irprep.com

What It Is

IRPrep is an ablation planning tool for interventional radiology, with a focus on “planning from a phone.” Users point their phone camera at scrolling CT images on a PACS display, record the footage, select slices that contain a renal lesion, manually outline the lesion, and then enter measurements such as AP, transverse diameter, and cranio-caudal diameter. The system then calculates volume, the required number of probes, and an ablation coverage plan. It is explicitly positioned as a research and planning tool, not approved clinical diagnostic or treatment software.

Core Capabilities and Workflow

The tool is not built around automated AI diagnosis in the traditional sense. Instead, it provides a semi-automated workflow for pre-ablation planning: capturing/uploading images from a phone, selecting slices, manual segmentation, 3D measurement, and probe planning. It supports orientation choices such as axial, coronal, and sagittal views, and allows users to set slice thickness, slice spacing, ablation zone short/long axis, and safety margins. It also includes multiple probe options, including microwave, cryoablation, and RFA devices. The website also indicates that users can save annotated planning images, generate reports, and use a procedural timer and checklist.

Pricing and Trial

IRPrep offers a free account with 3 free analyses, and the site says registration takes about 30 seconds. After the free quota is used, users need to contact the company for full access. However, subscription pricing, institutional licensing, payment methods, and commercial terms are not disclosed, so procurement predictability is limited.

Pros and Cons

Its main advantage is the low deployment barrier: it does not require PACS integration or DICOM export, making it suitable for preliminary planning when quick access to an imaging system is not available. The workflow is also closely aligned with interventional radiology ablation scenarios. The limitations are equally clear: lesion segmentation depends on manual outlining, key measurements must be manually entered from PACS, and filming a screen may affect image quality. The website does not explain the model, validation data, regulatory compliance, or medical imaging privacy details. Most importantly, it is explicitly not FDA-approved, and all outputs must be confirmed by the treating interventional radiologist.

Who It’s For and Access from China

IRPrep is better suited for interventional radiologists, fellows, residents, and researchers as an auxiliary planning tool for teaching, research, or preoperative discussion. It is not appropriate as a standalone clinical decision-making system. Access from China cannot be determined from the available text, and payment methods are not disclosed. If deployed in Chinese medical institutions, key issues would need to be evaluated, including network accessibility, patient data compliance, internal information security approval, and alternatives such as PACS workstation measurement tools, 3D Slicer, or planning software provided by device vendors.