Siemens unveils ‘truly revolutionary’ AI-enabled echo system

Siemens Healthineers has unveiled Acuson Origin, a new cardiovascular ultrasound system with robust artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities that allow it to identify the anatomy being imaged and anticipate the next steps needed to advance patient care. The new system includes AI algorithms to automate approximately 500 different measurements.

The system was unveiled Friday, Aug. 25, at ESC Congress 2023, the annual meeting of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC).

“This is truly revolutionary. Most of the time with a technology advancement, you can’t say that because it is just a new feature on an old system, but this is a completely new creature. For the first time, the machine knows what it is looking at, so it knows what the next three steps are to help you do them,” explained Robert Burke, MD, director of noninvasive cardiovascular diagnostic imaging for Honor Health in Phoenix.

Burke has tested the Origin system to evaluate and follow up with patients undergoing heart valve and left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) procedures. He also tested the system using transesophageal echo (TEE) during transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) procedures.

According to Burke, the system’s AI detects and understands the anatomy in real time. He said this prevents the need for a sonographer or echocardiographer to search for the AI measurement tools in submenus, which can waste valuable time. Burke said a single AI button on the Origin system can perform hundreds of measurements with the AI just looking at the current image on screen.

Siemens said this is the replacement for the SC2000, its long-time premium echocardiography system. While the company has offered various AI algorithms on the SC2000 over the past decade, these required humans to tell the machine what algorithms to use on each image to automate quantification. The company said the Origin has AI that detects all the cardiac anatomy immediately after the transducer is placed on the patient, and it knows what the next steps in exams are based on what it is looking at when the AI button on the console is pressed.

Siemens said the Origin will addresses the entire continuum of cardiovascular patient care, including diagnostic, structural heart, electrophysiological, and pediatric procedures.

The number and complexity of cardiovascular disease patients is growing rapidly worldwide. At the same time, patient volumes are increasing while there is a growing shortage of cardiologists and sonographers. The demand for structural heart cases is also expected to increase rapidly with new transcatheter tricuspid and mitral valve devices being introduced. 

To address the rising demands, Siemens said the AI-enabled Acuson Origin can help greatly speed workflows, while at the same time greatly improving accuracy and eliminating variability and issues with reproducibility in measurements between operators. 

Siemens said the Origin is designed to minimize the cognitive and ergonomic workload of cardiac exams and procedures, potentially allowing for greater consistency and efficiency for the user.

“Siemens Healthineers is committed to shaping the future of ultrasound imaging by empowering healthcare professionals with the latest cutting-edge tools,” Ajay Gannerkote, president of ultrasound for Siemens Healthineers said in a statement. “The Acuson Origin is the latest example of that steadfast commitment, with its vast array of new AI features and its potential to enhance diagnostic accuracy, elevate patient care and revolutionize the way we approach cardiovascular imaging.”

The Origin’s AI features have been trained on what Siemens says is the the world’s largest cardiac image database of more than 80 million cardiac ultrasound exams.