MobileODT, an Israeli femtech company, has release of its VisualCheck artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm for cervical cancer screening.

The technology uses multiple AI algorithms for non-invasive cervical cancer screening. This provides results in less than sixty seconds, with an accuracy similar to that of experts. More than 20,000 patients have already been screened using the technology in a variety of healthcare settings.

The algorithm has been trained on both pathology (biopsies) results as a ground truth and human annotated images.

Incorporating biopsy results as ground truth allows the algorithm to recognise patterns that may not normally be visible to the human eye. This is further supported by the incorporation of human annotations of a panel agreement by colposcopy experts.

The hybrid algorithm closely mirrors the distribution of the cervical cancer and pre-cancer in the patient population. It also improves the sensitivity and specificity of the approach, thus offering users an improved and more accurate screening process.

The algorithm is based on an extensive dataset of cervical images, collected from around the world, in different clinical stages and has been validated by colposcopists.

“Based on the initial results, conducted in a clinical trial, this technology and method can be used as an effective primary screening tool,” said Grzegorz Głąb, an obstetrics and gynaecology doctor who has conducted an independent European clinical study of VisualCheck AI. The study results will be presented at the Eurogin Conference this May in Dusseldorf, Germany.

“AI is the future of women’s health and I am a great believer in its potential to revolutionise cervical cancer prevention,” said Paul Blumenthal, professor emeritus of obstetrics and gynaecology at Stanford University and one of the validators of the algorithm. “The inclusion of biopsy-based images to the algorithm has increased the clinical validity of the results.”

Leon Boston, MobileODT CEO, added: “This new and novel algorithm is a testament to our technological advances and abilities as a femtech digital health company. These developments are bringing our technology to the forefront of women’s health.”

MobileODT helps clinicians use AI on its portable EVA mini-colposcope to enhance women’s health. The technology combines imaging, data and software to expand access to quality care for women worldwide. The EVA mobile digital colposcope is sold in over 30 countries and used by more than 4800 clinicians for colposcopy, general gynaecology, tele-gynaecology and forensic imaging. Over 180,000 patients have been screened using the device worldwide.

MobileODT is headquartered in Tel Aviv. The company has received investment capital from Orbimed, Tristel, Tara Health, Laerdal, DAI and others.