SHERPA

In interventional radiology (IR), specialists use imaging technologies (such as x-ray or ultrasound) to guide miniature devices through a patient’s body and deliver the treatment where it is needed. Also known as image-guided therapy (IGT), interventional radiology is increasingly popular due to its minimally-invasive nature and rapid recovery times. However, there is a serious shortage of IR specialists. IR procedures are often complex and high-risk, and require a lot of training and experience. Furthermore, the rapid advances in IR technology make it hard even for existing staff to keep their knowledge and skills up to date. The staff shortage, coupled with the complex nature of the work, place a lot of pressure on IR specialists, and rates of burn-out are high.

The aim of SHERPA is to ease the workload of interventional radiologists by providing them with assistive technologies, powered by artificial intelligence (AI). By fulfilling the role of a trusted companion (or a sherpa), these technologies will support decision-making, accelerate learning and take care of repetitive, time-consuming tasks. As a result, the IR specialist will have more time and energy to focus on the intervention itself and on their interactions with the patient.

The tools will focus on all steps of the treatment, starting from deciding on the best treatment pathway for each patient. During the intervention, planning software and robotic-assisted devices will reduce the difficulty of the procedure and take over repetitive manual actions, making it possible for more junior specialists to carry out some of these interventions safely. Finally, AI-based software will guide and confirm treatment success during the procedure, preventing the need for re-treatment.

The project will focus on two use cases: treatment of brain aneurysms, and thermal ablation of tumours on the liver. Around 3% of the population has a brain aneurysm, where a weakened blood vessel wall is at risk of rupture and subsequent haemorrhage. Treating intracranial aneurysms is highly complex, and should be reserved for high-risk patients. Interventional radiologists face significant challenges in identifying which aneurysms require treatment and which can be safely monitored. The workflow is constrained by multiple complex steps and decisions, requiring extensive expertise, focus and a long learning curve.

Many patients with cancerous tumours on their livers still undergo surgery to remove part of the liver. Another, IGT-based option exists – thermal ablation, in which heat is applied directly to small tumours to destroy them. However, the wider use of ablation is limited by workflow gaps and the extremely high level of expertise required to carry out the procedure.

The SHERPA team will validate its outputs with interventional radiologists and patients through seven clinical studies, and the validated framework methodology will be made available to the wider IR community.

Ultimately, by providing a ‘sherpa’ to interventional radiologists and alleviating their workload, SHERPA hopes to enhance clinical accuracy, improve patient outcomes and ensure a more sustainable future for interventional radiology.