HeartLung Technologies' AutoChamber, an artificial intelligence (AI) tool designed to detect signs of heart disease risk in chest CT scans, has received FDA clearance. This approval marks a significant advancement in cardiovascular risk assessment, potentially impacting millions of individuals undergoing routine chest imaging.
AutoChamber's Capabilities
AutoChamber analyzes standard chest CT scans to identify key indicators of cardiovascular risk, including the potential for heart failure, atrial fibrillation, and stroke. These conditions are often overlooked in current CT scan analyses, which primarily focus on detecting lung abnormalities or other non-cardiac issues. The AI's ability to assess these risks concurrently could lead to earlier interventions and improved patient outcomes.
Expert Perspectives
Dr. Nathan Wong, a professor of medicine and epidemiology at the University of California, Irvine, highlighted the potential of AutoChamber to evaluate cardiovascular risk in individuals undergoing chest CT scans for various reasons, particularly lung cancer screening. He stated, "The potential is for identifying those at increased risk who could benefit from earlier intervention to improve outcomes."
Dr. Morteza Naghavi, founder and president of HeartLung Technologies, added, "By adding AutoChamber AI to CT scans, including CAC and CCTA scans, doctors not only can evaluate coronary disease but also the risk of heart failure, atrial fibrillation and stroke, which are not reported today. The opportunity is even greater in millions of lung CT scans."
Breakthrough Device Designation
AutoChamber previously received the FDA's breakthrough device designation, a program designed to accelerate the approval process for medical devices with significant potential. This designation facilitated closer collaboration between the FDA and HeartLung Technologies, ensuring prioritized review and expedited market access.
