The introduction of Artificial intelligence (AI) stands to revolutionise the treatment of burns victims through a novel technology that has the potential to significantly expedite the decision-making process for surgeons. In the traditional approach, doctors have relied on their clinical judgement and hospital scanning machines, resulting in a waiting period of up to two days to determine the necessity of surgical intervention for burn injuries. In contrast, the newly developed AI system, known as DeepView, demonstrates the capability to assess the severity of burns in under 30 seconds with an accuracy rate of nine out of ten.
Employing a specially designed camera linked to a computer, this advanced technology offers the prospective advantage of substantially reducing the waiting time for patients requiring surgical intervention. Current studies indicate that surgeons accurately evaluate the severity of burns in only about half of cases, highlighting the need for a more precise and efficient approach to the evaluation process.
Given that approximately 175,000 individuals in the UK are hospitalised with burn injuries annually, with around 1,000 of these necessitating skin grafts, the significance of this breakthrough technology cannot be overstated. Skin grafts are essential when the damaged skin is deemed unrecoverable due to irreversible harm to the blood vessels, rendering it unable to heal.
Presented at the British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons’ (BAPRAS) North East Meeting in Newcastle, the DeepView technology is specifically designed to identify this blood vessel damage. Through the training of the AI with thousands of images of various burns, the technology has been programmed to accurately evaluate the range of potential damage, ranging from minor to severe.
Chris Lewis, a burns specialist at the Northern Regional Burn Centre, where DeepView is undergoing testing, expressed optimism regarding the potential of this technology. He stated, “This technology allows for more rapid determination of the necessity for skin grafts in patients. It also appears to be more effective than doctors at identifying severe damage. This represents a transformational innovation.”
Moreover, the integration of AI in the treatment of burns could enhance the precision of assessments and guarantee that patients receive the essential surgical intervention in a more prompt manner, potentially averting permanent scarring.
As AI continues to advance in the realm of medicine, the introduction of DeepView marks a significant step towards more efficient and precise treatment for burns victims. This pioneering technology holds the potential to redefine the way burns are assessed and treated, providing optimism for expedited care and enhanced patient outcomes.