IIT Madras, CMC Vellore develop 3 AI tools for early kidney disease detection

Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) researchers and Christian Medical College (CMC), Vellore, have developed three artificial intelligence (AI)-based tools that can help doctors detect kidney diseases at the initial stage.

The tools will support doctors in identifying chronic kidney disease (CKD), kidney cysts, stones and tumours. The technologies will use both patient information and their CT scans to provide consistent and faster results. The project has received support from IIT Madras and the SPARC initiative.

Explaining the research, GL Samuel, professor of the Department of Mechanical Engineering, IIT Madras, said, “The team aimed to develop intelligent systems that would help clinicians make quicker and more informed decisions. We used machine learning along with clinical knowledge to develop tools that would assist in the earlier detection of kidney diseases and give more detailed information specific to the patient.”

AI on kidney disease diagnosis

Kidney diseases can be difficult to detect in their early stages because many patients may not experience clear symptoms. The new AI tools can identify problems earlier and support timely treatment by assisting doctors. The CT image classifier is trained with over 12,000 images and can find healthy kidneys from cysts, stones and tumors.

The researchers can develop a kidney “Digital Twin”, which can combine AI-based image analysis with personalised 3D models of patients’ kidneys. Researchers will also explore integration with wearable sensors and Digital Twin technology for monitoring kidney health.

Speaking about the early detection of kidney diseases, Jennifer Delighta, research scholar, IIT Madras, said, “These AI tools can help detect at-risk patients early and plan their treatment more effectively. The patient-specific imaging framework is of significant promise as it goes beyond the standard measurements to give a more comprehensive picture of the extent of the disease.”