Greek researchers at the “Archimedes” AI Research Center have developed a pioneering software that relies on artificial intelligence to evaluate the function of the heart’s right ventricle using standard 2D echocardiograms.
Created by invasive cardiologist Polydoros Kampaktsis and data scientist Archontis Giannakidis, the technology is currently undergoing extensive clinical trials at the Onassis Cardiac Surgery Center in Athens.
The diagnostic challenge of the right ventricle
The right ventricle is notoriously difficult to image due to its complex geometric shape. While 2D ultrasounds are the standard first-line examination, they often fail to provide reliable data, leaving Cardiac MRI, which is expensive and less accessible, as the only accurate alternative.
This is a critical gap, as right ventricular dysfunction significantly decreases life expectancy. As Kampaktsis explains: “It is essentially a new method aimed at becoming a daily tool for a more objective and accurate assessment of the right ventricle…It relies on an AI algorithm to produce results.”
Efficiency and accessibility
One of the software’s primary advantages is its low computational demand. Archontis Giannakidis highlights its ability to learn “complex patterns hidden within medical data” while maintaining a small footprint:
“The inference process has low requirements for computing power, memory, and energy, making our application ideal for deployment on small devices like laptops and mobile phones.”
Clinical success and future outlook
Early results are highly promising. In an initial study at Columbia University, the AI’s accuracy rivaled that of an MRI. Current trials at Onassis involving two hundred patients show an accuracy rate exceeding 90%. Cardiac surgeon Dimitris Avgerinos believes the software will “truly revolutionize the daily routine of cardiac ultrasounds.”
Despite the excitement, the researchers remain grounded. Polydoros Kampaktsis notes that while we are seeing an “explosion” of AI in cardiology, we must judge these technologies by one metric, namely “whether and to what extent these applications can help treat disease and protect health.”
Related: Landmark Heart Procedure Performed at Greece’s Sotiria Hospital
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