Cardiac MR exams are often considered the gold standard for diagnosing congenital and muscle-related heart diseases, but these procedures can be complex and time consuming. In partnership with Mayo Clinic, Philips is exploring ways to make these exams more accessible with the help of AI.

The organizations will combine proprietary AI tools to improve patient access to high-quality MR and streamline radiology workflows. The effort seeks to address limitations such as high costs and restricted availability of MR, which can impede widespread diagnostic use.

“From the patient perspective, MR scans can be stressful. A complex cardiac MR exam can take over an hour, which is often challenging for patients who suffer from claustrophobia inside the bore of the scanner, find it difficult to lie still or are unable to hold their breath for the required time,” said Ioannis Panagiotelis, business leader of MR at Philips. “By applying AI at every stage of a cardiac MR exam, we intend to expand access and greatly improve the patient experience, increase departmental efficiency, and deliver the detailed diagnostic information needed for optimal patient outcomes.”
The partnership will explore AI's potential to shorten scan times and make cardiac MR more user-friendly for less experienced technicians. The initiative also aims to address staffing shortages in radiology by enabling efficient execution of complex imaging exams.

Philips' low-field-strength MR systems will be a focal point of the collaboration. These systems offer safer imaging alternatives for patients with implants sensitive to high magnetic fields, such as cardiac devices. A significant portion of patients with metallic or electronic implants could benefit from lower-field-strength MR solutions.

The research is being highlighted at the RSNA meeting underway in Chicago.

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