The Hospital Clínic uses AI to improve diagnostic imaging

The Hospital Clínic Barcelona’s leadership in artificial intelligence applied to diagnostic imaging  

The Hospital Clínic Barcelona is strengthening its role as an innovative centre by incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) tools applied to diagnostic imaging in the field of neuroimaging, thanks to the signing of a collaboration agreement with the company Tensor Medical. 

The project, spearheaded by the Centre for Diagnostic Imaging (CDI), will position the Clínic among the first hospitals in Catalonia to validate and utilize this type of AI in real clinical practice, with the aim of offering more accurate, faster and personalized diagnoses, always as a support to medical clinical judgement. 

Artificial intelligence to improve the monitoring of multiple sclerosis 

One of the first clinical applications of this initiative focuses on the monitoring of patients with multiple sclerosis. The Hospital Clínic is incorporating a CE-marked artificial intelligence platform, called AH‑1, developed by the Catalan company Tensor Medical, which specializes in AI applied to neuroradiology. 

This technology enables the highly reliable identification of the appearance of new lesions in the brain’s white matter in magnetic resonance imaging studies, a key factor in a chronic disease where the early detection of changes can influence clinical progression. 

In patients with a high lesion load, the visual detection of new lesions can be particularly complex. The use of the AI platform supports the radiologist through objective and reproducible measures, which facilitate earlier therapeutic decisions, more agile adjustments and more accurate monitoring of disease activity. All of this contributes to improving the quality of care and patient safety. 

Clinical, organizational and sustainability benefits 

The integration of AI tools into the care pathway also has a positive impact on hospital organization. The automation of certain image reading and analysis tasks allows for optimizing staff time, reducing diagnostic variability and improving the efficiency of care pathways. 

These advances translate into better use of resources, a potential reduction in unnecessary tests or visits, and more streamlined care, with benefits for both the sustainability of the healthcare system and the patient experience. 

New developments in Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases 

The project also opens up new horizons in the approach to neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. The Hospital Clínic will participate in the development and validation of AI tools aimed at analysing brain atrophy and the early detection of imaging abnormalities associated with specific treatments, such as those known as ARIA (Amyloid‑Related Imaging Abnormalities). 

With the arrival of new disease-modifying therapies, having reliable tools that enable the early identification of potential adverse effects is key to ensuring safer and more personalized treatments. In this context, the Hospital Clínic Barcelona is positioning itself as a centre of excellence in defining new standards of care and in providing early access for patients to diagnostic innovations based on clinical evidence.