Search
Close this search box.
Search

AliveCor presented findings from their development of an AI algorithm to detect hyperkalemia, using over 2 million ECGs linked with 4 million serum potassium values collected between 1994 to 2017.

AI Algorithm Can Detect Life Threatening Blood Condition From ECG Signals

FDA designates AliveCor’s bloodless hyperkalemia test a “breakthrough device.” Designation clears the way for more rapid market entry.

AliveCor, recently recognized as the Most Innovative Company in Artificial Intelligence, announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has given the company’s KardiaK Software Platform the rarely granted designation of “Breakthrough Device.” This designation means that the FDA will consider the technology on an accelerated clearance track designed specifically for medical devices that demonstrate the potential to address unmet medical needs for life-threatening or irreversibly debilitating diseases or conditions.

The KardiaK Platform screens for elevated levels of blood potassium – hyperkalemia, without requiring any blood from the patient. The technology employs a proprietary deep neural network trained to detect hyperkalemia using data from electrocardiograms (ECG) similar to those captured by AliveCor’s KardiaMobile and KardiaBand devices. AliveCor aims to use the platform to enable home-based hyperkalemia detection for patients with kidney disease, as well others at risk for this life-threatening condition.

“We are gratified that the artificial intelligence work we’re doing at AliveCor has been deemed so meaningful that it has achieved FDA Breakthrough Device status. We view it as a key milestone in our corporate history and look forward to the further development of our non-invasive Hyperkalemia detection tools,” said Vic Gundotra, CEO of AliveCor.

Diagnosis of hyperkalemia, particularly outside of the hospital, can be a challenge.

Blood potassium is tightly regulated in the body and can cause life threatening cardiac arrhythmias and death when potassium levels increase even to mildly elevated levels. For the nearly 30 million US adults with chronic kidney disease, the one-day likelihood of death is nearly 3 times higher if a home potassium is 5.5 to 5.9 mmol/L, and over 13 times higher if it is 6.0 mmol/L or greater. For the 500,000 Americans with end stage kidney disease and on dialysis, hyperkalemia may contribute up to 40% of deaths.

Although treatments for hyperkalemia are effective and readily available – including the recently FDA-approved potassium binder medications patiromer and zirconium cyclosilicate – diagnosis of hyperkalemia, particularly outside of the hospital, can be a challenge as symptoms may be vague or absent. The gold standard for measuring potassium levels is a blood test, but the test is invasive and, since it’s performed in a laboratory, inconvenient for patients. AliveCor aims to enable patients with kidney disease to record an ECG and use KardiaK at home. Noninvasive and convenient, the bloodless KardiaK platform has the potential to revolutionize the standard for diagnosis of hyperkalemia.

Earlier this year, at the American College of Cardiology Scientific Sessions, AliveCor presented findings from their development of an AI algorithm to detect hyperkalemia, using over 2 million ECGs linked with 4 million serum potassium values collected between 1994 to 2017. The algorithm had an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.88-0.89.

“This test, which performed extremely well in our evaluation using millions of ECGs, holds the promise of enabling people to painlessly determine whether a life-threatening and otherwise silent and very treatable condition is present – from the comfort of their own homes and within seconds,” noted Paul Friedman, MD, Chair of the Department of Cardiovascular Medicine and a member of the Mayo Clinic team that co-developed the test. “It may save people’s lives, and save the health care system dollars.”

Whixx

ICT&health World Conference 2024

Experience the future of healthcare at the ICT&health World Conference from May 14th to 16th, 2024!
Secure your ticket now and immerse yourself in groundbreaking technologies and innovative solutions.
Engage with fellow experts and explore the power of global collaborations.

Share this article!

Read also
Balancing regulatory compliance with seamless adoption, healthcare navigates the integration of AI solutions.
A guide to implementing AI in healthcare amid the EU AI Act
AmyWebb-Stephen-Olker
Futurist Amy Webb claims that wearables will evolve into "connectables"
Digital health solutions empower patients to better manage their health and integrate care into their daily lives.
How to improve Digital Patient Engagement to streamline workflows
For people with diabetes, inaccurate blood glucose measurements can lead to errors in diabetes management, including taking the wrong dose of insulin, sulfonylureas, or other medications that can rapidly lower blood glucose.
Smartwatches measuring glucose level: Harmful but easy to buy fake innovations
How to introduce innovation and AI in healthcare organizations if there is no business model for prevention and quality – Our interview with Professor Ran Balicer, the Chief Innovation Officer at Clalit Health Services and founding Director of Clalit Research Institute.
I see no legitimate rationale for delaying the digital transformation in healthcare
Pioneering Cardiac Arrest Detection for Enhanced Survival.
CardioWatch Revolutionizes Cardiac Arrest Detection
Dr. Oscar Díaz-Cambronero, Head of Perioperative Medicine Department at La Fe Hospital, spearheads innovative telemonitoring initiatives revolutionizing patient care
Smartwatches Saving Lives Inside and Outside the Hospital
EIT 2024
EIT Awards 2024. Two European startups are revolutionizing the treatment of cardiovascular diseases
Bertrand Piccard, Swiss explorer and founder of the Solar Impulse Foundation
EIT Summit 2024. What are the trigger points that drive or inhibit innovation?
MMC pioneers wireless monitoring for premature infants with the innovative Bambi Belt, revolutionizing care with improved comfort and mobility.
Wireless Monitoring of Vital Signs in Premature Infants at Máxima MC
Follow us