• OSF researchers developed an AI tool that creates a 3D model of the aorta and generates hundreds of precise measurements in seconds.
• More accurate and consistent measurements could help doctors detect aneurysm growth earlier and determine the safest time for surgery.
• The technology could eventually support automated diagnosis and improve care for patients with conditions such as Marfan syndrome and Turner syndrome.

A team at OSF HealthCare is developing an artificial intelligence-powered tool designed to improve how physicians measure and monitor the aorta, a breakthrough that could help doctors detect dangerous aneurysms earlier and make more informed decisions about when surgery is needed.

The project, led by pediatric cardiologist Mathew Bramlet, MD, at OSF HealthCare Children's Hospital of Illinois, combines expertise from OSF HealthCare, Jump Simulation and Education Center, the University of Illinois College of Medicine Peoria and University of Illinois engineering researchers. The technology creates a highly detailed three-dimensional "digital twin" of a patient's anatomy from MRI or CT scans, allowing software to automatically analyze the aorta in seconds instead of requiring lengthy manual measurements.

The aortic arch project, funded through a Jump ARCHES grant, is aimed at improving longitudinal surveillance and the diagnosis and the tracking of aortic aneurysms, so they don’t tear or rupture. The aorta is the main and largest artery in the human body, carrying oxygen-rich blood from the left ventricle of the heart to the rest of the body. An aneurysm is a large bulge in that artery.

Accurate measurements are critical

Dr. Bramlet says measurements that document any expansion of the aneurysm need to be obtained with clear imaging with an expert eye that is generating reproducible measurements. Since high-risk surgery can hinge on one measurement, the accuracy of that measurement at one point in time, or over years as the growth of the aneurysm is monitored, becomes critically important. Among the complications doctors trying to prevent is an aortic dissection which recently killed Senator Lindsey Graham of North Carolina.

Currently, physicians often compare scans taken over many years to determine whether an aneurysm has grown enough to justify preventative surgery — a decision that carries significant risks if performed too early or too late. Manually measuring the aorta can take about 30 minutes and depends heavily on specialist expertise like that of Dr. Bramlet.

The new software automates that process, which Dr. Bramlet explains can generate up to 300 measurements in about 30 seconds while improving consistency.

“If we can capture this aorta and generate those same measurements with fancy new math and machine learning programs, we can distribute the expertise that I have accumulated over years and years and years, essentially into a program that would allow this type of analysis to be distributed at a larger scale.”

The automated approach also could allow researchers to analyze thousands of patient scans, helping develop more personalized treatment guidelines for conditions such as Marfan syndrome and Turner syndrome.

Aorta library will be created

The project is also creating a library of 3D digital models of healthy and diseased aortas that could eventually support automated diagnosis.

"The model library that we will have, where we can compare a diseased aorta to a normal aorta and look for the differences, it's a much easier automated process to get toward automated diagnosis, automated analysis and this is really the mindset of the entire lab,” says Dr. Bramlet.

Dr. Bramlet directs the Advanced Imaging and Modeling Lab at OSF Jump Simulation.

Beyond aortic disease, the underlying technology is designed to create digital models of multiple organs, opening the door to broader AI-assisted imaging analysis across medicine.

For Dr. Bramlet, it is exciting to see how this will be able to help provide better guidance for diagnosis and surgery determinations. The team is continuing to validate the technology through research while working toward clinical deployment – something Dr. Bramlet says is unique to OSF HealthCare.

“To have a hospital institution assign operational resources towards a clinical tool but I believe it is the commitment to serve people and to actually see the fruits of that labor being deployed within this institution really makes it a special place.”

In research conducted, this tool showed that automated 3D measurements closely match those done by clinicians, paving the way for a shift from traditional 2D imaging to more advanced 3D analysis.

Dr. Mathew Bramlet is also an associate professor of Clinical Pediatrics at the University of Illinois College of Medicine in Peoria.

Video clips with Dr. Mathew Bramlet

B-roll-Aortic aneurysm detection

Harvey Castro, MD, known professionally as DR GPT™ highlighted the growing role of artificial intelligence in health care during an OSF Innovation Showcase at Jump Trading Simulation & Education Center, emphasizing its potential to shift medicine from a reactive system to one focused on prevention and predictive care.

