Artificial intelligence to diagnose heart disease

Chinese scientists have developed a new artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm that has learned to diagnose heart diseases such as atherosclerosis. The findings of the work are described in an article published in Biomedical Optics Express journal, according to Lenta.Ru.

AI technology is based on the analysis of 3D optical coherence tomography (OCT) images of the heart arteries. Specialists are increasingly using OCT to study blood vessels, but due to a large amount of data and the complexity of interpreting the results, it is becoming more difficult to make an accurate diagnosis and start treatment in a timely manner. The use of a new device will solve these issues.

The mechanism of work consists of two stages. In the first, the AI uses the received OCT image to predict a possible plaque area. It is then specified using an additional algorithm that is based on clinical characteristics that mimic the experience of professional doctors.

The researchers tested AI on 5553 OCTs with atherosclerosis and 3224 images without a plaque in the arteries. The computer was able to correctly identify approximately 80 per cent of the cases. In the future, experts want to optimize the device: improve the processing of 3D information, as well as add more data to improve the performance of artificial intelligence. In addition, they want to introduce such parameters as the population of the planet and other sets of indirectly influencing criteria into the algorithm.