Cal.Liver.Lesion is an on-premise image analysis software that utilizes jointly developed AI. Bayer Yakuhin holds exclusive marketing rights for Cal.Liver.Lesion
April 10th, 2023 – Kyoto, Japan – HACARUS INC, which is bringing the next generation of quantification to all industries, today announced the launch of the on-premises image analysis software “Cal.Liver.Lesion” jointly developed with Bayer Yakuhin.
Background and purpose of development
Liver cancer is the 5th deadliest cancer type for women and men in Japan, and the fifth most common cancer type overall for men. The annual number of liver cancer patients in Japan (2019) was 37,296 (25,339 men, 11,957 women), and the annual number of deaths (2020) were 24,839 (16,271 men, 8,568 women).
Hepatocellular carcinoma is said to account for more than 90% of all liver cancers in Japan and can be detected at an early stage by MRI imaging, but when diagnosing hypervascularised hepatocellular carcinoma by MRI using the liver-specific contrast agent EOB Primovist, approximately 10 different imaging conditions are required. The physician who reads the MRI data has to make a comprehensive judgment based on hundreds of images per patient. It is recommended that radiologists who have been certified by the Japanese Radiological Society’s Committee on the Specialist System for Radiology should carry out this work. However, in Japan today, the number of radiologists is insufficient in relation to the number of MRI examinations needed to be carried out, placing a heavy burden on the radiologist.
Cal.Liver.Lesion was developed with the aim of reducing the burden on physicians by improving the efficiency and accuracy of reading by creating color maps in areas of different signal values in the images taken.
The product is intended to assist doctors in reading and diagnosing images, not to make a definitive diagnosis based solely on the results of the analysis.
About joint development
HACARUS was selected for “G4A Tokyo Dealmaker” in 2019, which was organiser by Bayer AG, Germany, as the Japanese version of G4A, a global program to support innovator companies with innovative digital technologies, subsequently HACARUS signed a joint research agreement with the Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe University, to develop “MRI image analysis and diagnostic support AI for hepatocellular carcinoma”.
Bayer, together with HACARUS and other partners in the AI and digital fields, collaborates on product development, service and support to provide total solutions in the diagnostic imaging field. We will continue to expand our AI-based digital solutions in the field of diagnostic imaging and contribute to the protection of patient health together with radiologists and all related healthcare professionals.
About Cal.Liver.Lesion
Is an on-premise software that is installed on hospital PCs. It operates in conjunction with the in-hospital magnetic resonance imaging system (MRI) and PACS and is premised on checking the analysis results with a DICOM viewer which is normally used for interpretation. The computer processes the image information of EOB and Primovist contrast-enhanced MRI of the abdomen taken by MRI, and AI automatically extracts areas with different signal values compared to the surrounding area.
Note that this product is intended to assist doctors in interpreting and diagnosing images, and is not intended to provide a definitive diagnosis based solely on analysis results.
Controlled medical device Program for MR device workstation
Brand name: Cal.Liver.Lesion
Manufacturing and sales certification number: 304AGBZX00095000
MANUFACTURER HACARUS Co., Ltd.
About Bayer Yakuhin
Through our ethical pharmaceuticals and consumer health businesses, we promote sustainable initiatives that transform care for patients in Japan. In the ethical pharmaceuticals division, we will deliver appropriate nutrition to the fields of cardiovascular/kidney, oncology, ophthalmology, gynecology, blood, and diagnostic imaging.In the consumer health division, we will deliver appropriate nutrition for babies’ “first 1000 days of life.” Therefore, we are focusing on supplements that support women’s pregnancy preparation and pregnancy period. For more information, please visit www.pharma.bayer.jp, Facebook and YouTube .
About HACARUS
HACARUS INC. provides big insights from small data and has since its founding in 2014, supplied solutions in 100+ AI projects across the Medical and Manufacturing fields. Headquartered in Kyoto, Japan, and backed by Osaka Gas and Miyako Capital (Kyoto University), among others, its technology enables humans to make better, faster, and more reliable decisions based on data-driven insights. HACARUS’ proprietary AI engine is built using Sparse Modeling, a method that understands data like a human would – by its unique key features and is far more resource, time, and energy-efficient when compared to Deep Learning. To learn more, visit https://hacarus.com
Contact
HACARUS’ PR Department
Mail: pr@hacarus.com
Bayer Yakuhin’ Public Relations Division
Tel: 06-6133-7498, Public Relations Department (Tel: 06-6133-7333)
