SandboxAQ has announced a technology partnership with Mayo Clinic to investigate the application of AI-driven magnetocardiography (MCG) technology, aiming to revolutionise cardiac diagnostics.

This collaboration aims to combat cardiovascular diseases, a leading cause of mortality worldwide.

Researchers at Mayo Clinic will conduct a clinical research study using SandboxAQ’s non-invasive CardiAQ system, which utilises magnetic sensors and AI algorithms for rapid, radiation-free heart imaging.

The study, scheduled for 2024 and 2025 in Rochester, Minnesota, US, will explore MCG’s correlation with angiography findings.

SandboxAQ medical devices division director Kit Yee Au-Yeung said: “This collaboration between Mayo Clinic and SandboxAQ will further this breakthrough MCG technology for cardiac diagnostics. Cardiac disease is the leading cause of death globally and novel methods to easily and accurately diagnose disease are urgently needed.

 “CardiAQ captures detailed data from the heart, which could lead to faster, more accurate diagnoses and fill in the gap between low-cost EKG or biomarker tests and high-cost CT scans or invasive angiography.”

CardiAQ is designed to meet the growing demand for swift, precise, and accessible medical imaging technologies.

The system’s high-performance sensors detect subtle magnetic field variations around the heart while sophisticated AI algorithms mitigate electromagnetic interference in hospital settings. This could lead to the identification of abnormal cardiac patterns and other disease indicators, thereby improving early detection and treatment.

The CardiAQ device boasts several advantages, including its mobility for point-of-care use, no requirement for special installation spaces, and the ability to operate without cooling or shielding.

The quick measurement process is an additional benefit. Previous successful clinical studies at UCSF Center and Mount Sinai West Medical Center in New York have demonstrated CardiAQ’s potential.

In a recent development, UltraSight announced a collaboration with Mayo Clinic to enhance cardiac care using AI in point-of-care ultrasound.