SGPGI gets AI-enabled cardiac imaging technology for precision angioplasty
1
2
Lucknow: People in the city will now be able to avail the advantage of
precision angioplasty
as the Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences (
SGPGIMS
) has equipped its cardiology department with an AI-powered intravascular
optical coherence tomography
(OCT) system.This medical device allows interventional cardiologists to understand the internal structure of the plaques formed inside arteries, like the back of their hand, which eventually cause cardiac troubles.The exact understanding helps tailor their procedure to the specific needs of the patient, which is known as precision angioplasty.
"This is the first of its kind paraphernalia in the capital. We commissioned it on May 5. So far, we have used it successfully on 15 patients," said Prof Aditya Kapoor, head of cardiology department, adding that his colleagues Prof Satyendra Tiwari, Prof Rupali Khanna, Prof Naveen Garg, and Dr Ankit Sahu have acquired the skills to use the setup."Till now, plaque morphology was studied manually. For this, a catheter containing a micro camera was inserted into the artery to gather the required information. However, the pictures generation were of low resolution. But now, AI-OCT provides live and high-quality images of the plaque structure at the click of a button within a fraction of a second," Prof Kapoor said.Prof Tewari, who is also a senior functionary of the Cardiological Society of India, said that the technology was a game changer in several ways. "The plaque is a build-up of fatty substances, cholesterol, cellular waste products, calcium, and fibrin (coagulant). The exact details will help in understanding acute myocardial infarction better and allow us to choose the best-suited stent for patients. It will also help us see if the stent inserted was deployed perfectly or not, which is advantageous for the patients," he said.The two experts pointed out that the medical marvel would help doctors acquire a better understanding of the problem of coronary artery disease, which hits Indians at a much younger age and with higher intensity. "It was observed that Indians have a higher percentage of fat in their plaque buildup, which causes greater damage in case of an attack. Precise imaging will help in high-quality treatment and outcomes," said Prof Kapoor.Talking about the technology, they said that the system integrated fractional and relative flow reserve (assessment of coronary flow) with 3D angio-co-registration (a technique providing simultaneous angiographic views)."By utilising AI algorithms instead of manual analysis, the technology can more accurately evaluate plaque structure, calcification, vessel size, stent positioning, and integrate this information with angiography data," they said.The machine also offers high-resolution real-time 3D reconstruction, 3D volumetric imaging, and simultaneous angio-OCT display, significantly enhancing procedural accuracy and patient treatment outcomes.Director, Prof RK Dhiman, hailed the inclusion of the technology and was amazed by its rapid and precise decision-making capabilities, extending full support to the team.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Time of India
Empowering young minds: How 4 friends are teaching AI in low-income communities
Pune: "Why are firefighters always men? Why is a black, old, fat woman never the first image when we ask for a person?" These were some of the sharp questions posed by 11- to 14-year-old children learning about artificial intelligence (AI), its reasoning, and its biases. As part of Pune-based THE Labs, a not-for-profit organisation founded by four friends, these children from low-income communities are not just learning how AI works but also how to challenge and reshape its inherent prejudices, how to train it, how to leverage it, and how to evaluate it. Since June 2024, its first cohort of 20 students explored AI through image classification and identification, learning how machines perceive the world. Now, they are gearing up to train large language models, equipping themselves with skills to shape AI's future. A new batch of 63 students has joined. THE Labs is a non-profit after-school programme blending technology, humanities and entrepreneurship. It was founded by tech entrepreneurs Mayura Dolas and Mandar Kulkarni, AI engineer Kedar Marathe, and interdisciplinary artist Ruchita Bhujbal, who saw a gap — engineers lacked exposure to real-world issues, and educators had little understanding of technology. "We first considered building a school, but the impact would have been limited. Besides, there were logistical hurdles," said Dolas, who is also a filmmaker. Kulkarni's acceptance into The Circle's incubation programme two years ago provided 18 months of mentorship and resources to refine their vision. In June 2024, THE Labs launched a pilot at a low-income English-medium school in Khadakwasla, training 20 students from standards VI-VIII (12 girls, 8 boys). With no dedicated space, they conducted 1.5-hour morning sessions at the school. Students first learned about classifier AI — how AI identifies objects — and image generation AI, which creates visuals based on prompts. Through hands-on practice, students discovered how AI's training data impacts accuracy and how biases emerge when datasets lack diversity. They experimented with prompts, analysed AI-generated images, and studied errors. "We asked them to write prompts and replicate an image, and they did it perfectly. That is prompt engineering in action," Dolas said. A key takeaway was AI bias. Students compared outputs from two AI models, identifying gaps — such as the underrepresentation of marginalised identities. "For example, children realised that a black, fat, older woman was rarely generated by AI. They saw firsthand how biases shape digital realities," Dolas added. Parents and students are a happy lot too. Mohan Prasad, a construction worker, said he is not sure what his daughter is learning, but she is excited about AI and often discusses its importance at home. Sarvesh, a standard VIII student, is thrilled that he trained an AI model to identify Hindu deities and noticed biases in AI searches — when prompted with "person", results mostly showed thin white men. "I love AI and want to learn more," he said. His father, Sohan Kolhe, has seen a surge in his son's interest in studies. Anandkumar Raut, who works in the private sector, said his once-shy daughter, a standard VI student, now speaks confidently, does presentations, and is more outspoken since joining the programme.
