Autoplaque vs cV8 Diagnostic Ultrasound System

Autoplaque is a workstation-based post-processing application designed for cardiologists and radiologists to view and analyze cardiac CT data. It functions as an interactive tool for determining the presence and extent of coronary plaques and luminal stenoses. The software is intended to integrate into routine CCTA workflow, potentially acting as a second reader and clinical decision support tool by providing automated and objective results.

Autoplaque provides AI-powered quantitative analysis of atherosclerotic plaque, characterizing dangerous plaque and quantifying stenosis from CT angiography. Studies have shown that the AI tool can quantify plaque as effectively as trained doctors, who typically take 25-30 minutes per scan. It has demonstrated high agreement with intravascular ultrasound (IVUS), a gold standard for plaque detection, with a 95% agreement in a prospective, blinded, head-to-head comparison. The software also shows strong diagnostic performance for clinically significant stenosis.

Autoplaque is intended for use by trained medical professionals, including radiologists, clinicians, and technologists, who have been appropriately trained in its functions, capabilities, and limitations. While the software automates vessel, plaque, and lumen segmentation, clinicians can review and edit these segmentations, suggesting an interactive learning process.

Autoplaque aids in heart attack risk prediction and treatment guidance by providing quantitative analysis of coronary plaques and luminal stenoses from CT angiography images. It can detect future cardiac risks in seemingly healthy patients up to five years in advance. The software helps identify patients with a higher likelihood of future heart attacks based on total plaque volume and low-attenuation plaque burden. It also helps in assessing the therapeutic basis of risk-modifying medications.

Autoplaque is a workstation-based software that runs on Windows or Mac computer platforms. It processes DICOM image data loaded from a local hard drive. While the software allows for standardized characterization of plaque and stenosis, multi-site rollout would require ensuring consistent image acquisition protocols and potentially establishing standardized data transfer methods to maintain data integrity and comparability across institutions.

Autoplaque was developed by Cedars-Sinai AIM, and APQ Health holds the exclusive worldwide license for the software. While specific details on customer support are not provided, APQ Health is focused on transforming this innovation into physician-ready tools, suggesting ongoing support for clinical decision-making.

Autoplaque provides automated vessel, plaque, and lumen segmentation that is reviewable and editable by the clinician. This feature implies a level of user interaction that would necessitate an audit trail to track any modifications made to the automated analysis, ensuring data integrity and accountability in clinical practice.