Word Street Journal

Over the past couple of years, computer vision has altered many industries. Solutions based on this technology help manufacturers detect product defects and allow cashier-less stores to function while offering self-check-outs and better customer data management in the retail sector. Healthcare is another field where computer vision has found many applications. 

Medical institutions use these tools in their daily work for better patient outcomes. However, not only healthcare organizations can use computer vision’s power to benefit people. There are many apps that help them lead healthier and more productive lives. Here, we’ll cover the main use cases for computer vision in this setting, its benefits, and the apps people can use.

What Is Computer Vision?

Computer vision is a subset of artificial intelligence technology that gives machines sight. With its help, computers interpret and understand information from sources such as images and video feeds. Combined with other types of AI tech, solutions built on this technology evaluate medical images with higher accuracy than medical professionals.

In basic terms, CV products are another pair of eyes for healthcare experts to make better diagnoses and improve patient recovery chances. For example, computer vision is used to train a medical app to identify signs of skin cancer. To achieve this, programmers fill the software knowledge base with a vast number of images displaying examples of abnormal birthmarks.

Main Use Cases Of Computer Vision In Healthcare

Diagnosing possible signs of skin cancer isn’t the only application of computer vision in healthcare.

1. Medical image analysis. CV algorithms help analyze CT scans, ultrasounds, and X-rays for better anomaly detection. Their power helps establish the early onset of diseases faster, makes diagnoses more accurate, and lets professionals make faster decisions.
2. Pathology and histology. Computer vision technology allows healthcare experts to better evaluate tissue samples based on size, shape, and cell distribution. With its help, medical workers spend less time on manual examination.
3. Pharma research. Computer vision technology enhances drug discovery and development. It allows experts to automate cellular image analysis to uncover potential therapeutic candidates, reduce market entry costs, and streamline development.
4. Telemedicine. This technology, combined with wearable products and applications, is one of the most promising applications of CV, allowing patients to manage their health more efficiently. Products built on these technologies monitor vital signs and conduct remote medical picture analysis.
5. Surgical assistance. Computer vision is becoming a common sight in operating rooms, with robotic assistants helping surgeons with daily work. Its application is particularly helpful in difficult-to-reach areas, making patient recovery and operation success more possible.

Benefits Of Computer Vision Medical Products For Patients

The rise of CV healthcare solutions in the past couple of years has led to several benefits for professionals and patients alike. When it comes to melanoma diagnostics, computer algorithms show a 6,5% better accuracy than human professionals. However, these are not the only perks of using this technology in the medical field:

1. Better accessibility and convenience. CV-based apps allow patients to get primary diagnoses and health assessments without having to visit medical facilities. This saves time on hospital visits and makes online consultations more accessible for people, even in the most remote areas.
2. Enhanced dietary results. Some of the modern apps using CV technology analyze food items to calculate calorie intake and nutritional value. Their advice is particularly useful for diabetics and people experiencing gastrointestinal tract issues.
3. Improved medication adherence. Software with CV technology sends reminders and verifications about medication intake. These features ensure that they take the correct dosage, helping patients track their medical schedules.
4. Increased engagement. Healthcare apps make people more aware and educated about their conditions, encouraging more proactive participation in their own healthcare. These factors will make people feel more in control and take better care of themselves.
5. Personalized medical insights. Apps using computer vision tech offer tailored recommendations based on individual information. It helps patients with diabetes, hypertension, and other conditions manage them more effectively.

Top Examples of Computer Vision-Based Healthcare Applications

The market for healthcare apps is booming, with over 350,000 products users can download and use to their advantage. Thanks to the increasing popularity of artificial intelligence and computer vision technologies, the market is expected to continue growing. Several of these apps are available today for people to maintain their health.

• Ada

Ada represents a future of self-diagnostics that goes beyond reading symptoms on the internet. The iOS and Android application allows people to check their condition online to find what causes them without going to the hospital or signing up for online checkups. It was trained using extensive medical data and doctor insights.

The solution comes with a photo feature people use to capture physical symptoms and provide them for analysis. Ada then uses AI and ML algorithms to assess the findings and tell if people need to seek medical attention or if there’s no need to worry. The solution provides a seamless way to track symptoms and get health reports.

• AiCure

This platform uses computer vision technology to monitor patient conditions and ensure regular medication intake. AiCure scans facial features and retinas to support clinic trial participants from the comfort of their homes. The solution also comes equipped with predictive analytical features and a synchronous chat to assist patients through their smartphones.

With the help of AiCure, people more proactively manage their doses and adherence. These features prevent dropouts and allow researchers to gather more accurate statistics. Ultimately, this combination increases the quality of trial data.

• Binah.ai

Binah.ai’s developers utilized computer vision technology to provide sophisticated health monitoring via smartphone cameras. The application is particularly helpful for patients suffering from chronic conditions such as heart disease and hypertension. With Binah.ai, they check up on oxygen saturation, stress levels, and heart rate.

Healthcare providers use this platform to keep a close eye on patient conditions from the confines of their homes. In addition to smartphones, the app works on laptops and tablets. Bina.ai even produces AI-based blood tests, using video recordings to predict the level of cholesterol, hemoglobin, and hemoglobin A1C.

• Current Health

This healthcare app is available for participants of the Current Health program offered by healthcare providers. People involved in this initiative use their smart devices and wearables to monitor different chronic illnesses effectively. Their regular feedback makes it easier for providers to spot and address any concerning changes in patient conditions.

Current Health comes equipped with many features, such as daily reminders, personalized tasks, symptom reporting, and activity tracking. In case something goes wrong or patients have questions for their healthcare providers, they make in-app video calls.

• EyeArt 

Diabetes is one of the most common illnesses, with over 500 million adults suffering from its symptoms worldwide. EyeArt is an AI-powered tool that uses computer vision to analyze retinal images. With its help, people identify early signs of diabetic retinopathy, preventing themselves from becoming blind.

EyeArt has already helped over 500,000 patients with retinal scans. Healthcare providers use this software to get results in less than a minute after submitting patient images. This speed and accuracy make regular exams more manageable, allowing physicians to diagnose diabetic retinopathy faster and lead to better patient outcomes.

• Motics

Unlike other apps on this list, Motics’ goal is to help people with different mobility issues. The app uses computer vision to aid patients recovering from injuries, living with chronic conditions, and searching to improve their mobility. Several features make it a great health tool for improved physical routines and all-around fitness.

First, it has visual motion tracking, allowing the app to analyze exercise movements across 73 main body points. The solution provides feedback based on what it sees on the camera, helping users perform the exercise correctly and speeding up the recovery process. It also has customizable dashboards that show recovery progress, milestones, and set goals.

• SkinVision

People who believe they may be exhibiting signs of skin cancer can download and use the SkinVision application. This tool isn’t free to use, as each analysis costs $6,99, but there are also subscription options for three months or an entire year. It uses computer vision to assess photographs of moles and lesions, helping with detecting the disease at early stages.

This healthcare product uses intelligent machine-learning networks to assess troubled skin spots and estimate how threatening they are to a person’s health. The entire analysis takes under 60 seconds to complete and provides results. A dermatologist calls people at high risk of skin cancer within 48 hours.

Conclusion

These products show the promise of using computer vision outside of medical institutions. As the technology behind them becomes more accurate and versatile, this will lead to earlier diagnoses and timely interventions, making people lead happier, healthier lives.