AI Brings Tomorrow’s X-Rays to Life, Helping Doctors Fight Arthritis Sooner

From scitechdaily.com

An AI system developed at the University of Surrey can predict future knee X-rays, helping reveal how osteoarthritis may worsen over time. By turning complex predictions into clear images, it gives doctors and patients a better chance to act early. 

Researchers at the University of Surrey have created an artificial intelligence system that can estimate what a patient’s knee X-ray may look like one year into the future. The technology could significantly change how people with osteoarthritis understand their condition and make decisions about treatment and lifestyle changes.

Turning Data Into Visual Predictions

The findings were presented at the International Conference on Medical Image Computing and Computer Assisted Intervention (MICCAI 2025). The study explains how the Surrey team uses advanced machine learning to produce a realistic “future” knee X-ray together with a score that estimates how likely the disease is to progress. When viewed together, these results give both doctors and patients a clearer and more visual sense of what may lie ahead.

                                                     AI predicts osteoarthritis progression. Credit: University of Surrey

A Global Condition Meets Large Scale AI

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease affecting more than 500 million people worldwide and is the leading cause of disability among older adults. The new system was trained on nearly 50,000 knee X-rays from almost 5,000 patients, making it one of the largest osteoarthritis datasets ever used for this purpose.

According to the researchers, the AI predicts disease progression more accurately than similar tools while operating around nine times faster and in a more compact form, which could help it move into everyday clinical use sooner.

Showing Patients What the Numbers Mean

David Butler, the study’s lead author from the University of Surrey’s Centre for Vision, Speech and Signal Processing (CVSSP) and the Institute for People-Centred AI, said:

“We’re used to medical AI tools that give a number or a prediction, but not much explanation. Our system not only predicts the likelihood of your knee getting worse – it actually shows you a realistic image of what that future knee could look like. Seeing the two X-rays side by side – one from today and one for next year – is a powerful motivator. It helps doctors act sooner and gives patients a clearer picture of why sticking to their treatment plan or making lifestyle changes really matters. We think this can be a turning point in how we communicate risk and improve osteoarthritic knee care and other related conditions.”

How the Technology Builds Trust

The system relies on a type of generative AI known as a diffusion model. It creates a projected future knee X-ray and marks 16 key points within the joint. By showing exactly which areas the AI is tracking for change, the system becomes more transparent and easier for clinicians to understand and trust.

Beyond Knees and Osteoarthritis

The researchers believe this approach could eventually be adapted to other long-term health problems. Similar tools might one day help predict lung damage in smokers or monitor the progression of heart disease, giving patients and doctors visual insight that supports earlier action. The team is now looking for partners to help bring the technology into real clinical settings.

A Shift Toward Clearer Medical AI

Gustavo Carneiro, Professor of AI and Machine Learning at Surrey’s Centre for Vision, Speech and Signal Processing (CVSSP), said:

“Earlier AI systems could estimate the risk of osteoarthritis progression, but they were often slow, opaque, and limited to numbers rather than clear images. Our approach takes a big step forward by generating realistic future X-rays quickly and by pinpointing the areas of the joint most likely to change. That extra visibility helps clinicians identify high-risk patients sooner and personalize their care in ways that were not previously practical.”

Reference: “Risk Estimation of Knee Osteoarthritis Progression via Predictive Multi-task Modelling from Efficient Diffusion Model Using X-Ray Images” by David Butler, Adrian Hilton and Gustavo Carneiro, 20 September 2025, Medical Image Computing and Computer Assisted Intervention – MICCAI 2025.
DOI: 10.1007/978-3-032-05185-1_52

https://scitechdaily.com/ai-brings-tomorrows-x-rays-to-life-helping-doctors-fight-arthritis-sooner/

New, Implanted Device Could Offer a Long-Elusive, Drug-Free Treatment for Rheumatoid Arthritis

From smithsonianmag.com 

The FDA just approved the SetPoint System, which electrically stimulates the vagus nerve to control inflammation from the chronic disease

For years, rheumatoid arthritis (RA)—an autoimmune disease that causes inflammation—has often been resistant to treatment. About 1.5 million Americans have the chronic condition, which commonly leads to joint stiffness and pain. So far, to treat the disease, patients have been forced to rely on expensive immunosuppressant drugs that leave them at a higher risk for infections.

But now, a revolutionary new device could transform RA care. In late July, the United States Food and Drug Administration approved an implant that uses electrical signals to control inflammation by tapping into the vagus nerve—a pair of nerves that connect the brain with important internal organs. The move marks the first time an electrical therapy has been approved for the treatment of any autoimmune disease, reports New Scientist’s Grace Wade.

Rheumatoid arthritis is often difficult to treat, and patients rely on immunosuppressant drugs. Now, a new implanted device promises to offer treatment without medication. SetPoint Medical

Kevin Tracey, a neurosurgeon and CEO of the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research at Northwell Health, told NPR’s Jon Hamilton in February that the team first discovered the potential of using the vagus nerve to treat bodily inflammation by accident. 

