The SMHEART project, coordinated by Prof. Aurélien Bustin (Bordeaux University Hospital/IHU Liryc) and supported by €1.5 million in European funding, has led to the development of the SPOT technology, a major breakthrough in the diagnosis of cardiovascular disease. Published in the prestigious scientific journal Nature, this innovation makes it possible to detect and quantify myocardial scarring with unparalleled accuracy and speed.
Myocardial scarring: the challenge of diagnosis
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) is currently the gold standard for assessing heart damage, particularly after a heart attack. However, in nearly 15% of patients, there is a lack of contrast between the blood and myocardial scarring, making it more difficult to obtain an accurate manual diagnosis. Human analysis is therefore laborious and variable.
“SPOT”: MRI in color
Developed by teams at the IHU Liryc, Bordeaux University Hospital, and the University of Bordeaux, SPOT technology improves the accuracy and speed of myocardial scar detection thanks to:
• Improved contrast: by manipulating physics, SPOT offers unprecedented detailed anatomical visualization.
• AI analysis: an artificial intelligence algorithm automatically analyzes and quantifies lesions in less than a minute.
• Unquestionable reliability: independent of the operator, the system guarantees objective and reproducible measurements.
Validated on more than 500 patients
SPOT technology has been successfully tested in more than 500 patients with structural heart disease. It is expected to transform the management of ischemic heart disease by enabling earlier diagnosis and better assessment of the risk of sudden death.
