Researchers from the Universities of Manchester and Liverpool, in collaboration with Manchester Imaging Ltd, have been awarded a £1.2 million grant to develop an artificial intelligence (AI) system. This funding, provided by the National Institute for Health and Care Research’s (NIHR) ‘Invention for Innovation’ (i4i) programme, will support the creation of an automated system designed to measure hip displacement in children diagnosed with cerebral palsy. The initiative aims to standardize care, enhance early detection, and facilitate clinical decision-making.
Project Funding and Collaborators
The £1.2 million grant has been secured by a collaborative team comprising researchers from the University of Manchester and the University of Liverpool, alongside Manchester Imaging Ltd. The funding source is the National Institute for Health and Care Research’s ‘Invention for Innovation’ (i4i) programme. Professor Daniel Perry, a surgeon at Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust and an NIHR Research Professor, is involved in the project, with Dr. Claudia Lindner co-leading the initiative.
Addressing a Clinical Challenge
Children diagnosed with cerebral palsy face a heightened risk of hip problems, characterized by the hip ball moving out of its socket. This condition can lead to pain, difficulties with sitting, and challenges with personal care. Early detection through regular X-ray measurements and timely medical interventions is crucial for preventing full dislocation.
The current national framework for monitoring the musculoskeletal systems of children with cerebral palsy is known as the Cerebral Palsy Integrated Pathway (CPIP). This pathway involves regular assessments, physical examinations, and hip X-rays, which are then analyzed by medical experts to identify changes and predict risks. However, the CPIP process currently lacks national standardization, resulting in varied implementation across different regions. Resource limitations, significant clinician time requirements, associated costs, and potential delays often restrict CPIP implementation, contributing to inconsistencies in care standards nationwide.
Development and Integration of the AI System
The new AI tool is designed to address these existing challenges by automating the interpretation of hip X-rays, data capture, and patient monitoring. The AI algorithm has undergone training using thousands of X-ray images, enabling it to automatically identify the outlines of children's hip bones and detect various stages of hip dislocation, from initial movement to full displacement. Testing of the AI system has demonstrated an accuracy comparable to that of human medical experts, while performing analysis in a significantly shorter timeframe.
Manchester Imaging Ltd will be responsible for converting this AI algorithm into a medical device suitable for integration into hospital systems, aiming to simplify its use for clinicians. The device is intended to monitor hip movement, highlight areas of concern in X-rays, and identify instances where preventative intervention may be necessary. The system is planned for integration into the existing Cerebral Palsy Integrated Pathway.
Expected Outcomes and Future Impact
Developers anticipate that automating this process will lead to several benefits:
- Enhanced Diagnostics: The system is expected to provide prompt and consistent diagnoses.
- Clinician Efficiency: It aims to reduce the time clinicians spend on X-ray analysis, potentially allowing more time for direct patient care.
- Standardized Care: By automating X-ray processing across the country, the system is intended to standardize care levels and facilitate fuller integration of CPIP across the NHS.
- Early Intervention: Automation is expected to enable more patients to benefit from early detection and prevention of hip problems.
- Improved Patient Outcomes: Faster treatment processes are anticipated to improve long-term outcomes for children with cerebral palsy.
- Research Advancement: Data from thousands of X-ray images processed by the tool will be automatically entered into the national CPIP database. This data is expected to facilitate new research, potentially leading to a better understanding of the disease's progression and the benefits of monitoring. Dr. Steve Cooke, national orthopaedic lead for CPIP, has noted the potential for research given the approximately 14,000 children currently on CPIP.
Professor Mike Lewis, NIHR Scientific Director for Innovation, has stated that the project reflects NIHR’s commitment to healthcare transformation. The project's overall goal is to ensure that all children with cerebral palsy in the UK receive a uniformly high level of care.