(Yicai Global) Feb. 5 -- Shanghai today officially launched its novel coronavirus pneumonia smart evaluation system that uses artificial intelligence and other technologies to help clinicians efficiently and accurately diagnose and make medical decisions about this deadly new disease.

Preliminary examination of more than 70 patients' conditions show that the results of this intelligent evaluation mechanism are highly consistent with those of experts at the city's Public Health Clinical Center, Shanghai Observer reported. The system can complete a quantitative analysis in only two to three seconds, whereas a manual evaluation by doctors can often take two to three hours, or even longer.

Local AI startup Yitu Technology developed this new medical tool, which applies the new technologies to analyze, evaluate and predict the prognosis of virus-induced lesions in lung CT images, under the guidance of the city's public health center, which commissioned it. 

"Many employees are working into the wee hours every day," said Dr. Shi Lei, vice president of Yitu's healthcare division, referring to the more than 100 research and development staff who gave up their Spring Festival holiday and toiled day and night to bring the new breakthrough technology to fruition.

"This smart system will be popularized and used in designated hospitals across the country after more clinical verification," stated Shi Yuxin, deputy director of the public health center.

Editor: Ben Armour