Vision augmented predictive screening tool for accurate diagnosis and prognosis of spinal deformities and injuries

The proposed Vision Augmented Predictive Spinal deformity (VAPS) system addresses the need for a fully automated, scalable, and cost-efficient tool for spinal deformity measurements and prediction of musculoskeletal parameters and pain. Accurately identifying the type and severity of spinal deformity, a condition that affects upwards of 24 million people in the US annually, is the foundation of any good treatment plan. Measuring anatomical features, such as vertebral alignment or intervertebral disc protrusion is necessary for diagnosis; however, the current manual method for measurement is prone to significant human error and can take up to 15 minutes of a specialist’s valuable time per image. Such human error can lead to misclassification of the severity of spinal degeneration and deformity, and may lead to worse patient outcomes by causing additional pain. Quantifying musculoskeletal parameters through data gained from clinic visits’ imaging to predict future patient musculoskeletal issues using the VAPS system would provide a better basis for diagnosis and long-term patient care. The company will target radiology and spine surgery practices as their primary customer, as this software will augment their workflow to measurement critical spine parameters and provide better patient care.