Ben-Gurion University in collaboration with the Soroka Medical Center are developing an automatic system for the diagnosis of heart diseases - Alive, which will enable the examination of more patients, in a shorter time and at a lower cost
Scientists at Ben-Gurion University, in collaboration with the echocardiography unit, the cardiology setup from the Soroka University Medical Center, are developing an automatic system called Alive, which will enable the evaluation of various aspects of the heart's function. The system automatically decodes data from ultrasound examinations of the heart and gives an assessment of its function.
Today, most of the evaluation of echocardiography tests (ultrasound of the heart) is done qualitatively rather than quantitatively and therefore depends on the capabilities of the coder. That is, the system is subjective, requires training and expertise and extends the duration of the test. The advantage of the new system is its ability to analyze the raw information contained in the test and detect changes in the state of the heart in a consistent and repeatable manner and present the results in a quick and efficient manner. In addition, the system can calculate important innovative indicators that cannot be calculated today.
"Coronary artery disease is the number one cause of death from heart disease in the Western world and it impairs the heart's function. About 12 million echocardiography tests are performed every year in the US alone, at a cost of about $200 per test. The Alive system will enable the examination of more patients in a shorter time and at a lower cost," says Prof. Hugo Guterman, one of the developers of the system.
The project, which lasted about four years, received support in the last two years from the internal investment fund of Ben-Gurion University, managed by B.G. Negev Technologies, the university's commercialization company. The team of researchers includes Prof. Hugo Gutterman, a renowned researcher from the Department of Electrical Engineering, Dr. Noa Lial-Cohen, Director of the Echocardiography Unit in the Cardiology Unit at the Soroka University Medical Center and has extensive experience in conducting interdisciplinary clinical studies, and Ms. Michal Jacobi, Has a master's degree in biomedical engineering.
The system was recently tested with great success, based on data from about 300 patients for a broad test of the system's capabilities. The project is in the stages of establishing a company and looking for investors.