During an interview ahead of his presentation, Castro said people don't come to the emergency department until something's wrong, but he thinks advances in AI-powered predictive analytics could give health care providers opportunities to intervene before diseases progress.

“Now we’re going to be able to do predictive analytics and know that you’re going to have a heart attack in five years, 10 years from now. Or, like I was saying, this conversation you could say, ‘You know what, the AI is detecting that Dr. Castro has prediabetes and I didn’t know that. And so now the AI is telling me. Now, I’m like wait I need to lose weight, I need to take care of myself, and now I don’t even get diabetes because I’m jumping on it years before the actual condition.”

AI will speed time to diagnosis

Dr. Castro suggests that today’s five-year-old could live to 150 because of the advancements in longevity that artificial intelligence will bring. He also highlighted the technology’s potential in pediatric medicine and rare disease diagnosis, where patients and families often wait months or years for answers. AI systems trained to recognize patterns in symptoms and medical histories could help physicians identify rare conditions faster and begin treatment sooner.

“But what if we could take that year and a half and crunch it down to a day or two, and now we have a diagnosis?” Castro said. “Now as a parent, you know what's wrong. It’s got to be so frustrating not to know, especially when it comes to your children.”

Among those at the OSF Innovation Showcase were physicians who are treating kids at OSF HealthCare Children’s Hospital of Illinois. His message hit home as Dr. Castro reminded the audience that 50% of rare diseases impact children.

During his remarks, Castro also discussed how health care systems, such as OSF HealthCare, are increasingly building their own AI models using local patient data. He said using region-specific information is critical to ensuring AI tools accurately reflect the populations they serve. He calls that the “gold standard.”

“Let’s say I'm in Texas and I come up here and I say, ‘Here's my data. Let's use this AI here,’ it's not representative of the population here.” Castro stressed, “Right there you can make the argument that it’s going to hallucinate versus yours which is not. I think that’s key.”

Patients are already leveraging AI

For physicians and other providers, Dr. Castro advised that they should leverage AI because patients are already doing it. However, he said patients should not rely on the technology alone for medical advice. Because AI-generated responses can sound authoritative even when inaccurate, he said physicians must remain actively involved in evaluating and confirming information.

“The problem with ChatGPT is it sounds so real and it sounds so correct and it personalizes to you and it knows what words to use so that if it’s making it up, it sounds so real, so the average person won’t know is this hallucinating or is it saying something wrong or is it right? He emphasized, “That's why I say, especially health care, we need that doctor in the loop.”

Dr. Castro serves on a panel of health care leaders advising OpenAI, which operates ChatGPT, on best practices.

He shared that OpenAI is rolling out a new, optional safety feature for ChatGPT called Trusted Contact. This feature is designed for adult users (18+) and acts as a mental health safety net, allowing users to designate a friend, family member or caregiver to be notified if ChatGPT's systems detect that the user is engaging in conversations that indicate a serious risk of self-harm.

Despite concerns that artificial intelligence could make health care feel less personal, Castro argued the technology may actually improve patient interactions by reducing administrative burdens on physicians. AI transcription tools, for example, can allow doctors to spend less time typing notes and more time focused on patients.

In looking to the future, Dr. Castro envisions a day when wearables will combine with AI-connected devices in the home that will analyze daily waste, weight and other personal data and send a text to alert someone about a medical concern. In the end, he says artificial intelligence will be better for humanity and allow health systems to better care for people.

Harvey Castro, MD, MBA, known as DR GPT™, is an emergency physician, Chief AI Officer, author, keynote speaker, and physician futurist. He speaks and advises on AI in healthcare, digital health, clinical workflow, space health, and the future of human-centered medicine.
 

Media clips with Dr. Harvey Castro

B-roll-OSF Innovation Showcase

OSF HealthCare is elevating patient safety and care in its labor and delivery units through the introduction of a groundbreaking virtual monitoring program that enhances traditional bedside care with advanced technology and expert support.

