Mayo Clinic partnering with UK tech company on COVID’s cardiac impact
The Mayo Clinic is working with UK-based Ultromics on AI analysis of echocardiograms acquired from COVID-19 patients. The aim of the collaboration is to map out cardiac irregularities caused by the virus.
With insights into how the virus tends to hurt the heart when it does so, the team hopes to facilitate triaging and treatment of patients likely to develop serious cardiological complications, according to a May 12 announcement posted by Ultromics.
The AI software, EchoGo Core, has been cleared by the FDA for use in the U.S., although it lacks CE marking for use in the European Union.
Ultromics CEO Ross Upton says optimizing management of COVID patients with cardiac involvement is especially important where resources are scarce.
“By applying our technology to the evaluation of COVID-associated echocardiograms, we can help understand the characteristics of cardiac involvement,” Upton adds in the announcement. “Most importantly, we can give physicians the gift of time to treat those most in danger.”
A key part of the collaboration is developing an image-analysis application. Project leaders are Patricia Pellikka, MD, at Mayo Clinic and Gary Woodward, the CTO of Ultromics.
Dave P. has worked in journalism, marketing and public relations for more than 30 years, frequently concentrating on hospitals, healthcare technology and Catholic communications. He has also specialized in fundraising communications, ghostwriting for CEOs of local, national and global charities, nonprofits and foundations.