Industry leaders Jeff DiLullo, Executive Vice President and Chief Region Leader of Philips North America, and Prof. Andreas Fouras, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of 4DMedical, led a transformative session at the annual RSNA conference. The session discussed how the partnership between the two companies aims to enhance healthcare accessibility for Veterans; it highlighted collaborative efforts to improve cardiothoracic imaging and address the unique needs of Veterans, particularly those exposed to airborne toxins.
During the session, Jeff shared how his background with the Army shaped his interest and dedication to improving healthcare services for our armed forces. “At Philips, we have a significant relationship with the VA that spans over 50 years of innovation. The mission is so critical to reach every single Veteran, and the ability to create technology relationships to help them do that is where we really love the partnership,” said Jeff. Jeff highlighted how the next frontier is leveraging AI and cloud-based tools to increase the number of Veterans who can receive quality care and innovative testing.
Millions of veterans have long reported chronic respiratory conditions, like COPD or asthma, but often face normal scan results when they seek diagnoses, whether through the VA system or community care networks. This can lead to misdiagnosis or delays in proper treatment. The PACT Act, which has mobilized nearly $300 billion in funding, aims to address these gaps by improving diagnostic capabilities and access for Veterans.
One of the challenges in diagnosing these conditions is that scans often appear normal despite ongoing symptoms. While traditional methods, like lung biopsies, offer deeper insights, they are invasive, painful, and costly. Fortunately, new technologies are offering a promising solution. These advanced systems can quickly analyze large volumes of scans and identify service-related respiratory issues more accurately without requiring invasive procedures.
During the session, Jeff shared how AI technology, integrated into existing CT scanners, transforms the diagnostic process. “The focus is now on building algorithms to detect specific conditions related to Veterans’ service,” said Jeff.
The next step is creating a transparent ecosystem that fully integrates these technologies into the healthcare system. This will ensure that Veterans have access to faster, more accurate diagnoses and better overall care.
Cardiothoracic imaging advances are transforming lung disease diagnosis. One key focus is maximizing the value of lung cancer screening CTs, which the Army and VA are already rolling out. By leveraging these scans, additional valuable data can be extracted, reducing the need for invasive procedures like biopsies. New AI-driven algorithms can identify lung issues with remarkable sensitivity—some systems even offer up to 98% agreement with biopsy results.
Andreas shared how 4DMedical’s XV technology offers a unique approach to lung diagnostics, combining the best of spirometry and CT scanning. This tool provides 4D imaging (three dimensions plus time), allowing for real-time visualization of how air flows in and out of the lungs. The result is incredibly detailed data that can identify ventilation and lung function issues that other technologies might miss. This breakthrough tool, which requires no contrast media and has a radiation dose equivalent to a single chest X-ray, could dramatically streamline diagnostics.
The CT:VQ technology, currently in clinical trials, offers even more promise. It allows existing CT equipment to deliver detailed ventilation and perfusion data without nuclear VQ scans. This reduces costs, increases accessibility, and provides a faster, more efficient alternative that can be deployed in VA clinics or regional hospitals nationwide.
The potential impact is significant: with AI and advanced imaging systems, the healthcare system can lower costs and improve access to high-quality diagnostic tools, improving patient experience and diagnostic accuracy. As these technologies mature, they hold the potential to transform lung disease diagnostics on a global scale, offering hope for more timely and accurate diagnoses for Veterans and patients alike. Listen to the entire session below.