AI at the Heart of Medicine: Russia Develops an IT System for Ultra-Precise Heart Surgery
Russia is preparing a breakthrough in cardiac surgery. An AI-powered system developed in Tomsk can build a real-time 3D model of a patient’s heart directly during surgery. The technology, expected to save thousands of lives, is now moving toward clinical trials.
Smart Navigation for Cardiac Surgeons
Russia has taken a significant step toward the future of high-precision medicine. Researchers at Tomsk State University of Control Systems and Radioelectronics (TUSUR) have developed artificial-intelligence-driven software for the country’s first domestic stereo X-ray system designed for procedures treating cardiac rhythm disorders. According to the project roadmap, the system is expected to undergo technical and clinical trials by 2029, after which it could enter routine medical practice.
At its core, the project is a comprehensive IT solution capable of fundamentally improving the accuracy and safety of heart surgery. The software allows surgeons to track the position of surgical instruments in real time and to construct a three-dimensional model of an individual patient’s heart during the procedure itself. In cardiac surgery, where errors are measured in millimeters and human lives, this level of precision is critical.
How the Russian Technology Works
The system is built on artificial intelligence algorithms that analyze X-ray images in real time. It automatically identifies the position of endocardial catheters and calculates their spatial coordinates, helping physicians precisely target areas of the heart responsible for arrhythmia or atrial fibrillation.
At the current stage, three-dimensional navigation algorithms have already been implemented. The next step involves integrating fluoroscopic and non-fluoroscopic systems. This approach is expected not only to further improve surgical accuracy, but also to reduce radiation exposure for both patients and medical staff, which remains one of the key challenges in modern interventional cardiology.
Importantly, the software is being designed from the outset as a flexible and scalable platform. According to the developers, it can be adapted for single-projection X-ray systems and, over time, unified with a wide range of hardware platforms, including foreign equipment.
Why This Matters Now
Each year, more than 40,000 catheter-based procedures for cardiac rhythm disorders are performed in Russia. Every one of them demands maximum precision, highly skilled clinicians, and reliable technological support. The emergence of a domestic AI solution for these procedures represents a qualitative leap forward for Russia’s digital healthcare capabilities.
The project also illustrates how Russian IT expertise is moving beyond conventional software into mission-critical sectors such as healthcare, advanced diagnostics, and surgery. Development is being carried out under the federal Priority-2030 program, underscoring the system’s strategic importance at the national level.
What This Means for Patients and Doctors
For patients, the benefits include higher quality and broader access to precision cardiac care, lower complication risks, and less invasive procedures. For physicians, the system acts as an intelligent assistant that does not replace clinical judgment, but enhances it by reducing cognitive load and supporting decision-making with objective data.
For the healthcare system as a whole, the technology helps reduce dependence on foreign software solutions, many of which are either unavailable or prohibitively expensive. A domestic platform makes it possible to redirect resources toward expanding clinical capacity and training medical professionals.
Export Potential and Global Relevance
The TUSUR development aligns with a broader national trend. Russia is steadily building its own ecosystem of AI solutions for medicine, industry, and agriculture, ranging from AI-driven agricultural machinery to genomic analysis systems and intelligent equipment control. These efforts are part of a unified technological strategy.
If clinical trials prove successful, the Tomsk project could also find international markets. Compatibility with global medical data standards, adaptability to different healthcare systems, and growing worldwide demand for AI solutions in cardiology make such technologies attractive beyond Russia.
Looking Ahead
Between 2027 and 2029, the project is expected to pass through its most critical stages – testing, certification, scaling, and deployment in leading cardiac surgery centers across Russia. Longer term plans include the creation of a unified AI platform for surgical navigation and participation in international technology initiatives.
The TUSUR project clearly demonstrates that Russian IT development today is delivering practical, life-changing solutions. Artificial intelligence is, quite literally, becoming part of the heart of medicine – and that is one of the most compelling outcomes of Russia’s recent technological progress.
