Founded By A Veterinarian, The Start-Up Is Developing An Artificial Intelligence-Based System For Radiological Diagnosis Of Horses
Posted date: 20 Jan 2021
“Innovatio veterinariae,” a start-up founded by veterinarian Rugil? Dauli?t? last year, develops software for automating the evaluation of equine radiological images based on artificial intelligence (AI).
“To create innovations, Lithuanian start-ups actively use artificial intelligence that is rapidly gaining ground in the world. In radiology, artificial intelligence is used to detect and diagnose pathologies, because, thanks to deep learning, algorithms are already able to process large amounts of data, such as images. The growing number of innovators is a great proof that we are strong in the Life sciences and that we are not inferior to advanced countries in methods we develop and research we carry out. This undoubtedly affects not only the field of medicine but also the economy,” points out Gintas Kimtys, the acting director of MITA.
Indeed, orthopaedic disorders in horses are of great economic importance. When they get sick, not only does the value of the horse drop drastically, but the sporting career is also put on hold or even ends. One of the main diagnostic procedures for detection of orthopaedic equine diseases is radiological examination. It is used to determine causes of limping, loss of the athletic form, or in the case of purchase and sale of animals.
Rugil? Dauli?t?, who is currently doing her postgraduate internship at a racehorse clinic in the Pays de la Loire region of France, has been accompanied by horses since early childhood. From the age of ten, she was involved in show jumping, endurance riding, equestrian competitions, and later, trained young riders. While studying at the Veterinary Academy of Lithuanian University of Heath Sciences in Kaunas, for five years, Rugil? worked at the Large Animal Clinic.
Veterinarian Dauli?t? got the idea of a radiological diagnostic system in 2018. While still in practical training at horse clinics in France, Denmark, Germany, Hungary and Portugal, she found out that taking X-ray images well was only half of the job. Due to the size of the animal, 8 to 42 X-ray images are taken in one study; the interpretation and analysis of X-ray images is a complex part of the work that requires a lot of specific knowledge about the veterinarian’s job. For these reasons, pathologies are sometimes unnoticed and underestimated, although further operation of the horse depends on it – whether surgery is required and so on. By taking interest in the development of innovative products in her areas of interest, Dauli?t? learned about the artificial intelligence used in human medicine to solve other similar visual problems and decided to offer diagnostic assistance to veterinarians.
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