Big data, machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) have enabled medical researchers to gain deeper insights by analyzing vast amounts of patient data – insights that can help clinicians make better decisions, more accurately diagnose and treat patients with fewer side effects. When combined with live patient data, AI can instantly process and analyze pre-trained models. This supposed AI inference is opening up new possibilities for medical equipment manufacturers to create innovative and disruptive new medical devices that help shape the future of healthcare.
time is of the essence
Such a bright and hopeful future for the medical industry is closer than we think because AI is already reaping benefits for the sector around the world. Numerous vendors have established an ecosystem for medical AI and GPUs, and AI heavyweight NVIDIA is among the top contenders.
With the support of NVIDIA's Inception project, a South Korean medical imaging startup called Lunit was able to create an AI-based system capable of detecting pneumonia in COVID-19 patients in seconds. The company said that the beauty of the AI in this application was its ability to process large amounts of data and discover patterns, which would not otherwise be feasible, in terms of time required and skilled resources required.
Another Inception member, Australia-based startup EMVision, was able to develop a lightweight brain scanning device using the NVIDIA Jetson edge AI platform and NVIDIA DGX systems. The portable scanner, suitable for use at the point of care and in ambulances, is capable of diagnosing a stroke in a matter of minutes, which is hugely important as the average stroke patient will lose nearly two million neurons for every minute left of the condition. untreated Time is clearly of the essence in such situations. Based on electromagnetic imaging technology, EMVision's helmet-like device uses AI powered by NVIDIA to distinguish between ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes (clots and hemorrhages) in the shortest possible timeframes.
embedded inference
As the EMVision example shows, the integration of AI technologies makes it possible to deliver better patient care than ever before. The challenge for medical device manufacturers is to incorporate complex AI models that have been tested and tuned in server farms in data centers into comparably compact equipment. NVIDIA is supporting this with its Jetson platform optimized for embedded AI.
Advantech, as one of the key partners in the NVIDIA ecosystem, is developing a range of ready-to-use and customized embedded computing solutions using the Jetson architecture.
For example, based on NVIDIA's latest Jetson AGX Orin, the AIR-030 high-performance AI on-the-edge computing machines are capable of delivering powerful AI inference for low-power intelligent machines. This system includes several I/O options, such as CAN Bus for motion and other controls, LAN with optional PoE for camera input, and DI/O for sensors/actuators. Ideal for real-time video analytics and AI robotics applications, the AIR-030 series enables AI developers to increase performance by using 10GE for high-speed networks. Finally, the AIR-030 comes with an NVIDIA JetPack 5.0 Software Development Kit (SDK) to minimize developer efforts. Advantech's DeviceOn for Edge AI suite provides deployment, remote management, and upgrade capabilities, and on NVIDIA platforms, this makes it possible to upgrade AI inference models in bare metal and Docker environments. Powerful insights can be gained from remote monitoring of AI-related performance indicators, such as performance levels.
Custom AI systems
Advantech's Design and Manufacturing Services (DMS) have developed bespoke AI solutions for use in the medical industry, from customization of existing standard products to custom-designed plates and systems. With dedicated design resources and extensive experience designing IT systems for medical environments, Advantech DMS builds on a solid foundation to take advantage of the latest AI technologies. Whether customers need inference solutions with powerful Jetson platforms, integration with FPGA devices, or high-end scalable workstations that combine server processors with one or multiple GPU accelerators, Advantech engineers know how to create, verify, validate and certify these platforms to medical standards. The process includes design for manufacture and for quality from the concept stage, with the active involvement of design engineers in terms of production and life cycle management.
To demonstrate the feasibility of AI inference in the healthcare industry, Advantech's DMS team has developed a medical-grade AI embedded PC based on NVIDIA technology. By integrating up to 384 high-powered NVIDIA GPU cores with a high-performance CPU and large memory subsystem, the PC offers significant processing power for a variety of workloads, such as image processing and fast data processing in video endoscopy, computed tomography (CT scans) or fluorescence tomography, while ensuring excellent energy efficiency.
Integrated IoT platforms
As a leader in embedded computing solutions with more than 550 employees in Europe and more than 8500 employees worldwide, Advantech offers a wide range of powerful and scalable embedded Internet of Things (IoT) platforms, including motherboards, board computers single (SBC), computers -on-modules (COM), box and panel PC, servers, tablets, open frame displays, monitors and video solutions. With a strong focus on the medical industry, Advantech offers long-term product availability, optimal Total Cost of Ownership (TCO), and support from initial product conception to End of Life (EOL). Advantech's medical customers, including the world's 30 leading medical OEMs, benefit from product lifespans of up to 14 years, as well as extended warranties, global technical support, and logistics services.
With a proven track record as a partner to medical equipment manufacturers, as well as continued strong investment in cutting-edge technology and dedicated development resources for custom-built devices, Advantech enables OEMs to create innovative and game-changing medical solutions based on Intelligence Technology. NVIDIA's artificial technology with low risk, minimal cost, and reduced time to market. With such a contribution to the medical AI ecosystem, Advantech's mission of "enabling a smart and sustainable planet" is helping the healthcare industry incorporate research innovation into advanced products for diagnostic imaging, therapy, robotics, and patient monitoring. patients. In turn, this will help bring the power of AI to new areas such as endoscopy, radiology and surgery in the smart hospitals of the future.
