A man in his 50s recently had a health check-up at the Gangbuk Samsung Hospital Comprehensive Health Screening Center in Jung-gu, Seoul, and...
A man in his 50s recently had a health check-up at the Gangbuk Samsung Hospital Comprehensive Health Screening Center in Jung-gu, Seoul, and was quickly sent to the emergency room. Despite appearing healthy, an 'AI ECG' identified heart issues. Although the doctor considered the results normal, the AI rated his cardiac function score as 56 out of 100—a very risky level. The center immediately performed an echocardiogram, confirmed the heart problem, and transported him to the emergency room. When he arrived, he had a heart attack, but quick CPR and other medical treatments saved his life with no lasting effects. Thanks to the AI's 10-second ECG test, the following echocardiogram (10 minutes), emergency room transfer (5 minutes), and emergency treatment after the heart attack were carried out swiftly.
◇AI Identifies Microhemorrhage in Standard Brain CT… 6-Year-Old Patient Saved
This month, it has been three years since OpenAI launched the generative AI tool 'ChatGPT.' Artificial intelligence is reshaping every field at an extraordinary speed. In the healthcare sector, it is helping to save lives. AI can predict critical conditions—such as heart failure and stroke—that may result in death or serious consequences within minutes or seconds, allowing for timely actions during the 'golden hour.' Medical professionals state, "Although diagnosis has traditionally depended on doctors' experience and intuition, AI now facilitates the early identification of high-risk patients, saving more lives," reflecting hope that AI is leading a medical transformation.
Artificial intelligence detects minute abnormalities in medical scans (such as CT and MRI) or unusual patterns in biometric data that may go unnoticed by human observers, allowing for early detection and diagnosis of cancer or uncommon conditions. By examining genetic data, lifestyle factors, and medical histories, AI can forecast which anti-cancer medications will be most suitable for patients and anticipate possible adverse reactions. This has led to highly accurate personalized therapies that reduce side effects and enhance treatment effectiveness.
24/7 health consultations using AI-driven chatbots, continuous health tracking via wearable technology, and AI-supported telemedicine are increasing availability of medical care in areas with poor infrastructure and helping elderly individuals who have difficulty moving. It is also speeding up the development of medicines—shortening processes that previously took years to just months—leading to advances in treating previously untreatable conditions. An expert in the field said, “AI is no longer simply supporting doctors or medical equipment; it is becoming the key factor in prolonging human life and improving its quality.”
The AI system named 'AiTiALVSD' that identified a cardiac irregularity at Gangbuk Samsung Hospital is an ECG-based early detection tool for heart conditions created by the medical technology startup 'Medical AI.' Kwon Junmyeong, the founder and an emergency medicine expert with a decade of experience, established the company in 2019 following his aspiration, "It would be beneficial if heart diseases could be identified early using ECG alone." In 2021, the company introduced an AI capable of identifying 'subtle data patterns' that are imperceptible to the human eye within standard ECG waveforms.
◇AI Developed Using 20 Million ECG Cases
A 10–20-second ECG produces roughly 60,000 raw data points. Conventional ECG results only show upward and downward waveforms, yet they include tens of thousands of tiny data points that cannot be seen by the human eye. Medical AI was trained on over 20 million ECG datasets and waveforms, allowing for early identification of conditions such as heart failure and myocardial infarction that were previously difficult to detect. The system shows the AI's cardiac function score and risk level (high or low) on the medical staff's monitor. Its accuracy in determining whether further tests like echocardiograms are necessary is 97% (verified in a Ministry of Food and Drug Safety clinical trial). Jeong Hyeon-suk, the center director who introduced the system in January for health screenings, stated, "The AI alerts us to abnormalities within 10 seconds of ECG measurement," and added, "It provides a quantitative assessment of heart failure risks at a level not seen in previous tests, broadening the diagnostic capabilities of ECGs." The company's AI-based ECG solution is currently used in 145 hospitals and screening centers both domestically and internationally. Recently, the company introduced an AI capable of diagnosing various heart diseases, including aortic valve disorders.
◇Gaining More Than 10 Minutes of Critical Time for Stroke Intervention
In mid-June, a 60-year-old man was admitted to the emergency room of Gachon University Gil Hospital in an unconscious state, unable to speak clearly, and exhibiting paralysis on his left side—symptoms that raised concerns about cerebral infarction. The medical team quickly arranged for a CT scan. Typically, a radiologist would require 10–20 minutes to analyze the results. However, just three minutes after the scan, the emergency room monitor showed a message: 'Right Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion Suspected (99.85%).' This achievement was made possible by 'StroCare Suite,' an AI-powered system for analyzing cerebral hemorrhage and infarction developed by the medical AI company Huron. Lim Yong-su, an emergency medicine professor at Gil Hospital, stated, "Every minute is crucial in stroke treatment," noting, "The AI saved more than 10 minutes, enabling rapid administration of thrombolytics and thrombectomy surgery, leading to minimal long-term effects."
Park Yong-seok, an emergency medicine expert and head of the Olympic Park 365 Clinic, remembered treating a 6-year-old child who was brought to Hwahong Hospital's emergency department in Suwon last August after sustaining a head injury. Although the initial CT scan did not reveal any issues, an alert from 'AVIEW NeuroCAD,' an AI-powered cerebral hemorrhage detection tool, pointed out a small hemorrhage beneath the dura mater. Park stated, "Tiny hemorrhages can be challenging to spot in pediatric brain CT scans, but the AI detected it, allowing for timely treatment." He also mentioned that during late-night mass casualty incidents caused by traffic accidents, AI software assists in prioritizing patients who need urgent surgery.
◇Quantifying Previously Invisible Data
The benefit of medical AI stems from its capacity to measure data that the human eye may miss. In the past, ECGs and X-rays were evaluated based on physicians' experience and instinct, with unclear noise or subtle shadows frequently ignored. Nevertheless, AI examines these uncertainties by utilizing extensive data sets and provides assessments in numerical form. In addition to enhancing diagnostic precision, AI is reshaping healthcare efficiency by facilitating preventive care—detecting problems in patients without symptoms and linking them to appropriate treatment. The medical field expects, "AI is reshaping medical standards," and a transformation is imminent. An industry expert stated, "AI will have an even more significant role in ensuring no critical moment for saving lives is overlooked."
