Terms of Service

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing or using RYCO AI at rycoai.com ("the Platform"), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service ("Terms"). If you do not agree to these Terms, do not use the Platform. These Terms apply to all users, including individual clinicians, institutional users, and pilot program participants.

2. Description of Service

RYCO AI provides AI-powered analysis of cytology slide images to assist clinicians in confirming specimen adequacy and lesion location during intraoperative robotic assisted bronchoscopy procedures. The Platform returns an adequacy verdict (IN LESION / NOT IN LESION / INDETERMINATE), cell type identification, and confidence scores based on the submitted slide image.

3. Clinical Limitations and Disclaimer

RYCO AI is a clinical decision support tool. The following limitations apply to all use of the Platform:

• RYCO AI output is advisory only and does not constitute a medical diagnosis, cytopathological report, or pathological interpretation.
• All procedural decisions remain the sole responsibility of the attending clinician.
• All specimens must be submitted for formal cytopathological and/or histopathological processing regardless of RYCO AI output.
• RYCO AI may produce incorrect results, particularly with poor-quality images, unusual staining artifacts, or rare cell types.
• RYCO AI has not received clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a medical device. It is currently used under an institutional quality improvement protocol.
• RYCO AI is not a substitute for a qualified cytopathologist.

4. User Responsibilities

By using RYCO AI, you agree to:

• Use the Platform only for its intended purpose — intraoperative specimen adequacy confirmation during robotic assisted bronchoscopy.
• Ensure that no patient-identifying information (names, MRNs, dates of birth, or other PHI) is uploaded to the Platform at any time.
• Not rely solely on RYCO AI output for clinical decision-making without applying independent clinical judgment.
• Ensure all staff using the Platform have completed appropriate training.
• Comply with all applicable laws, regulations, and institutional policies governing the use of clinical software.
• Not attempt to reverse-engineer, copy, or redistribute the Platform or its AI models.

5. Intellectual Property

RYCO AI, including its software, AI models, user interface, branding, and documentation, is the intellectual property of Stefan Potteiger, RRT, RPFT. All rights reserved. Institutional pilot agreements do not transfer ownership of any intellectual property. De-identified data collected during pilot programs may be used by RYCO AI for platform improvement and validation studies.

6. Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, RYCO AI and Stefan Potteiger, RRT, RPFT shall not be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages arising from the use of or reliance on the Platform, including but not limited to clinical outcomes, diagnostic errors, or patient harm. The Platform is provided "as is" without warranty of any kind. Users assume all risk associated with clinical use of the Platform.

7. Pilot Program Terms

Institutional pilot program participants are subject to the terms of their signed Pilot Program Agreement in addition to these Terms of Service. In the event of conflict, the Pilot Program Agreement governs. Free access periods are provided at the sole discretion of RYCO AI and may be modified or terminated with 30 days written notice.

8. Termination

RYCO AI reserves the right to suspend or terminate access to the Platform at any time for violation of these Terms or for any other reason with reasonable notice. Upon termination, your right to use the Platform ceases immediately.

9. Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States, without regard to conflict of law principles.

10. Contact

For questions about these Terms, contact:
Stefan Potteiger, RRT, RPFT
Developer & Owner · RYCO AI
[email protected] · rycoai.com