Image by Hiroshi Tsubono, from Unsplash
AI Tool Helps Clinicians Track Awareness In Unresponsive Patients
- Written by Kiara Fabbri Former Tech News Writer
- Fact-Checked by Sarah Frazier Former Content Manager
A new AI system allows doctors to detect consciousness in brain injury patients who seem unresponsive.
In a rush? Here are the quick facts:
- It identified eye-opening 4.1 days earlier than standard clinical exams.
- Mouth movements were detected in 94.1% of patients without obstructive tubes.
- AI detected an average of 5.4 responses per 10 commands, humans 2.8.
The system, called SeeMe, was detailed in a study published in Nature Communications Medicine. The researchers at Stony Brook University created SeeMe to detect small facial expressions that are barely noticeable in patients who appear unresponsive.
The system uses a camera and AI to track microscopic facial points, and compares movements after verbal commands such as “Open your eyes,” “Stick out your tongue,” and “Show me a smile.”
The research included 37 patients who were comatose after severe brain injuries together, and 16 healthy volunteers. The results showed that SeeMe identified patient awareness before doctors did. Specifically, “SeeMe detects eye-opening in comatose patients 4.1 days earlier than clinicians,” the researchers reported.
It also picked up mouth movements in 94.1% of patients without obstructive tubes. The AI system detected an average of 5.4 responses to commands during the sessions, whilst human observers could only identify 2.8 responses.
The system recorded mouth movements on day 18 after the car accident even though medical staff only noted responses starting from day 37.
Importantly, the frequency and strength of SeeMe-detected movements correlated with patient outcomes at discharge. The patients who showed more movement at the cellular level had a better chance of recovering consciousness, and achieving better functional outcomes.
“This lead time could be critical for patient care and outcomes,” the researchers wrote. Detecting subtle signs of awareness earlier could allow families and doctors to start rehabilitation sooner and adjust treatment strategies.
While SeeMe is not meant to replace clinical exams, it could become a valuable bedside tool to uncover hidden awareness that standard tests often miss.
Image by Erik Odin, from Unsplash
Cyberattack Disrupts Check-In Systems At Major European Airports
- Written by Kiara Fabbri Former Tech News Writer
- Fact-Checked by Sarah Frazier Former Content Manager
Major European airports faced flight delays and cancellations because check-in and boarding systems were disrupted by a cyberattack.
In a rush? Here are the quick facts:
- Heathrow, Berlin, and Brussels faced flight delays and cancellations.
- Collins Aerospace software was affected, but manual check-in mitigated impact.
- Passengers reported multi-hour queues and confusion at affected airports.
Some operations at London’s Heathrow, Berlin, and Brussels airports were disrupted after software from service provider Collins Aerospace, a subsidiary of RTX Corporation, was affected.
“At Heathrow, Berlin and Brussels, at least 29 departures and arrivals have been cancelled so far,” aviation data provider Cirium reported as noted by Aljazeera .
“We advise passengers to check their flight status with their airline before travelling,” Collins Aerospace said. The company added that “the impact is limited to electronic customer check-in and baggage drop and can be mitigated with manual check-in operations,” Cirum added.
Brussels airport said the cyberattack “has a large impact on the flight schedule and will unfortunately cause delays and cancellations of flights.”
Berlin airport warned of longer waiting times, stating, “Due to a technical issue at a system provider […] there are longer waiting times at check-in. We are working on a quick solution,” as reported by Aljazeera.
Travelers at Heathrow Airport faced extended delays and disorganization during their time at the airport. BBC gives the example of Lucy Spencer who said she queued for over two hours for a Malaysia Airlines flight.
“They told us to use the boarding passes on our phone, but when we got to the gates they weren’t working—they’ve now sent us back to the check-in gate,” she said. Monazza Aslam added she had been sitting on the tarmac for over an hour with “no idea when we will fly.”
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander confirmed she was monitoring the situation and “getting regular updates,” as reported by BBC. Some airports, including Frankfurt, Zurich, Paris Charles de Gaulle, and Orly, were not affected. EasyJet and Ryanair said they were operating normally.
