Improving Cardiovascular Disease Scanning with an Innovative AI Solution
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) causes a quarter of all deaths in the UK and disproportionately affects people living in lower-income areas. The North East in particular has some of the highest rates of CVD morbidity, in the country.
If detected and treated early enough, CVD is largely preventable and it has been identified as the single biggest area where the NHS can save lives over the next 10 years.
 | Diagnostic scans for CVD can be a time-consuming, resource heavy and complex process |
| CVD causes a quarter of all deaths in the UK, the highest rates are in the North East region |
| The Aiatella AI device can measure scan results over 100 times faster, and more accurately, than a specialist clinician |
HI NENC is providing support to the Aiatella innovation, a medical device that uses artificial intelligence (AI), to automate the most time-consuming and complex parts of the analysis of a scan.
A scan is one way to identify disease within a patient, by analysing the blood vessels throughout the body, including the aorta. Diseases associated with the aorta are very rarely found in time and can lead to serious, life-threatening complications, which are only treatable through surgery.
Traditionally, the process following the scan requires a highly specialised doctor to manually check for disease and is extremely time-consuming. A proof-of-concept study at Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, proved Aiatella performed this process over 100 times faster than a clinician, with a higher level of accuracy.
This helps clinicians better allocate their time and cut the backlog of patients, waiting for a scan. Aiatella has the potential to save lives and improve patient outcomes for those at risk of CVD, by increasing the early detection of the condition before it becomes life-threatening.
Co-founder and CEO, Jack Parker, said:
“I’m proud to be from the region and the initial innovation evaluation was conducted out by regional NHS contacts. CVDs are a real issue here and it’s essential to introduce Aiatella our region first, to help as many people as possible.”
“My mentor said, ‘If you want to save 100 lives, continue your education and be the surgeon. If you want to potentially save millions, then you need to solve a problem.’ That was the motivation that planted the seed.”
HI NENC has supported Aiatella by providing bespoke advice and guidance relating to intellecual property protection, value proposition generation, evidence gathering and marketing, and support with funding applications.
The next step on Aiatella’s journey is to demonstrate the impact it can make on healthcare in our NHS and around the world.