The National Health Service (NHS) in the United Kingdom has begun deploying an AI-powered CT-scan reader in hospitals across the country to identify hidden signs of heart disease. The technology can identify disease years before it becomes apparent, BBC reports.<\/p>\n
The CaRi-Heart system, developed by researchers at the University of Oxford, picks up subtle abnormalities that a clinician might miss in a CT scan, detecting inflammation and scarring in the endothelium of the heart’s blood vessels.<\/p>\n
According to the researchers, when they applied the technology to existing scan results, one in three people who were classified as a “low risk” group were reclassified into the “high risk” category.<\/p>\n
\n“The beauty of our technology is that it will not only save countless lives, but is incredibly simple,” said Dr Chirag Shirodaria, who worked on the project.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
He added that CaRi-Heart can analyse a scan obtained from any CT scanner. This means hospitals do not need to upgrade equipment, and patients do not have to undergo repeat imaging.<\/p>\n
The technology is already in use in 15 institutions, including hospitals in Oxford, Leicester and London, to analyse CT results for patients aged 40-70 presenting with chest pain.<\/p>\n
The NHS hopes to help 350,000 patients annually. According to the agency, cardiovascular diseases affect around 7 million people in the United Kingdom each year and cost the NHS more than \u00a316 billion annually.<\/p>\n
Back in January 2021, MIT scientists unveiled a deep-learning model that diagnoses breast cancer from a mammogram image<\/a>. The scientists said their algorithm performs better than a radiologist.<\/p>\n
In March, the U.S. federal agency certified the first device for diagnosing COVID-19<\/a>. According to developers, the device detects hidden biomarkers of the virus and enables identification even in asymptomatic carriers.<\/p>\n