The HKUST research team led by Prof. LI Xiaomeng develops AI Medical Imaging Technology that Cuts Radiation by 99%
The HKUST Breakthrough – AI-driven 3D Mesh: A Safer, Faster and Cost-Effective Solution
The HKUST research team led by Prof. LI Xiaomeng and Associate Director of Center for Medical Imaging & Analysis, has developed a novel AI-powered algorithm that generates 3D bone and anatomical images with less than one hundredth of the X-ray views required for CT scans – drastically cutting down radiation exposure by up to 99 per cent. Key advantages of this new imaging technique include:
- Safer Scans: Reduces radiation exposure for patients by 95%-99%
- Faster Results: Generates high-quality 3D images of bones and anatomy in under a minute, using as few as 2–4 X-ray snapshots compared to 400-500 for CT scans
- Lower Cost: The cost of a CT scan is generally 6 to 8 times higher that that of an X-ray
- Shorter waiting time: In public hospitals, prioritized patients currently wait about 3 weeks* for a CT scan, while X-ray scans can be completed in hours.
Bridging Innovation and Impact: Surgical Planning and Next-Gen Implants for Orthopedics
To create impact of this breakthrough, Prof Li’s team is partnering with Koln 3D – Hong Kong’s first orthopedic and metal component printing company – to integrate this new technology into pre-surgical planning (custom bone models), personalized implants (tailored to patient anatomy) and real-time surgical navigation.
Prof. Li said that the new technology has diverse applications, with 3D bone printing being merely the first step. “There is tremendous demand for 3D printing solutions in orthopedics, and rapid, high-definition imaging technology could significantly optimize surgical workflows. Our technology is already assisting surgeons in preoperative planning, and we aim to expand into creating implantable bone structures while advancing imaging precision of 3D anatomical structures beyond our current 97% accuracy benchmark compared to conventional CT scans,” she said, adding that the team intends to deploy the technology in areas such as real-time surgical navigation, and personalized treatment planning.
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