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Time of India
India's probiotics market doubles in 5 years, hits Rs 2,070 cr in 2025
ET Bureau Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel As Indians seek ways to improve gut health, boost immunity, and enhance digestive function, probiotics are becoming a significant ingredient in their diet. Data suggest that probiotics market clocked strong double-digit growth of 22% on a Moving Annual Total (MAT) for May, as per market research firm PharmaTrac."The probiotics market has almost doubled in the last five years," said Sheetal Sapale, vice president, commercial, PharmaTrac. The probiotics market has grown from ₹1,016 crore MAT value in 2021 to ₹2,070 crore in 2025, show pharmaceutical companies including Sun Pharma , USV, Zydus , Torrent, Mankind and Dr Reddy's are leading the market, which is mostly driven by the older brands as new launches in the last two years have garnered a revenue of approximately ₹49 crore only, data showed."The probiotics market has become a very important market as far as restoration of gut health is concerned. Ailments affecting the normal gut microbe density, especially diarrhoea, dysentery and other intestinal/stomach infections, need consumption of probiotics along with anti-infectives. In some cases, consumption of some medications also involves nausea and vomiting as side effects, wherein probiotics play an important role. The overall market has shown a 5-year value CAGR of 19% and a very strong growth of 22% in MAT May 2025," Sapale probiotic drugs account for over 90% of the market in India, it is followed by milk and milk products. Companies such as Amul and Mother Dairy are aggressively pushing probiotics, while start-ups such as The Good Bug and WellBeing Nutrition have been also attracting significant investor Mehta, MD of the Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation which makes and sells a range of Amul dairy products, said they sell 3 million litres of probiotic buttermilk every day across India. Amul is the largest probiotic brand in the country, claimed the company."The category is growing in high double digits and has high momentum but remains very under-penetrated. India being a very large and growing market for processed foods also translates to a large addressable market for gut-related issues," said Kannan Sitaram, cofounder and partner of Fireside Ventures, an early-stage investment fund which has invested in The Good Bug and Wellbeing Nutrition."Our probiotic portfolio currently contributes around 45% to our overall fresh dairy products portfolio. The category is seeing strong growth...," said Manish Bandlish, MD, Mother month, The Good Bug raised '100 crore in a fresh funding round led by Susquehanna Asia Venture Capital, with existing investor Fireside Ventures also participating in the May, probiotics delivered a standout performance with exponential double-digit growth, signalling rising consumer preference for gut-health Rakesh Patel, consultant gastroenterology, Fortis Hospital, Kalyan, said consumption is growing rapidly in India, especially among younger people, thanks to increasing health awareness and the influence of social media and healthcare a word of caution on its rampant usage, Dr Kaushal Madan, principal director & head-gastroenterology, hepatology & endoscopy, liver transplant and biliary sciences, at Max Hospital in Saket, New Delhi, said there are several conditions and indications where probiotics have been shown to be very effective in controlling certain conditions, but "in many other illnesses, their rampant use is possibly unwarranted."