Fetal and maternal monitoring during labor and delivery is critical for ensuring the well-being of both mother and baby. For newborns, electronic fetal heart rate monitoring helps detect early signs of distress—such as reduced oxygen supply, abnormal heart rate patterns, or umbilical cord compression—allowing healthcare providers to intervene before complications arise. For mothers, continuous monitoring of vital signs, contractions, and labor progress can help identify potential concerns like excessive bleeding, infection, high blood pressure, or complications related to anesthesia.

Now, OSF HealthCare is layering additional support into this essential care by launching a new Virtual Labor and Delivery Monitoring Program across all of its hospitals with birthing units.

“This program adds an extra layer of safety by providing 24/7 remote monitoring through our OSF OnCall team, who work hand-in-hand with bedside caregivers,” says Kate Johnson, manager of Digital Care-Women’s Services, OSF OnCall.  “It does not replace our in-person care teams but gives them additional expert eyes on every laboring patient.”

Using PeriWatch Vigilance, an AI-enhanced software, a centralized team of OSF OnCall registered nurses known as the OSF OnCall Acute OB team monitors laboring patients in real time. The system uses tiered, color-coded alerts to signal early signs of potential complications. When an alert is triggered, the OnCall Acute OB nurses coordinate directly with the in-hospital care team to ensure prompt follow-up.

Importantly, this service does not require any new equipment for mothers or babies and comes at no additional cost to patients or payors.

The OSF OnCall Acute OB team supports all OSF hospitals with labor and delivery services, including:

• Saint Francis Medical Center in Peoria
• Little Company of Mary Medical Center in Evergreen Park
• Saint Anthony Medical Center in Rockford
• Saint Joseph Medical Center in Bloomington
• Sacred Heart Medical Center in Danville
• Saint Elizabeth Medical Center in Ottawa
• Saint Mary Medical Center in Galesburg

OSF HealthCare believes it might be among the first health systems in the state to offer this level of AI-supported maternal and fetal monitoring, reinforcing its commitment to innovation and safety.

“Every mom and baby deserves the highest standard of care. This new technology ensures that we are watching over them even more closely, supporting our Mission to serve with the greatest care and love,” Johnson added.  

B-roll-OSF OnCall monitoring of Family Birthing Units 

Imagine being a heart surgeon preparing for a complex case. Traditionally, you rely on stacks of 2D images from CT scans to build a mental picture of your patient’s anatomy. But the heart isn’t static – it twists and pumps blood in a rhythm unique to each person. Now, thanks to a breakthrough at OSF Innovation, surgeons can “see” their patient’s heart beating in 3D before ever stepping into the operating room.

This innovation is called the 4D Heart. Unlike standard 3D models, which capture a single snapshot in time, the 4D Heart recreates every phase of a patient’s cardiac cycle, allowing doctors to watch their heart beat virtually. And it isn’t just a generic animation. Rather, it is the creation of a digital twin.

“This is taking a CT scan of a patient, a retrospectively gated CT scan, and converting a patient’s own heart – in each phase of that cardiac cycle – and making it beat in a virtual environment,” says Matthew Bramlet, MD, who directs the Advanced Image and Modeling (AIM) Lab at OSF Innovation. The lab is focused on improving the understanding of complex anatomy for surgeons and diagnosticians. Dr. Bramlet also specializes in congenital cardiac MRI for OSF HealthCare Children’s Hospital of Illinois and is an associate professor of Clinical Pediatrics at the University of Illinois College of Medicine in Peoria and the University of Illinois Grainger College of Engineering in Urbana-Champaign.

Dr. Bramlet’s efforts began in 2018 with manually segmenting parts of the heart so it could be viewed in virtual reality. It continued with an infusion of grant money two years ago. Using an Innovation for Health (IFH) grant with Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois, a team used machine learning to convert standard medical images into a sequence of 3D models that, when played sequentially, create a 3D beating heart – the 4D heart. The initial process took an entire summer.

That made the technology nearly impossible to use in real world clinical care. But in late 2024, researchers achieved a major breakthrough. With the help of engineers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, AIM lab engineers trained neural networks on hundreds of high-quality CT scans and automated the entire process. Now, what once took months can be done with a single click.

“Have you ever seen a flip book where you see a drawing move? That’s what we’re doing with these 3D models in a digital, virtual space.” Dr. Bramlet explains, “We’re just turning them off and on in rapid succession until we have that beating heart.”

