Perimeter Medical gets $7.4M for cancer detection AI

Perimeter Medical Imaging has received a $7.4 million grant to further develop its artificial intelligence technology (AI) at cancer centers in Texas.

The Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas awarded the grant to the company to further develop its optical tissue imaging system (OTIS) technology, which aims to reduce the reoperation rate for breast cancer patients.

OTIS aims to provide real-time information during breast cancer surgery by acquiring high-resolution subsurface image volumes across the surface of removed tissue. Since it allows surgeons to assess whether entire tumors were removed successfully, the technology has the potential to reduce healthcare costs and limit mental trauma to patients by avoiding repeat surgeries.

The first phase of the three-year project will focus on training and testing the algorithms using data collected from MD Anderson, Baylor College of Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern, and University of Texas Health San Antonio. Image data of breast tissue samples collected from approximately 400 patients will be used to develop the software model using machine learning.

A study will be conducted during the second stage to test the new technology against the current standard of care and assess the impact on the reoperation rate for patients undergoing breast conservation surgeries.