Estonian AI leap spans many sectors — from education to the most advanced healthcare challenges.
This week, Estonian medical technology startup Better Medicine announced that it developed and certified the world’s first AI-powered software as a medical device under EU MDR 2017/745 regulation for clinical kidney tumour detection. The CE-marked solution helps radiologists identify, measure, and classify kidney tumours in CT scans, enabling earlier and faster cancer detection.
“In Estonia, 41.5% of kidney cancer cases are diagnosed in stages III or IV, when treatment options become limited. This percentage has increased dramatically from 32.1% in 2019 to 41.5% in 2021. This concerning trend drove our team to create a solution supporting radiologists in early-stage detection—crucial for effective kidney cancer treatment,” says Priit Salumaa, Better Medicine’s CEO.
Priit Salumaa, Better Medicine’s CEO
Founded in 2020, the company develops AI-based radiological solutions for oncological findings. Their mission is to transform healthcare by supporting radiologists’ daily work and improving patient outcomes. It operates from offices in Tallinn, Tartu, and Leeds, UK.
The kidney model was trained on anonymised patient CT scans to ensure robust performance. Clinical studies revealed that radiologists using Better Medicine’s software measured tumours up to 52% faster than without AI assistance. The study also showed that the AI-radiologist collaboration achieved a remarkable 99.2% tumour detection rate.
“Our AI solution has shown exceptional results in clinical testing, autonomously analysing scans and differentiating between tumours with benign and malignant characteristics. After years of dedicated work, our technology has received CE marking, allowing radiologists to utilise the kidney model as a clinical practice tool,” Salumaa notes, adding that the team takes pride in developing the world’s first CE-marked kidney cancer detection solution in Estonia.
Professor Pilvi Ilves, Head of Radiology at Tartu University Hospital and clinical study collaborator, highlights AI’s benefits: “AI models in clinical workflows free radiologists from time-consuming manual tasks, allowing doctors to concentrate on critical questions and clinical decisions.”
Salumaa outlines Better Medicine’s ambitious vision: “We aim to become a leading provider of intelligent cancer diagnostics tools. We’re initially focusing on abdominal tumours due to their complex detection requirements and the scarcity of effective solutions. We continue working with the University of Tartu, Tartu University Hospital, Pärnu Hospital, and Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust to test and enhance our technology.”
Better Medicine plans to fundraise for US market entry and expansion into drug research, where radiological imaging monitors treatment effects.
Wish to invest in Better Medicine and other innovators? Read more about the opportunities Estonia offers in e-Health here and send us an e-Consulting request to get more detailed information.
