The era of relying solely on basic measurements or subjective assessments for organ evaluation is rapidly drawing to a close.
By centralizing imaging data in the cloud, we unlock the potential to integrate cutting-edge tools and artificial intelligence (AI) that revolutionize how we understand donor organs. These tools move beyond numbers to offer transplant teams a deeper, more visual understanding of organ viability – at a speed and accuracy that previously seemed out of reach.
Uncovering the True Quality of Organs Hidden in the Imaging
For decades, transplant teams have used proxy indicators to evaluate donor organs: BMI to estimate liver steatosis, pack years to assess lung function or a history of high blood pressure to determine heart viability. While these data points are still relevant, they don’t tell the whole story – especially when critical data arrives out of context or fragmented across multiple formats.
According to CompuMed President and CEO Lee Keddie, “So often, the true quality of the organ is hidden in the imaging.”
Advanced tools and AI can uncover that hidden value, making previously opaque or ambiguous information visible, structured and ready for clinical decision-making.
Seeing the Whole Picture with 3D Volumetrics
One such transformative tool is 3D volumetrics. Unlike traditional 2D imaging, 3D volumetric rendering converts a potential donor’s CT scans into a three-dimensional model that accurately represents an organ’s volume, shape, internal structure and anatomical features.
This is not just visually impressive – it’s clinically transformative. For example:
- Liver Selection: Liver volumes and 3D shapes ensure fast and confident decisions and help eliminate late declines in the OR due to size.
- Split-Liver Decisions: Visualization supports critical planning when determining portions of the liver, and with thin slice CTs and contrast, critical vasculature structure can be visualized.
- Heart & Lung Selection: The 3D models offer precise volumetrics, size and shape of the heart and can highlight any anatomical abnormalities or vascular variations. This is especially important in pediatric cases where actual sizes replace the use of BMI or Predictive Heart Mass Index (PHMI) proxies.
- Kidney Function: Volume of the kidney has a direct correlation to the amount of filtering capacity it has. Additionally, being able to visualize vasculature ahead of time can help improve transplant outcomes.
As an additional powerful selection tool, transplant teams can model the intended recipient’s anatomy and see how the donor organ fits within that space. This helps bypass guesswork and accelerate the “rule-in, rule-out” filters used in the organ donor matching system.
When 3D volumetrics is utilized, it can drive better decisions, faster, and reduce the risk of late declines in the OR.
AI That Thinks with You, Not for You
Artificial Intelligence is also rapidly becoming an indispensable partner in the organ donation and transplantation process. AI excels at identifying specific, often subtle, anomalies within complex imaging data in real-time.
For instance, AI algorithms can efficiently scan lung CTs to detect and precisely locate even the smallest nodules or analyze liver scans for signs of fibrosis. AI doesn’t just detect; it can show its work by highlighting its findings pixel by pixel.
“Because AI uses pattern recognition to map specific features within a grid, it automatically knows the coordinates of the patterns it recognizes,” says Lee Keddie. “It has a mental map of where the specific area of interest is located. As a result, it not only identifies the features, but it also shows where they are on the image. It can show where those exact pathologies are – the size, shape and location where those lung nodules exist, enabling them to be visualized.”
“People trust computers for consistency and experts for accuracy,” he adds. “When you combine AI with the doctor’s expertise, it creates a high degree of consistency and trust.”
This collaboration between AI’s precision and a physician’s experience leads to faster, more confident decisions – and ultimately, enables better patient outcomes.
Better Tools Lead to Better Outcomes
These advanced tools, when integrated into a centralized organ evaluation workflow, create a more objective and verifiable assessment process. Transplant centers no longer have to interpret proxy indicators. Instead, they can access rich, structured, visual data that supports confident action.
AI and 3D volumetrics don’t replace traditional measurements. They enhance them with greater clarity, speed and consistency.
Because when transplant teams are equipped with better data, they can make better decisions. And better decisions can save more lives.
Ready to learn more about 3D volumetrics? Contact us today to see how it’s helping the organ donation and transplantation community make faster, more confident decisions.
Related Reading for a full technical breakdown of CompuMed’s 3D volumetric rendering capabilities:
- 3D Volumetric Rendering: A Game Changer for Eliminating Late Declines in the OR Due to Size Incompatibility
- 3D Volumetric Rendering Offers Benefits to All Transplant Stakeholders
And in our final installment of our Powering Progress series, you can discover how combining advanced tools, expert interpretation and continuous refinement can help increase transplant rates in A Better Path Forward.
