The software calculates left ventricular function in real time from handheld ultrasound exams, aiming to reduce reliance on visual estimation and operator experience.
Clarius Mobile Health announced the availability of its new Ejection Fraction AI, which has been cleared by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The tool is integrated into the Clarius Ultrasound App to provide clinicians with automated, objective measurements of left ventricular function.
The software calculates and displays ejection fraction in real time from standard cardiac windows. This approach is intended to remove the subjectivity of visual estimation, which often depends on the skill level of the operator. The tool was developed using thousands of cardiac ultrasound images annotated by clinicians to support consistent assessments across various patient types.
“Quantifying cardiac function has historically required a high level of sonography expertise or a wait for formal echocardiography,” says Sarah Leverett, vice president of marketing, in a release. “By integrating Ejection Fraction AI into our wireless scanners, we are providing an objective anchor for clinicians. This tool allows them to move from a subjective guess to a data-driven diagnosis in seconds.”
Applications in Primary Care and Emergency Medicine
The American Academy of Family Physicians recently recognized cardiac point-of-care ultrasound as a core clinical competency. The AI tool provides primary care clinicians with a marker of disease progression, allowing them to identify declines in heart function before a patient reaches a crisis point. Identifying an EF below 40%, which may indicate heart failure, can trigger medical therapy and specialist referrals earlier.
In emergency and critical care settings, the tool is designed to deliver information within a 90-second window for resuscitation guidance. It assists in evaluating shortness of breath, septic shock, and trauma, ensuring that fluid resuscitation and medication are based on real-time cardiac data.
“The ability to receive a calculated [ejection fraction] just from a parasternal long or four-chamber view is magical,” says Brian Johnson, an emergency physician at Valley Medical Center in Renton, Washington, who tested the technology, in a release.
Device Compatibility and Availability
The Ejection Fraction AI is available in the US and other countries for users of the Clarius PA, PAL, and C3 HD3 wireless ultrasound scanners. Access is provided through the latest app update for users with a Clarius Membership or one-time license.
According to the company, the system is designed to accelerate diagnosis by providing results across different patient body types and image qualities. It integrates into the existing workflow, requiring minimal steps from the time the probe is placed on the patient to the final result. The technology also aims to improve access to cardiac monitoring in rural or underserved communities where wait times for formal echocardiography are often prohibitive.
Photo caption: Ejection Fraction AI
Photo credit: Clarius Mobile Health
