AQMed, the health-focused division of SandboxAQ, has marked a transformative year of innovation in cardiac diagnostics by combining cutting-edge AI and quantum sensing technology.
Revolutionizing Cardiac Diagnostics with Magnetocardiography
One of AQMed’s standout achievements is the development of the CardiAQ device, a groundbreaking unshielded magnetocardiography (MCG) system built using optically pumped magnetometers. This device overcomes ambient magnetic interference, enabling precise cardiac magnetic field mapping directly at the patient’s bedside. Highlighted in a MDPI Sensors publication, this innovation makes cardiac diagnostics faster, more accurate, and more accessible in busy hospital environments across the U.S.
AI and Sensing: A Powerful Combination
Dr. Ethan Pratt, AQMed Hardware Lead, emphasized the potential of pairing quantum sensing with AI to denoise complex datasets and derive actionable insights. This application-first approach ensures the technology evolves in response to real-world clinical needs, making it a game-changer in emergency cardiac care.
Breakthrough Clinical Results
At the American Heart Association (AHA) Scientific Sessions, Dr. Jefferey Bander of Mount Sinai West Hospital presented results from a clinical study involving 78 patients with chest pain symptoms indicative of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). The study revealed that CardiAQ, powered by AI algorithms, demonstrated a sensitivity of 86% and specificity of 92% in differentiating ACS rule-in from rule-out cases. This milestone showcases the feasibility of integrating AI-driven quantum sensing devices into emergency department workflows.
Collaborations Driving Innovation
AQMed has formed partnerships with leading institutions, including the Mayo Clinic, to conduct a 150-patient study correlating MCG results with angiographic findings. Ongoing collaborations with Mount Sinai Hospital further aim to advance cardiac diagnostics, scanning over 200 patients to date without any reported adverse events. Dr. Toby Cosgrove, former Cleveland Clinic CEO, remarked, “This is the future of medicine, showcasing how AI and sensing technology can revolutionize cardiac care.”
Expanding AI’s Role in Healthcare
Dr. Kirstin Aschbacher, AQMed Data Science Lead, contributed to a special issue on MCG advancements in the journal Frontiers of Cardiovascular Medicine. Her work explored the use of deep learning models, such as convolutional and recurrent neural networks, to capture intricate spatial-temporal patterns in cardiac activity, bringing clinicians closer to real-time decision support.
Looking Toward the Future
SandboxAQ’s AQMed division is committed to expanding its clinical datasets, enhancing AI model interpretability, and addressing generalization challenges to ensure robust performance across diverse patient populations. Future efforts include exploring additional MCG use cases in cardiology and applying AI-driven magnetic sensing to other tissue types. As part of its global outreach, AQMed is showcasing its innovations on the World Economic Forum’s Quantum Application Hub, emphasizing scalable and cost-effective healthcare solutions.
To delve deeper into the future of AI-powered hardware and its impact on healthcare, read our related article: The Era of AI Hardware: Innovations That Must Deliver or Fade Away.
