Fujifilm Corporation, a global medical imaging device provider, today announced its AI-powered product for analyzing chest X-ray 'CXR-AID' will be commercially available across Japan.

CXR-AID is designed to better detect major abnormal findings such as chest nodule, consolidation, and pneumothorax from chest X-ray images. Findings detected by the AI software are shown in color as a heatmap display, with each score included. Through this solution, doctors and medical professionals are able to reduce missed cases and effectively diagnose chest diseases from chest X-ray.

The PMDA approved AI-powered software is developed with the core AI technology of Lunit, the company's solid partner since 2018. The software is provided with Fujifilm's PACS system(SYNAPSE) and to be distributed across hospitals and medical institutions of Japan for more efficient diagnosis. A leading medical AI company, Lunit provides deep-learning based AI technology called 'Lunit INSIGHT CXR' that analyzes chest X-rays.

<Lunit and Fujifilm Collaboration>

With Lunit AI connected to Fujifilm's PACS system and X-ray devices, the AI products are distributed across its global customers and networks. The company has also invested in Lunit as a strategic investor.

"As a software company, collaborating with global medical device companies like Fujifilm is one of the key strategies for us to achieve successful market expansion," said Brandon Suh, CEO of Lunit. "Fujifilm is one of our very first global partners, where we started our journey together in RSNA 2018. Thanks to this long trusted partnership, we were able to expand worldwide for the past 2.5 years to support medical professionals. Now we are very delighted to be introduced in hospitals and medical institutions of Japan."

"We try to listen to our customers' voice and Lunit's AI software is gaining very positive feedback from the actual users across the world," said Naoya Yamakawa, Senior Manager, IT solutions division of Medical Systems Business Division, Fujifilm Corporation. "For example, one of our customers Salud Digna, known as the largest medical institution of Mexico, uses our AI-embedded PACS to analyze more than 800,000 X-ray images per year. From the initial installation stage, the radiologists showed satisfaction for its accurate detection, and retention rate is growing higher."

Based on this market needs, the two companies are expanding their scope of collaboration. Lunit AI is also applied in Fujifilm's mobile X-ray device (FDR nano) and portable X-ray devices (FDR Xair), General X-ray device (FDR Smart X), and is in use in clinical settings to detect COVID-19 symptoms and tuberculosis in regions where there are a limited number of doctors. The products are installed worldwide including the UK, Thailand, Vietnam, Turkey, Middle East and Africa. Recently, Lunit's AI solution for breast cancer detection, Lunit INSIGHT MMG, has been implemented in NURA, Fujifilm's AI-based healthcare center in India.

"We strongly believe that sooner or later AI will become the new standard of care, and AI will be used everywhere as a must-use product," added Suh. "Not only will it be used as a tool to make the workflow more efficient, but it will ensure better diagnosis and healthier life for patients. We are glad to make this happen with Fujifilm, and will accelerate our expansion with its global network."