For surgeons, the benefits are game-changing. They can see not only the anatomy but also how it changes with every beat. This is especially critical for conditions such as hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy, where the problem lies in how the heart contracts. Even more surprising, the AI began rendering valves — structures notoriously difficult to see on CT scans.

“Now we can see that valve which we really couldn’t see before. So, repeat valve procedures are very valuable for this. TAVR or any valve in the cath lab, we’re finding good use with these as well as the hypertrophic cardiomyopathy cases.”

Hospitals across the country are taking notice, sending scans to OSF and receiving beating heart files in return. Some don’t even have the technology to view them yet. Dr. Bramlet says OSF Innovation is pushing the boundaries so far forward, some other health systems will need to get on board with the technology to be able to visualize the data being sent to them.

For now, the ability to view a 4D Heart is already changing how surgeons think about the body’s most vital organ. In some cases, the new view is confirming a surgery plan. In other cases, including a most recent pediatric heart case from another hospital, it changed the approach. Dr. Bramlet says as surgeons interact with the models, they are amazed.

He shares, “I see those lightbulbs go on and there’s nothing like being able to observe and interact with these 3D models in a format, and especially a 4D model, in a way they’ve never been able to see them before, and it will become the standard of care, I have no doubt.”

The ultimate vision is bold: a patient enters the CT or MRI scanner, and their digital twin heart comes out the other side – ready for analysis, surgical planning and even analysis of AI-driven measurements like ejection fraction or blood flow strain to help with diagnosis and a treatment plan.

How long until that happens? Hard to say because as Dr. Bramlet points out, “seeing is believing,” and it might take time for health systems to invest in the technology to make the vision become reality. Government reimbursement for the care will also drive adoption. For now, the work is being covered through research grants, most notably; the Jump ARCHES endowment through the Health Care Engineering Systems Center at the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign and OSF HealthCare.

Dr. Mathew Bramlet

B-roll-4D Beating Heart

Travis Jones, DPT, OCS, MBA, and an OSF Mission Partner (employee) learned about the power of data while getting his master’s degree in business administration. While concentrating on business analytics Jones thought about how data could apply to his job as a physical therapist and soon he was working with the OSF Innovation Studio team to build an AI-backed platform that can be used to help health care employers identify job risks and speed review of injury assessments in workers’ compensation cases.

That’s important because, according to Jones, nurses and CNAs are injured on the job more than any other profession in the U.S. — even more than construction workers. RNs suffer over 20,000 work-related injuries each year serious enough to miss work. One back injury can cost a hospital $30,000+ in direct costs alone, not including lost productivity, overtime, or turnover.

Jones’ platform and company Health Shift AI uses advanced algorithms and historical data analysis, built on licensed intellectual property from OSF HealthCare, to identify risks on day one of workplace incidents in a health care setting to prevent chronic injuries. It also ensures the person injured gets a quick assessment.

“So really, one of our biggest goals is improving the access, so that way people can have access to rehab programs almost immediately when the injury occurs, which then can help reduce costs down the line from those issues not becoming chronic issues, and by getting really to the root of the problem quickly.”

By using his platform, Jones estimates health care systems could see a 30% reduction in the current annual claim costs, which can easily be hundreds of thousands of dollars or more for large hospitals.  He also believes it could likely lower workers’ compensation premiums.

Jones explains he developed his algorithm by looking at crucial data points.

“We look at things like job type, we look at age, we look at what the individual was doing when they were injured, what body region was injured, what type of injury it was. And then also we can look at the descriptions of the incident that happened. And we can generate insights from those as well.”

The platform analyzes historical workers' comp data to prioritize physical therapy for at-risk employees, aiming to improve recovery time and reduce employer costs. But it also offers a personalized approach for injured workers.

“That computer vision model can then identify potential faulty movement patterns that may increase risk of injury. And then it provides that individual with customized exercise programs, education; things they can do to address those faulty movement patterns to reduce their injury risk.”

There might be other companies that provide virtual physical therapy, but Jones says his digital platform is the most integrated solution available for employers – evaluating workplace risk, plus proactively identifying and addressing movement risks using AI-powered personalized assessments and educational resources.

OSF Innovation Studio provided Jones with guidance, coaching, and connections to help him refine his idea, understand the market potential, and ultimately develop a software solution that could be licensed to a startup. Jones’ efforts with Health Shift AI are currently self-funded and include support from family and friends.

Used AI to help develop the software

He used AI to help him write code to develop his software, saving time and money because he didn’t have to hire a software engineer. And as an OSF Mission Partner, he received input and support in that area from OSF Innovation Studio.

Kip McCoy, vice president, Innovation Studio says Jones is an enthusiastic entrepreneur, and he maximized the help available.

“There are a lot of resources in the local entrepreneurial ecosystem that are available. So, what we’ve tried to do is to get him tied into or connected to a lot of those that are at the disposal of various start-ups in the Peoria area.”

That includes Distillery Labs in Peoria where Joes participated in gALPHA class last September. He says exposure to others’ struggles and mentors who have been successful entrepreneurs really helped. Additionally, he also connected with Enterprise Works, and the National Science Foundation’s I-Corps™ program.

His company, Health Shift AI, has since licensed the software he developed at OSF HealthCare.

Other aspects that are not part of the licensing agreement include self-guided recovery access -- personalized recovery programs and progress tracking through the digital platform.

Jones established his company in Peoria, Illinois and plans to keep it here. Next steps are to work on a pilot within OSF HealthCare that utilizes all aspects of the platform. Jones also sees a market for his Health Shift AI in manufacturing and is testing the software with a window manufacturer and distributor.

McCoy says Health Shift AI is a success story that reminds OSF HealthCare Mission Partners that if they have an idea, the OSF Innovation Studio team is ready to assist.

“We can help you think through that, look at different opportunities, see what resources we can have available to help you just better craft or focus in on where the potential opportunity or the need might be that can help move it (your idea) forward.”

OSF Mission Partners can begin their journey toward potentially developing their solution by filling out an idea submission form online here.

Travis Jones

Kip McCoy

B-roll of Health Shift AI

Kids played various games and engaged with student athletes in the heated, inflatable dual-membrane fabric air dome designed for year-round use by Redbird student-athletes. It also has artificial turf to match the current surface at Hancock Stadium. 

The open house celebration was held prior to the Illinois State football spring game. OSF STEAM hosted a table where kids learned about color blindness with special 3D glasses, plus they explored the human brain with specimens they could experience hands-on. They also took away a coloring page as part of activities designed to engage young people to think about the wonders of science and a potential career in medicine.

OSF decided to make a significant financial contribution to the long-anticipated ISU athletic indoor practice facility on the heels of a five-year agreement that made OSF HealthCare the official health care provider for Illinois State University athletics in an exclusive partnership. As part of that agreement, OSF HealthCare provides Illinois State University student-athletes with access to athletic trainers, sports medicine providers, orthopedic surgeons, and behavioral health professionals.

OSF HealthCare Eastern Region Chief Medical Officer Carol Friesen says the strong partnership between two long-standing community organizations is about contributing to better education, and health and wellness.

“It’s important that we take care of each other. Health care and academics are the lynchpin of every community and if we’re strong, then the whole community is vibrant. So, we wanted to make an investment in a meaningful way that would further what’s going on here at ISU.”

Friesen was astounded to learn 19 different sports on campus use the facility, along with community use by various travel sports teams. OSF HealthCare St. Joseph Medical Center President Eunmee (pronounced UHN-may) Shim was impressed by the size and scope of the facility and shared that the significant OSF investment reflects its Mission to serve with the greatest care and love. Plus, it supports a potential future talent pool.

“Investing in ISU makes perfect sense because we’ll be getting the talents from them. They are the anchor of the community we can serve together.”

Athletic Director Jeri Beggs says having an indoor practice facility is so necessary to remain a competitive program in NCAA Division 1 athletics. But even Beggs was surprised by how many sports are now using the building.

“Our golf team loves this space because they can chip and actually see the trajectory of the ball. Baseball and softball play almost legitimate games in here. They put home plate over here. Softball says it’s basically a real field for them except right field is a little short. So, all of our sports come in here – just doing sprints in here.” She adds, “It has changed every sport that we have.”

