AI System Developed in Russia Diagnoses Heart Attacks in under a Second

A breakthrough neural network analyzes arterial plaque images in just 400 milliseconds—dramatically reducing the time needed for life-saving diagnoses.

Scientists in Russia have developed an artificial intelligence system capable of detecting atherosclerotic plaques—one of the main causes of heart attacks—in under half a second. While expert cardiologists typically need up to 30 minutes to make such assessments, the AI completes the analysis in just 400 milliseconds.

The technology was successfully tested at the Research Institute for Complex Issues of Cardiovascular Diseases and reported by Kuzbass Media.

According to project lead Dr. Nikita Kochergin, the AI-based system is expected to revolutionize clinical cardiology by accelerating diagnostics and helping prevent severe complications. It also improves prognostic accuracy, which directly contributes to saving lives.

The system is powered by advanced neural network algorithms developed by the Laboratory for Tissue Engineering and Intravascular Imaging.

The project received funding from the Russian Science Foundation as part of a presidential program supporting young scientists. Its deployment in medical centers could mark a significant step forward in combating cardiovascular diseases—the leading cause of death in Russia.