The researchers were experimenting on rats to see if a drug could prevent inflammation in the brain, when they realized the vagus nerve could also help suppress inflammation throughout the body. 

With RA, the immune system becomes overactive and attacks the lining of joints, causing the disease’s symptoms. But the vagus nerve, the team realized, is like an “on-off switch” for the immune system’s extra activity, or “like a brake system in your car,” Tracey tells the New York Times’ Roni Caryn Rabin.

That discovery was 20 years ago. Now, after decades of deeper research, a team of scientists spearheaded by Tracey has finalized the SetPoint System: a chip about an inch long that’s surgically implanted into a patient’s neck, where it electrically stimulates the vagus nerve for one minute each day. A SetPoint spokeswoman tells the New York Times that the device will cost less than a year’s worth of some current RA treatments, and it can last a patient up to ten years.

By stimulating the vagus nerve, the implant can “control inflammation at its source, offering a safer, more effective treatment without the need to suppress the immune system,” Tracey says in a statement—a radical shift from traditional RA treatments.

The scientists conducted a year-long trial of the device with 242 RA patients. The results, released in 2024, revealed that more than half of the study’s participants using the implant saw a significant recession of their RA or achieved remission, according to the New York Times.

“Before the implant, the doctor would ask where I was in terms of pain on a scale of one to ten, and I would say I was living a six or seven,” Dawn Steiner, who participated in the trial, tells the New York Times. “Now I’m about a two.”

Less than 2 percent of patients experienced severe side effects, which involved hoarseness associated with the surgery.

The FDA was able to expedite the approval of SetPoint by designating it as a breakthrough. However, Aaron Kesselheim, a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School who was not involved with the device, tells the New York Times that historically, drugs expedited by the agency often require updated safety labels after they are used by the wider public.

Although the researchers’ results may be promising, the long-term efficacy and safety of SetPoint is still unknown outside of clinical trials. The device is intended to be rolled out in certain U.S. cities this year, and expanded across more of the country in early 2026.

Implanted vagus nerve stimulators have already been approved for treat epilepsy and depression in some patients, per NPR. Next, SetPoint Medical, a company co-founded by Tracey, hopes to build on the potential of vagus nerve-based treatments to address other autoimmune diseases.

Vagus nerve stimulation is now being tested in clinical trials to manage lupus, inflammatory bowel disease and multiple sclerosis. One day, the technique might be able to treat other inflammation-related conditions, from diabetes to heart disease or Parkinson’s, as Stavros Zanos of the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, tells New Scientist.

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/new-implanted-device-could-offer-a-long-elusive-drug-free-treatment-for-rheumatoid-arthritis-180987121/

Heat on Demand: A Smart Patch for Soothing Arthritic Pain

From newswise.com

                                       Credit: Microsystems & Nanoengineering

Overall design of multifunctional wearable system for thermotherapy of arthritis. a Schematic illustration of the multifunctional wearable device. b Schematic diagram of signal transmission and processing for thermotherapy of arthritis. c Image of the fabricated multifunctional wearable device. d Flexibility and stretchability of MSU.

Newswise — Arthritis causes persistent inflammation and pain in the joints, affecting mobility and quality of life for millions. While thermotherapy—applying heat to affected areas—has long been used to ease symptoms, traditional methods like heat pads or hot patches often fall short. They can overheat, burn, or lose effectiveness over time, and they rarely adapt to real-world conditions like cold air or damp weather. Moreover, many heating devices are bulky, immobile, and unable to detect when therapy is actually needed. These shortcomings highlight the urgent demand for smart, wearable solutions that can monitor the body's needs and deliver safe, stable, and timely heat. Due to these problems, intelligent thermotherapy devices must be further explored and developed.

On May 13, 2025, researchers from Dalian University of Technology unveiled a flexible, wearable thermotherapy system (DOI: 10.1038/s41378-025-00912-8) in Microsystems & Nanoengineering. This multilayered device integrates temperature and humidity sensors with a thin gold-based heater on a stretchable polyimide film. Designed for real-time, automatic use, it responds to environmental cues and body movement, providing personalized thermal treatment for arthritic joints. The system marks a step forward in wearable health technology, addressing the limitations of conventional devices and offering patients a discreet, reliable tool for daily therapy and protection in varying conditions.

At the heart of the system is a kirigami–serpentine structure—an origami-like pattern that enhances flexibility and stretchability. Layered with an Au temperature sensor, Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT)-based humidity sensor, and Joule heater, the device conforms closely to joints, such as knees, and performs reliably during movement. Using real-time data processed by a flexible circuit and Bluetooth-enabled feedback loop, the system can adjust heat output within 1 second, maintaining temperatures with less than 0.1°C variation at 45°C.

This innovation supports multiple applications: programmable on-demand therapy with customized heat cycles; daily thermal protection that automatically activates in cold weather; and moisture control to combat joint-stiffening humidity. On-body tests showed the heater could raise local skin temperature even outdoors, while humidity levels dropped steadily during use. Most strikingly, the team used photoplethysmography (PPG) to measure blood flow and confirmed that thermotherapy via this system significantly boosted local perfusion—an essential factor in pain relief. The design also proved durable through 1,000+ use cycles, remaining accurate during walking, stretching, and running. By combining high precision with real-world practicality, this soft, wearable system delivers clinical-grade function in a form factor that patients can use every day.

