IPG is developed for most of the novel interventional procedures entering the English market. The program focuses solely on clinical evidence. Recommendations may vary from "for research only" to "for use with standard arrangements for clinical governance, consent, and audit." Recommendations are not binding, although they are followed by providers and commissioners.
In July 2021, NICE published one Interventional Procedures Guidance (IPG): Inducing and maintaining normothermia using temperature modulation devices to improve outcomes after stroke or subarachnoid hemorrhage.
NICE concluded that evidence on the safety and efficacy of inducing and maintaining normothermia using temperature modulation devices to improve outcomes after stroke or subarachnoid hemorrhage is inadequate in quality and quantity. Therefore, this procedure should only be used in the context of research. Further research should preferably be randomized controlled trials.
MedTech Innovation Briefing (MIB) is the advice program of NICE for innovative technologies. It provides an overview of clinical effectiveness, safety, and cost. It does not offer formal guidance, and it, therefore, does not provide any recommendations.
Four new MIBs were published in July 2021:
- HealthVCF for detecting vertebral compression fractures on CT scans - is software that uses artificial intelligence to detect moderate-to-severe vertebral compression fractures from CT scans of the chest or abdomen. The artificial intelligence solution does not distinguish between acute and chronic fractures, but both would be detected by the software;
- trublood-prostate for triaging and diagnosing people with prostate cancer symptoms - is a diagnostic test that uses immunocytochemistry to diagnose prostate cancer from blood samples of people with suspected symptoms of cancer;
- AI technologies for detecting diabetic retinopathy - EyeArt (Eyenuk), RetinaLyze (RetinaLyze System A/S), and Retmarker (Retmarker) use artificial intelligence technology to analyze retinal images to help diagnose diabetic retinopathy. The aim is to speed up and improve diagnosis. They could be used in national screening programs and settings with limited expertise;
- Acumen IQ sensor for predicting hypotension risk - The Acumen IQ Sensor with Acumen hypotension prediction index (HPI) software (Edwards Lifesciences Ltd) is designed to predict the chance of an individual having a hypotensive event in surgical and non-surgical settings.
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