Google's New AI Efforts Will Focus on Cardiovascular, Maternal Health

Google has announced new artificial intelligence efforts, including tools that can help treat cardiovascular conditions and improve maternal health.

At a Google Health event called The Check Up, the technology giant shared AI-focused research and development updates.

Google previously created an AI system known as ARDA to support diabetic retinopathy screenings. The device screens 350 patients screened daily, bringing the total number screened via the device to 10,000. The system was also assessed in a prospective study with the Thailand national screening program that confirmed the accuracy of ARDA.

Now, researchers are attempting to confirm whether photos of eye interiors can reveal cardiovascular risk factors in addition to diabetes-related diseases. They will collaborate on the clinical research with several partners, including EyePACS and Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in Taiwan.

Another previously created AI feature enables the recording and analysis of heart activity with a smartphone. Using the camera of the smartphone, the AI feature can collect information regarding heart and respiratory rate.

Researchers are now planning to research whether the built-in microphones on a smartphone could record heart sounds when placed on the chest. This could then be used to detect heart valve disorders.

Google is also targeting maternal health is as an area for improvement. Through a partnership with Northwestern Medicine, Google will work on open-access studies that help validate the use of AI in conducting ultrasounds and performing assessments. Together, the organizations will develop and test AI ultrasound use with the aim of making it more generalizable.

"We embed health into our products to meet people where they are," said Karen DeSalvo, MD, chief health officer, in a blog post. "Our teams apply their expertise and technological strengths and harness the power of partnerships to support our 3Cs – consumers, caregivers and communities around the world."

Previous research has shown how Google AI tools can assist care delivery. In May 2021, Google created an AI algorithm to take pictures of hair, skin, and nails and evaluate their appearance, similar to the cardiovascular photography feature presented at the most recent Check Up event. The tool contains information regarding 288 different conditions and can therefore assess the photos accurately and help identify skin conditions.

Similarly, a collaboration between Mayo Clinic and Google in October 2020 aimed to support cancer care. This partnership created an AI tool that can assist in planning radiotherapy treatments, which would ultimately enhance cancer treatment.

AI tools produced by Google were also used for ease administrative processes during the COVID-19 pandemic. During this time, patients and providers often had limited access to various services due to pandemic health protocols. However, the suite created by Google Cloud in November 2020 provided healthcare professionals with Natural Language API and AutoML Entity Extraction, which helped them manage medical documents.