"Our goal was to make thermal therapy truly wearable—not just portable, but adaptive and intuitive," said Dr. Mengxi Wu, co-corresponding author of the study. "By integrating precise sensors and closed-loop control into a stretchable format, we're giving patients the ability to receive therapy in real time, tailored to their specific environment and condition. This technology reflects the future of personalized medicine, where treatment moves with the body and responds as needed. It's not just engineering—it's empathy through innovation."

Beyond arthritis relief, this technology signals a new direction for wearable health systems. Its modular design, environmental responsiveness, and soft mechanics make it well-suited for integration into clothing, bandages, or therapeutic garments. For chronic conditions sensitive to temperature and humidity—such as circulatory issues, muscle injuries, or autoimmune disorders—the platform could offer customized support. Additionally, the same sensing–feedback–heating architecture might be adapted for wound care, smart rehabilitation, or ambient-responsive materials. As digital health advances, the marriage of microscale electronics with human-scale needs could reshape how therapy is delivered—not in clinics, but directly on the body, wherever and whenever it's needed most.

https://www.newswise.com/articles/heat-on-demand-a-smart-patch-for-soothing-arthritic-pain

New technology helps arthritis patients walk again

From winknews.com

The simple act of walking can be a real struggle for someone with ankle arthritis, but many people are slow to consider a surgical option to relieve their pain.

Up until now, a fusion, which limits mobility, was the go-to surgery. However, that could change, thanks to new technology.

The truth is that a lot is riding on our ankles. Yolanda Ocampo learned that after shattering her ankle in a car crash. Her first surgery in 2020 fixed the bones, but two years later, the pain was still so crippling she hardly left her house.

“It still hurt when I step down, you know, I cannot stand up long enough for me not to feel no pain,” Ocampo said.

Many times, an accident or injury leads to ankle arthritis.

Fort Myers orthopaedic ankle surgeon Jeremy Schwartz said that when people can no longer stand it, they often come to him.

“It can be difficult just to get out of bed and go across the room, you know, constantly on medications for pain,” Schwartz said.

When medications don’t work, patients can fuse it or lose it, removing the faulty joint and replacing it with plastic and metal, much like an artificial hip or knee.

“Historically, the instrumentation for implanting the ankle replacements wasn’t nearly as advanced or hip and knee, but with the new 3D technology, it’s really allowed us to put these in almost perfectly,” Schwartz said.

The 3D technique helps alignment. It starts with a CT scan of the patient’s ankle. Then, an exact replica is made, which includes the new joint. The 3D models serve as a guide.

“We bring those into the operating room, actually, and we fit them directly onto the model of the bone, and then we can transfer that actual guide onto the patient’s actual bone, and we secured into position, and then we do all of our cuts and all of our implantation based on that exact guide,” Schwartz said.

The result is a joint that is almost as if nature made it.

The surgery allows patients to jump back into life.

“I’d like to go back to my exercising, just to get back my legs to go back to normal.” Ocampo said.

“When you do an ankle replacement, if you walk to watch the person walk across the hall, you wouldn’t know which ankle was operated on and which was not,” Schwartz said.

Ocampo’s new ankle should carry her well into the future.

3D ankle replacements are still considered relatively new in the medical field.

Researchers have been studying them for about a decade, and data shows that they are about 90% successful ten years later.

https://winknews.com/2023/09/12/new-technology-arthritis-patients-walk-again/ 

Coronavirus: New app developed to help young arthritis sufferers through pandemic

From thecourier.co.uk

A Dundee University student is among those being helped by a new mobile app aimed at helping teenagers and young adults with arthritis through Covid-19 self-isolation.

Melissa Tavendale said she had already felt the benefit of the Arthritis Tracker which provides round-the-clock access to information and advice, helping those affected to rate and record symptoms in seconds and track their pain, medication side effects, fatigue, physical activity, sleep and emotional well-being.

An estimated 2.98 million people under the age of 35 in the UK are living with a musculoskeletal (MSK) condition and the charity Versus Arthritis has launched the app.

Versus Arthritis digital engagement officer, Sophie Mullen said; “Arthritis is too often dismissed as an old person’s disease, but it doesn’t discriminate by age – two thirds of people with arthritis are under 65.

“Technology is helping us bridge the gap to those who were already isolated, and who face more restrictions to their life because of Covid-19.
“Most will never have met other young people their age with the condition, who understand what they’re going through. This app will help us change that.”

Melissa, 19, was recently diagnosed with Seronegative inflammatory arthritis after experiencing painful joints and stiffness for more than a year.

Now living with her parents in the north east during lockdown, she has already had one medical appointment cancelled during the pandemic.
“The app is very easy to use and seems to be working very well. I like the extra info with tips and advice about managing my condition,” she said

https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/local/dundee/1311940/coronavirus-new-app-developed-to-help-young-arthritis-sufferers-through-pandemic/