Introduction to MedGemma
Google has announced the launch of MedGemma, a powerful tool that helps developers build healthcare-based AI applications. MedGemma contains the most capable open models that can be used to examine medical images, generate medical image reports, triage patients, and answer questions about medical images.
What are MedGemma Models?
The open models, which users can fine-tune, come in two variants: a 4B multimodal version and a 27B text-only version. The multimodal version can be used as a starting point for apps classifying medical images in radiology, digital pathology, skin images, and fundus. The models can also be used for apps aimed at generating medical reports and answering questions about images.
Uses of MedGemma Models
The text-only version can be a launching point for applications that require medical knowledge, such as those aimed at interviewing patients, triaging, and summarization, as well as for clinical decision support. Google said in a statement that the text-only version, which is larger than the multimodal version, will generally produce the best performance for most use cases.
Adapting MedGemma for Better Performance
MedGemma is a developer model that requires validation on the developer’s intended use case. Based on those validation results, the user will likely need to further adapt the model to improve performance. MedGemma can be fine-tuned for improved performance on the existing tasks it’s been trained on, or to add additional tasks to its repertoire.
The Larger Trend
The implementation of AI into medical imaging has transformed healthcare, according to a survey published by MDPI’s journal Bioengineering (Basel). AI-based diagnostic tools not only speed up the interpretation of complex images but also improve early detection of disease, ultimately delivering better outcomes for patients. Additionally, AI-based image processing facilitates personalized treatment plans, thereby optimizing healthcare delivery.
Companies Using AI for Medical Imaging
Digital health companies currently using AI for medical imaging analysis include imaging and care coordination company Viz.ai, AI-enabled imaging company Aidoc, and Lunit, a provider of AI-powered solutions for cancer diagnostics and therapeutics. Another company is Med-tech outfit iCAD, which announced in 2022 that it would incorporate Google Health’s mammography AI technology into its breast-imaging tools thanks to a strategic development and commercialization agreement.
Conclusion
MedGemma is a powerful tool that can help developers build healthcare-based AI applications. With its two variants of open models, MedGemma can be used for a variety of tasks, including classifying medical images, generating medical reports, and answering questions about images. As the healthcare industry continues to evolve, it’s likely that we’ll see more companies using AI for medical imaging analysis.
FAQs
- What is MedGemma?
MedGemma is a tool that helps developers build healthcare-based AI applications. - What are the two variants of MedGemma models?
The two variants are a 4B multimodal version and a 27B text-only version. - What are the uses of MedGemma models?
MedGemma models can be used for classifying medical images, generating medical reports, answering questions about images, and more. - What companies are using AI for medical imaging analysis?
Companies such as Viz.ai, Aidoc, Lunit, and iCAD are using AI for medical imaging analysis.
