Thirona launches AI algorithm for cystic fibrosis

Software developer Thirona is launching Pragma-AI, a new artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm to provide automated analysis of CT scans of patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) and detect and quantify lung abnormalities.

Pragma-AI is an update on the company's previously released Pragma-CF algorithm, which offers a quantitative method for assessing cystic fibrosis lung disease on CT scans. But the company noted that Pragma-CF took up to several hours per patient and required highly trained data analysts.

Original CT scan (left) and overlay (heat map; right) of disease areas in the lungs of a CF patient and healthy control, determined in several seconds by Thirona's new Pragma-AI software. Image courtesy of Thirona.

With Pragma-AI, Thirona has automated the method so that analysis of CT scans of cystic fibrosis patients can be performed in several seconds without human interference, the company stated.

Cystic fibrosis is a rare genetic disorder with approximately 70,000 known cases worldwide, characterized by severe lung problems and reduced life expectancy.