Public Funding for Aisentia Limited

Computerised Tomography (CT) scan is one of the most common medical imaging performed in healthcare, Each year, 300 million CT scans are performed globally. Of which, around 180M include use of radiocontrast media (RCM). Contrast Enhanced CTs (CECT) create a significant environmental impact, namely: 42,000 tonnes of single use packaging, 900 Tonnes of surgical steel (needles), 90,000 tonnes of plastic tubing and 150,000,000 kWh in energy consumption. These generate on average 9.2 kg of CO2/ scan. In addition, CECTs generates 200,000 tonnes of iodine contamination in water/yr. This is a recognised form of ‘pharmaceutical pollution’. CECTs may also harm patients: needle insertion, toxicity of iodinated RCMs to kidneys (potentially kidney failure) and allergic reactions, which in some cases can be life-threatening. Healthcare systems are responsible for the 4.4% CO2 global emissions (2 Giga tonnes/yr). Of this, ~3 Mega tonnes/yr are generated from CECTs. The EU has declared its NetZero targets of by 2050 through the European Green Deal. We showed feasibility that artificial intelligence (AI, deep learning methods) can extract high level information from non-contrast CT scans and synthesise contrast ‘digitally’. This avoids the need to administer RCM for CECTs. We seek to develop and validate 5 uses cases of CT ’Digital Contrast’ during this Horizon award. By implementing ‘Digital Contrast’ for scans globally, we aim to reduce 30% of the CO2e and iodine RCM waste generated from CECTs by 2033. NetZeroAICT has a grand vision to define a reference framework for scalable development of AI health tools for a future of sustainable health systems. This builds on our prior efforts of AICT consortium, which was established to make CT imaging safer, more efficient, more equitable and more sustainable. NetZeroAICT will accelerate the EU’s trajectory towards NetZero and advance EU’s globally recognized leadership position on Healthcare sustainability.

AiSentia is a spin-out from the University of Oxford consisting of a world-class team that delivers innovative healthcare solutions that champion patient care. AiSentia's aim is to develop next generation clinical imaging technologies using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support clinical decision-making on blood vessels. The proprietary AI-driven software has the ability to dramatically change best practice, reducing healthcare costs whilst improving the patient's experience and outcomes. A computerised tomography (CT) scan is a diagnostic imaging procedure which uses x-rays impinging on a subject, such as the human body, to produce cross-sectional images, sometimes called 'slices', of a targeted region of the subject. The introduction of a contrast agent helps distinguish or "contrast" selected areas of the body from the surrounding tissue, which can be used to diagnose specific conditions. However, for some patients who may require repeated hospital visits, the repeated exposure to X-rays is undesirable and may be detrimental to their health. Furthermore, some patients are also susceptible to anaphylactic shock, diabetic symptoms, or contrast induced nephropathy due to iodinated contrast which limits the ability for their doctors to use advanced imaging to diagnose potential issues. In addition to the patient benefits, iodinated contrast media are excreted into the hospital toilets or home toilets over the next 24 hours entering the wastewater. Iodine is difficult to remove from the wastewater and is detrimental to the environment. The aim of AiSentia is to eliminate iodinated contrast media for CT imaging and improve the environment by reducing the amount of biopharmaceutical waste released in the wastewater system. This project seeks to help these patients, the hospitals, and the environment by developing a ground-breaking software that means that CTA scans could be used routinely without patients having to be injected with contrast agents. Once developed, AiSentia is expected to improve overall patient outcomes and standard-of-care delivering transformative effects by opening new markets, generating revenues and investment which benefits the UK economy and sustainability.