Pneumoconiosis, caused by prolonged exposure to harmful dust, can be even more dangerous than mine accidents. A project titled *"Application Research of Computer-Aided Detection in the Dynamic Diagnosis of Pneumoconiosis"* has been approved by experts from the Shanghai Science and Technology Commission. Developed through a collaboration between Chinese and American scientists, this digital diagnostic system is set to significantly boost the speed and accuracy of X-ray chest film readings, helping to prevent "bloodless mine disasters."
Pneumoconiosis is a severe lung disease resulting from long-term inhalation of industrial dust, leading to widespread fibrosis in the lungs. China faces one of the most serious pneumoconiosis crises globally, with millions of workers exposed to hazardous conditions in mining, smelting, manufacturing, construction, and road development. As of the end of last year, over 638,000 cases have been reported, making up more than 90% of all occupational diseases. From initial symptoms like chest tightness and coughing to eventual respiratory failure, the disease claims thousands of lives annually—far exceeding the death toll from many other causes.
Chest X-rays are a key tool for diagnosing lung diseases. However, current methods rely entirely on doctors interpreting the images manually, which is both time-consuming and inefficient. On average, a radiologist can review about 500 films in a day, limiting the capacity of medical institutions to screen large populations and posing a major challenge in pneumoconiosis prevention.
The computer-aided diagnostic technology took over a year and a half to develop, with nearly 10 million yuan invested. Created by the Shanghai Science and Technology Commission, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, and GE China R&D Center, the system uses digital X-ray analysis to perform dynamic diagnosis and disease assessment, offering expert recommendations. This innovation greatly enhances both the speed and accuracy of pneumoconiosis diagnosis. In traditional practice, a doctor might take three minutes per image, while the new system can complete the task in just 54 seconds.
The "Computer-Aided Detection Pneumoconiosis Dynamic Diagnosis System" developed by Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital and GE (China) R&D Center is essentially a software solution that integrates computer science, image processing, and artificial intelligence. It automatically screens digital chest X-rays, identifies positive cases, and compares images across different time points, enabling real-time disease monitoring. The system can process images at a speed of up to 24 seconds per frame.
After further clinical testing and software refinement, the system is expected to be embedded in mobile medical devices. These units can travel to remote mining areas, providing regular health screenings for frontline workers. With internet support, specialists in big cities can perform remote diagnoses within hours, detecting suspicious cases quickly. Additionally, this versatile technology holds promise for early detection of other chest conditions such as tuberculosis, lung cancer, heart disease, and pleural disorders. It could also play a critical role in controlling future respiratory outbreaks like SARS or H1N1 influenza. Shanghai Medical Device Industry Association.
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