Time of India
8 hours ago
- Time of India
Redefining Indian Healthcare Ecosystem: Rise of the Everyday Care Economy with preventive health
Indian healthcare has traditionally been known for curative treatment placing significant burden on Indian healthcare infrastructure coupled with sizable healthcare spending. However, with the rapid rise in non-communicable diseases (NCDs), more awareness around health and wellness in the post-pandemic era, Indian healthcare industry is undergoing a profound transformation. We are now seeing the emergence of ' Everyday Care economy' which is fast pivoting towards preventive healthcare empowering consumers to take control of their health. Today, self-care has evolved and has become more inclusive, encompassing preventive care, long-term wellness, mental well-being, health tracking and diagnosis and is fast becoming part of everyday rituals. At the heart of this new paradigm, self-care, is rapidly emerging as a foundational pillar of India n healthcare ecosystem promising not only improved health outcomes, but also a more productive workforce, reduced healthcare costs and improved savings. There is no better time than now for the India's self-care/Care ecosystem. With a rising and informed middle class and increasing digital penetration, more Indians are prioritizing health not only in response to illness but as a lifestyle choice to keep health problems at bay or prepare for them proactively. Empowered by access to information, growing health consciousness, and digital tools, India's health and wellness market is expected to reach USD 256.9 billion by 2033 (IMARC), with demand for products and practices that support holistic preventive care/well-being/everyday care is on the rise. Self-Care: A huge opportunity, low adoption The global consumer healthcare (CH) market was valued at over USD 700 billion in 2024 (Source-IQVIA) and is growing steadily. Within this landscape, India is gaining prominence, ranking 8th globally and 3rd in the Asia-Pacific region in consumer health sales. The Indian consumer health market stood at USD 4.9 billion in 2023, growing at a strong 9.8% annually (Source-Nicolas Hall), with personal care and beauty, nutrition, patient care and OTC treatments to self-manage minor ailments and conditions emerging as key categories. Looking ahead, the global consumer market is projected to grow at a 6.5 per cent CAGR through 2030—India, by contrast, is expected to grow nearly double that rate at 12 per cent CAGR over the same period (IQVIA), indicating the massive growth potential of India. Despite this latent opportunity, India still has considerable ground to cover. Today, the Asia-Pacific region accounts for 60% of the world's population but just 9 per cent of global health spending, highlighting the critical need for greater awareness and improved accessibility of self-care solutions. In comparison, preventive health has gained momentum in global markets with telehealth, wearables, and health apps making self-care more accessible coupled with increased trust in pharmacies and OTC wellness solutions providing consumers with effective, affordable everyday products. As we move ahead, we see some distinct trends shaping India's consumer health/care/everyday economy In India, self-care is influenced by unique environmental and cultural factors. For instance, India recorded unprecedented 280 heat wave days in 2022, a 55 per cent increase in deaths due to extreme heat in last two decades, with UN forecasting next five years to be hottest period ever making more people vulnerable to dehydration as well as necessitating holistic hydration strategies with fluid, electrolytes, and energy (FEE) solutions to recover faster as well as strengthen immunity. Oral health is also gaining importance. According to the World Health Organization , over 95 per cent of Indian adults suffer from cavities as well as gum problems, bad breath issues while most children do not brush twice a day. These numbers highlight the urgent need to reinforce oral health habits and promote preventive care with mouthwashes and related oral care solutions being adopted as part of daily preventive care. Skin health and beauty is also gaining attention, with the rise of science, ingredient efficacy, sensitive skin, and repair in both skin and hair. According to new research from Astute Analytica, India's skin care market was valued at USD 8.78 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 17.69 billion by 2033. In the skin health category, we are increasingly seeing a shift towards premiumization in the skincare category, with clean beauty and ingredient transparency gaining prominence. Personalization is another major trend shaping the Indian skincare market. Consumers increasingly demand products tailored to their unique skin types and concerns, fuelling the rise of AI-powered skin diagnosis tools and customized regimens. Factors such as pollution, climate-related triggers, stress are intensifying this need with a growing demand for dermatologist-recommended and science backed formulations as well as specialised solutions to tackle specific and sensitive skin conditions like atopic dermatitis and eczema. In India's journey toward self-care and healthcare resilience, pharmacies will play a pivotal role from treatment-based healthcare to a more prevention and OTC focused approach. However, for this shift to be successful, it requires greater systemic support. Policymakers also have a crucial role to play. Strengthening regulatory frameworks for OTC and wellness products is essential to ensure quality and safety. Public-private partnerships can further accelerate this transformation, making wellness more inclusive, scalable, and sustainable. The Indian government's Swasth Nagrik Abhiyan further reinforces this movement, placing preventive care at the heart of national health strategy. By focusing on lifestyle diseases and communicable health threats alike, the initiative creates a strong policy environment to support the growth of self-care. It also offers a significant opportunity for private players to collaborate, innovate, and contribute meaningfully to public health outcomes. The rise of the care economy is not merely a business trend. It is a societal shift which positively impacts consumers, healthcare systems and society at large. For consumer health companies like us, this provides both an opportunity and responsibility. To thrive in this evolving landscape, companies must innovate not only in products but also in how we engage, educate, and empower consumers working closely with healthcare professionals, pharmacists and policymakers, to nurture a healthier India. This article is written by Manish Anandani , Managing Director, Kenvue India
