Partner Spotlight: 4DMedical Featured by OSIC
We’re thrilled to be featured in the latest OSIC Partner Spotlight, where Chuck Hatt, our Vice President of Medical & Clinical Affairs, discusses 4DMedical’s leadership in transforming pulmonary diagnostics. The blog highlights our commitment to advancing lung health through innovative, non-invasive imaging solutions powered by AI, including the FDA-cleared IQ-UIP™ software developed to improve early detection of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).
Lung Imaging Trends
Lung imaging is entering a new era with advancements in AI, machine learning, and innovative imaging techniques. Historically, diagnosing chronic respiratory conditions like asthma, COPD, and bronchiectasis has been difficult. Patients may report regular symptoms, yet their lungs often look “unremarkable” on traditional imaging methods. In many cases, a lung biopsy, which is costly and risky, is required to confirm a diagnosis. Today, new technologies offer unprecedented insights into lung health, using advanced processing systems to analyze large volumes of scans and identify diseases without requiring invasive procedures. This enables earlier detection and more personalized treatment options than ever before.
Bridging the Gap: Overcoming Barriers to Preventive Cancer Screenings for At-Risk Populations
A recent study conducted at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston revealed that patients who are most in need of preventive screenings for breast, lung, and colorectal cancers are actually less likely to receive screenings compared to patients with lower risk factors. For many cancers, like lung cancer, the disease is often diagnosed at later stages, making treatment more difficult. Preventive lung CT scans have been shown to reduce lung cancer mortality by 20–25% in high-risk populations.
Reducing the Burden on Healthcare Systems: The Efficiency of 4D Imaging in Respiratory Medicine
Anyone who has faced a health challenge knows that a diagnosis can take time, often, a lot of time. Studies suggest that the average patient can wait 25 to 1,800 days for a diagnosis, and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) reports that this timeline can extend to four to five years for rare or complex diseases.
Lung diseases are challenging to diagnose, as symptoms develop gradually over many years. For instance, a patient with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) might experience a decade of cough, frequent respiratory infections, and breathlessness during exercise before receiving a formal diagnosis.
AI-Driven CT Innovations from 4DMedical Transform COPD Diagnosis and Patient Care
As COPD continues to grow as a global health burden—predicted by the World Health Organization (WHO) to become the third leading cause of death by 2030—innovative AI-driven medical imaging technologies are rapidly advancing diagnosis, staging, and treatment. In a recent Radiology Today article, “Breathing Room,” writer Beth W. Orenstein explores how clinicians are increasingly relying on advanced CT imaging solutions.
Price Transparency and Radiology: A Necessity for Better Patient Care
Recent findings published in the Journal of the American College of Radiology highlight a concerning trend: high out-of-pocket costs for imaging procedures can delay necessary medical diagnoses, potentially impacting patient outcomes. This underscores the critical role of price transparency in radiology.
Regional Lung Volume Changes with Non-Invasive Positive Pressure Ventilation in Healthy Adults
This study highlights the potential of using XV, an advanced functional imaging tool, to better understand regional lung function and optimize the therapeutic application of Non-Invasive Positive Pressure Ventilation (NIPPV). These insights could pave the way for improved patient outcomes for individuals with respiratory conditions, by tailoring interventions to improve their lung function. The ability to non-invasively visualize and measure these regional changes marks a substantial advancement for both clinicians and researchers involved in respiratory care, potentially transforming treatment strategies and patient management.
Innovation, Partnerships—for Lung Health and Veterans: Philips and 4DMedical
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.
DoD to conduct Paid CT:VQ™ Pilot Ahead of FDA Submission
4DMedical has won a contract with the United States Department of Defense (DoD) to pilot its CT Ventilation-Perfusion (CT:VQ™) technology to assess lung health in a fixed cohort of active duty personnel.
This contract builds on the success of 4DMedical’s earlier agreement with the DoD for the deployment of its CT Lung Ventilation Analysis Software (CT LVAS™) in a clinical pilot program. The new arrangement reflects the DoD’s recognition of the utility and impact of 4DMedical’s technology in delivering critical health insights for active military personnel. The contracted arrangement with the DoD is best characterized as a commercial pilot, involving the delivery of a fixed number of scan analysis reports on full commercial terms.
4DMedical Receives U.S. FDA Clearance for IQ-UIP™
4DMedical has received clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its IQ-UIP™ product, an advanced AI-driven lung diagnostic tool designed to revolutionize the diagnosis of Usual Interstitial Pneumonia (UIP), the hallmark radiological pattern for diagnosing Interstitial Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF).