In recent years, artificial intelligence (AI) has become a major force across various industries, changing the way we live and work. In healthcare, especially in pediatrics, AI is quickly transforming diagnosis, treatment, and patient care. A groundbreaking example of this transformation is the SENDD system, an AI-based technology developed to detect neurodevelopmental disorders in infants through early motor movement assessments. SENDD is poised to play a crucial role in pediatric care, particularly in identifying risks for conditions such as cerebral palsy, and its commercialization marks a new chapter for both parents and healthcare professionals.
SENDD and the power of early detection
The main idea behind SENDD (System for Early Neurological Deviation Detection) is to identify developmental issues early on by assessing infant motor movements. This method isn’t new in pediatric neurology. More than 30 years ago, Dutch researcher Mijna Hadders-Algra introduced the “General Movements Assessment” (GMA) technique, which remains one of the most reliable ways to detect neurodevelopmental abnormalities in infants. This approach involves analyzing spontaneous movements during the first few months of life, to be more precise between 2nd and 3rd month of infant’s life, paying particular attention to the complexity and variety of these movements.
Healthy infants tend to exhibit a wide range of spontaneous movements, differing in rhythm and form. A reduction in this diversity or complexity can signal potential developmental delays. SENDD uses AI to automate this assessment, analyzing video recordings of infants and picking up subtle motor issues that might be missed by human observation. As pediatric neurologist Dr. Goran Krakar, one of the key figures behind SENDD, explains, early detection allows for timely interventions, which are critical for improving developmental outcomes in children.
How SENDD works?
At the heart of SENDD is advanced AI technology, specifically designed to analyze spontaneous infant movements. The system uses computer vision to track an infant’s movements in video recordings, identifying patterns and behaviors that may signal neurodevelopmental delays. SENDD’s AI models have been meticulously trained with large datasets, allowing it to recognize abnormal movements with the accuracy of a highly experienced pediatric neurologist.
The process is designed to be simple and accessible for parents. All they need is a smartphone with a decent camera to record a few minutes of their baby’s spontaneous movements, ideally between the ages of 1.5 to 3.5 months, with the best results around 2-3 months. These recordings are then uploaded to the SENDD system, where both AI and an expert neuropediatrician analyze the footage. The results are presented in a comprehensive report, which is shared with parents and healthcare providers, making it easier to track the child’s development and spot any early signs of potential delays.
What sets SENDD apart from traditional methods is its convenience and accessibility. Parents can conduct this test from the comfort of their own home without the need for frequent in-person visits to specialists, which can be challenging, especially for families in remote areas. This ability to screen infants remotely makes early diagnosis more widespread and accessible, helping families take action sooner when necessary.
Benefits for healthcare professionals
SENDD isn’t just designed to help parents; it’s also a valuable tool for healthcare professionals. One of the biggest challenges for pediatricians and neurologists is the time and expertise required to accurately assess an infant’s motor development. Traditional methods, while reliable, are time-consuming and often subjective. SENDD automates this process, providing objective, standardized assessments, which reduces the workload on healthcare staff and ensures consistent results across different cases.
By quickly and accurately flagging developmental concerns, SENDD allows doctors to focus their attention on children who need further evaluation or treatment. As Dr. Krakar points out, the system is particularly useful for early intervention. When developmental delays are identified in time, therapies can begin sooner, giving children the best possible chance for improvement.
The journey to commercialization
SENDD’s path from concept to commercialization has been one of determination and innovation. The SENDD journey began in 2019, five years ago, when TIS Grupa and Polyclinc Sabol stared preparing the project documentation for EU IRI fund application. This R&D project officially began in August 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the TIS.AI department, led by Tomislav Strgar, collaborated with the medical experts at Poliklinika Sabol to bring this vision to life. The goal was to digitize the GMA method, which had been used analogously for decades. By developing an AI-driven system, the team aimed to make this vital diagnostic tool more accessible.
Developing SENDD was a demanding process, requiring countless hours of research, development, and testing. The AI models were continuously refined to ensure accuracy and reliability. After years of hard work, the system was finally launched commercially, marking a significant milestone in its development.
Today, SENDD is fully integrated into the services offered by Poliklinika Sabol. Parents worldwide can now use the system to monitor their child’s neurodevelopmental progress from the comfort of their own homes. The service is quick, easy to use, and affordable, giving families more control over their child’s health at an early stage.
How SENDD is shaping the future of pediatric care with AI
The potential of SENDD is enormous, and its impact on pediatric healthcare is only just beginning to unfold. As the system continues to learn and evolve, its accuracy and capabilities will improve, leading to even earlier detection of neurodevelopmental issues and more targeted interventions.
Moreover, SENDD’s success highlights the transformative potential of AI in healthcare. Technologies like SENDD are paving the way for more automated, accurate, and accessible diagnostics across various medical fields. In the future AI could be used to screen for a wide range of conditions, making healthcare more proactive rather than reactive.
In conclusion, SENDD represents a significant breakthrough in the early detection of neurodevelopmental disorders. By combining cutting-edge AI with proven medical methods, SENDD is shaping the future of pediatric care. Its ability to provide timely, accurate diagnoses will undoubtedly lead to better outcomes for countless children worldwide. As AI technology continues to advance, innovations like SENDD are set to become an integral part of healthcare systems globally, offering hope and improving the quality of life for future generations.
