Essentia uses AI to assess coronary artery disease

FARGO — Doctors at Essentia are using artificial intelligence to detect coronary artery disease as a faster and less invasive method, and it's already cutting down on recovery times. Traditionally, to determine if a patient needs a stent, doctors run a wire through the blockage. This can be an invasive procedure and often requires blood thinners. The new AI tool is called "Cath Works" and it can allow doctors to bypass this process by visualizing the artery. "You are able to tell, (to) know if that blockage is significant enough to need a stent. So, if the blockage is not significant, then obviously you are done with the procedure and (the) patient does not need any more blood thinner, recovery time is quicker, and (the) patient can go home sooner," said Dr. Alok Saurav of Essentia Health. Essentia Health in Fargo is the first facility in North or South Dakota to use the technology. ]]>