AI-Powered Thyroid Nodule Ultrasound Diagnostic Software Recognized Among Top Nine Medical AI Innovations

AI Empowers Medicine, Digital Intelligence Leads the Future. On April 27, at the Forum on Medical AI Industry Integration and Development, part of the “2024 Zhongguancun Forum Annual Conference” held in Beijing, nine major highlights of “Frontier Achievements in the Field of Medical Artificial Intelligence” were officially released. Among them, the “Thyroid Nodule Ultrasound-Aided Diagnostic Software,” independently developed by Zhejiang Deshang Yunxing Medical Technology Co., Ltd., passed the review and was successfully selected.

According to reports, this release of achievements is based on the “Major Events in Medical Artificial Intelligence in 2023,” extensively solicited earlier by the Medical Artificial Intelligence Branch of the Chinese Society of Biomedical Engineering. A total of 35 projects were submitted from 28 research institutions, including universities, research institutes, medical institutions, and medical technology companies. After multiple rounds of rigorous evaluation and screening by an expert panel, nine major achievements and advances were finally selected for release, including the “Ultrasound-Assisted Diagnostic Software for Thyroid Nodules.”

In November 2023, “Al-SONIC™ Thyroid Nodule Ultrasound Imaging Auxiliary Diagnostic Software,” an ultrasound AI product independently developed by Zhejiang Deshang Yunxing Medical Technology, received approval from the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA). It was granted the first Class III medical device registration certificate (Registration Certificate No.: Guo Xie Zhu Zhun 20233211650) in China’s field of ultrasound AI-assisted diagnosis, marking a milestone and revolutionary breakthrough for China’s ultrasound AI industry and accelerating market access and commercialization of ultrasound AI products. The system can automatically detect lesions, capture their fine structures at the pixel level, analyze their features, and generate structured reports automatically, thereby assisting physicians in improving diagnostic accuracy and efficiency, reducing missed diagnoses and misdiagnoses, and empowering healthcare institutions at all levels. It has been highly acclaimed by the medical and academic communities.

It is reported that, to date, this ultrasound AI-assisted diagnostic system has been clinically applied in nearly 1,000 medical institutions across China. Notably, in 2018, the system was successfully implemented at the Jiangcun Subdistrict Community Health Service Center in Xihu District, Hangzhou, where an “AI-Assisted Diagnosis and Treatment Center” was established. Over the past few years, more than 40,000 patients have undergone ultrasound AI-assisted examinations at this community hospital. The initiative was voted as one of the “Top Ten Livelihood Projects of 2019” in Xihu District and has been widely acclaimed by the industry as the “Jiangcun Model • Xihu Pattern.” In 2022, the system was fully deployed across 109 public medical institutions at Level I and above in Puyang City, Henan Province, and was selected as one of Puyang City’s “Top Ten Livelihood Projects of 2024.” Moving forward, the “Puyang Model” will serve as a benchmark for promoting and applying the system throughout Henan Province.

“This system not only enhances the accuracy of ultrasound imaging diagnosis, preventing missed and misdiagnoses, but also conserves medical resources and reduces societal costs,” stated Professor Kong Dexing, Chief Scientist at Zhejiang Deshang Yunxing Medical Technology Co., Ltd. “Furthermore, this system enables early detection, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases such as thyroid cancer and breast cancer. It allows the public to access high-quality, affordable healthcare with greater convenience, thereby supporting the ‘Healthy China’ initiative, improving the overall efficiency of the healthcare service system, and facilitating the implementation of tiered diagnosis and treatment in primary care hospitals.”

It is reported that the Forum on the Integration and Development of the Medical AI Industry was a sub-forum of the 2024 Zhongguancun Forum. The forum brought together more than 100 top experts and industry elites, featuring sessions such as achievement releases and keynote speeches. It focused on the latest innovative applications in healthcare, the construction of smart surgical platforms, and medical big data management, while releasing cutting-edge achievements in medical AI to comprehensively promote the integrated development of AI technology and the healthcare sector. At the event, prominent experts and corporate representatives delivered keynote speeches based on their respective fields, including Edgar Perez, Strategic Advisor at the Center for China and Globalization (CCG); Deng Xuliang, Dean of Peking University School of Stomatology; Wei Wenbin, Vice President of Beijing Tongren Hospital; Professor Tian Jie from Beihang University; Jin Changxiao, Party Secretary of Peking University Third Hospital; Zhao Wei, Vice President of Fuwai Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences; Yu Haiying, General Manager of Beijing Naton Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd.; and representatives from Wuhan United Imaging Intelligence Medical Technology Co., Ltd.

The 2024 Zhongguancun Forum, co-hosted by the Ministry of Science and Technology of the People's Republic of China, the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Chinese Academy of Engineering, the China Association for Science and Technology, and the Beijing Municipal People's Government, will be held in Beijing, China, from April 25 to 29, 2024. The forum aims to discuss frontier technologies and development trends in future industries, leverage its role as a national platform for global scientific and technological exchange and cooperation, and promote science and technology for the betterment of people worldwide.