Advanced visualization firm TeraRecon showcased a machine-learning platform, virtualization of its iNtuition advanced visualization software, and a cloud-based augmented reality package at this week's Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) meeting in Orlando, FL.
By applying artificial intelligence (AI) technology to accelerate and automate elements of image interpretation and advanced postprocessing, TeraRecon's Within Image Analysis (WIA) Cloud platform aims to eliminate repetitive operator tasks, according to the vendor. The platform will be able to provide access to a wide range of AI algorithms and machine-learning that identify, categorize, and characterize images, TeraRecon said.
It will also integrate with third-party applications and learn end-user behaviors, while allowing physicians to independently validate the macro-level indications of each engine's output, TeraRecon said. President and CEO Jeff Sorenson said the company sees immediate opportunities for WIA Cloud in the areas of stroke patient triage, complex cardiac MR interpretation automation, and other specific types of image analysis tools. In its booth at HIMSS 2017, TeraRecon is showing a prototype WIA Cloud engine that suggests image classifications for cardiac MR studies.
Meanwhile, TeraRecon's virtualization initiative means that new iNtuition systems will include the company's Volume Pro (VP) CUDA interface layer as standard, making iNtuition ready for use with technology firm Nvidia's CUDA graphics processing units (GPUs) and obviating the need for previously required proprietary hardware, TeraRecon said. The result is a four- to 20-times performance improvement in its Volume Pro application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) technology, according to the vendor. Current iNtuition customers can purchase TeraRecon's VP CUDA interface layer and upgrade their own hardware.
TeraRecon said that VP CUDA could also be used to support AI applications. In providing architecture for TeraRecon's WIA Cloud prototype, VP CUDA can support the processing power to run multiple machine-learning application engines simultaneously, according to the company.
In other HIMSS 2017 introductions, TeraRecon has introduced HoloPack Portal, a cloud-based augmented reality package. Adding interactive holography capabilities, HoloPack Portal extends the company's viewing platform to offer a user experience that is applicable to both clinical experts and their patients, according to the vendor.
HoloPack Portal leverages Microsoft's Azure GPU-enabled computing platform and is cohosted in TeraRecon's iNtuition Cloud service along with its WIA platform for applied machine learning. In addition, HoloPack Portal uses image streaming technology provided by TeraRecon partner Vizua.