Retired former athletic director Larry Lyons started the fundraising and planning for the facility. Head football coach Brock Spack credits him with a vision for the indoor practice center, as well as for improving other facilities dating back to Spack's start with the university 15 years ago. But Spack says without financial support from OSF HealthCare, Lyon’s vision might not have become reality.

Spack also points out the impressive facility has helped with recruiting, and he says it has made a significant difference in the excitement and performance among student athletes.

“It doesn’t matter when we practice here – whether its spring or winter, or fall, they come in here and they play lights out because I think it has a big-time feel to it, and they feel like a big-time team in here. We have really good practices in here.”

Redbird Athletics dedicated and officially opened the newly named OSF HealthCare Athletics Training Center on September 30, 2023. 

Carol Friesen & Eunmee Shim

Jeri Beggs & Brock Spack

B-roll of OSF-ISU Naming Celebration

Alpine Health Systems is pleased to announce the launch of an AI-based software platform that can improve hospital discharge for patients with complex health conditions, and in some cases, multiple social needs. The platform allows case managers to quickly identify at-risk patients to safely transition to an appropriate site of care.

Peoria, Illinois-based OSF HealthCare and its innovation catalyst OSF Innovation, along with Indianapolis-based venture builder High Alpha Innovation, served as partners for the development of Alpine’s tool that can benefit hospitals nationwide.

Hospitals are filled with increasingly complex and difficult-to-treat populations, including those entering the hospital with more than one chronic illness and comorbidities. These patients often have multiple challenges, including intensive medical care needs, complex family expectations, criminal history or inadequate home support. Caring for these patients in a hospital setting far beyond their geometric mean length of stay (GMLOS) results in massive costs for providers and a missed opportunity to care for patients who need it most.

Starting with a simple rules-based architecture and Machine Learning (ML) as well as Natural Language Processing (NLP), Alpine helps case managers who are critical to the discharge process to elevate complex cases earlier, reducing excess hospital stays and improving patient outcomes. The platform identifies and prioritizes important patient risk factors in advance of hospital discharge to ensure a holistic look at what will lead to the best setting and support for the patient.

Unlike competitors, Alpine leverages non-clinical and social determinants of health (SDOH) factors that might not be part of a patient’s electronic health record or be easy to locate within the record. Alpine’s software searches historical case notes for additional risk factors, ensuring a highly accurate risk profile in real-time. As Alpine is developed and refined, it will become more capable of recognizing the factors that can put a patient at increased risk of delayed discharge and matching those factors with appropriate recommendations for case managers.

Easing the job of hospital case managers should also help hospitals attract and retain individuals for these critically important positions, thus Alpine provides that additional value for hospitals and health systems. 

Alpine is led by Miami-based co-founder and CEO Humberto Alexander Lee, a seasoned health care technology veteran with experience in high growth, venture-backed health care companies. Lee has worked with diverse organizations such as HCA Hospitals, Cerner, Assurant Health and AXA Assistance. Lee is a serial founder and investor in the health care startup space. Prior to Alpine, he served as CEO of Statra, a health care analytics SaaS platform. He was co-founder and CTO of PxSource, which was acquired by Revolution EHR in 2015, as well as co-founder and CTO of Tesser Health, which was acquired by ELMC Group in 2019.

“Everyone in need deserves to be treated with love and care – that’s the driving force behind Alpine,” notes Lee. “We're thrilled to partner with OSF HealthCare and High Alpha Innovation to help both hospitals and patients with one of the most challenging problems facing health care today.”

“Launching a new venture such as Alpine has the power to change the world,” adds Elliott Parker, CEO of High Alpha Innovation. “This is a solution that the market needs, and the speed and learning power of AI will successfully get it into the hands of hospital systems much faster than other approaches."

Michelle Conger, chief strategy officer of OSF HealthCare and CEO of OSF OnCall Digital Health, says, “OSF Innovation is dedicated to leveraging technology and best practices to elevate care, and the launch of Alpine will both improve patient outcomes and reduce the cost of health care. We’re excited to work with Humberto and the team at High Alpha Innovation to bring to life this important innovative solution.”