistant Professor from the Division of Digital and Pc Engineering and Affiliate Director of Heart for Medical Imaging & Evaluation, has developed a novel AI-powered algorithm that generates 3D bone and anatomical photographs with lower than one hundredth of the X-ray views required for CT scans—drastically reducing down radiation publicity by as much as 99%. Key benefits of this new imaging approach embody:
Safer Scans: Reduces radiation publicity for sufferers by 95%–99%
Sooner Outcomes: Generates high-quality 3D photographs of bones and anatomy in beneath a minute, utilizing as few as 2–4 X-ray snapshots in comparison with 400–500 for CT scans
Decrease Price: The price of a CT scan is usually 6 to eight instances larger that that of an X-ray
Shorter ready time: In public hospitals, prioritized sufferers at present wait about 3 weeks for a CT scan, whereas X-ray scans might be accomplished in hours.
To create impression of this breakthrough, Prof Li’s staff is partnering with Koln 3D—Hong Kong’s first orthopedic and metallic part printing firm—to combine this new expertise into pre-surgical planning (customized bone fashions), customized implants (tailor-made to affected person anatomy) and real-time surgical navigation.
Prof. Li stated that the brand new expertise has numerous purposes, with 3D bone printing being merely step one. “There’s great demand for 3D printing options in orthopedics, and fast, high-definition imaging expertise may considerably optimize surgical workflows.
“Our technology is already assisting surgeons in preoperative planning, and we aim to expand into creating implantable bone structures while advancing imaging precision of 3D anatomical structures beyond our current 97% accuracy benchmark compared to conventional CT scans,” she stated, including that the staff intends to deploy the expertise in areas similar to real-time surgical navigation, and customized remedy planning.
Mr. Edmond Yau, Founder and CEO of Koln 3D, stated, “HKUST’s AI technology solves our biggest challenge: time. Previously, designing a single implant took days of CT scans and manual modeling, not to mention the wait time for CT scan services at public hospitals. Now, we can generate 3D bone models using just two X-ray inputs in less than 30 seconds. This is transformative for patients needing urgent interventions. This collaboration enables us to deliver personalized solutions at scale, cutting costs by 50%–70% while improving outcomes.”
Dr. TSE Lung Fung, Specialist in Orthopedics & Traumatology at a non-public hospital and Medical Marketing consultant to Koln 3D, added, “In my 30 years of practice, I’ve witnessed patients endure repeated CT scans just to monitor healing. With this technology, we reduce radiation exposure by over 90% while delivering unprecedented accuracy. For children, pregnant women or elderly patients needing frequent checks, it is revolutionary. Now, we can design implants tailored to a patient’s unique anatomy in minutes, ensuring a perfect fit and faster recovery.”
A public hospital is ready to validate the expertise within the coming months. If confirmed efficient, it could be adopted within the public medical system by subsequent 12 months on the earliest. The analysis staff can also be in search of collaborations with different hospitals to discover purposes in cardiac and pulmonary imaging, aiming to redefine requirements for safer, quicker diagnostics in addition to improve the efficacy of surgical planning and intraoperative care.
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AI medical imaging expertise that cuts radiation by 99% (2025, July 17)
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