[AI Revolution](36) Protecting Stroke 'Golden Time' with AI

The Nation's First Integrated AI Solution for Stroke Diagnosis
Reduces Treatment Time by 1 Hour and Improves Patient Prognosis
"Contributing to Saving Lives through Early Stroke Diagnosis"

Stroke refers to both cerebral infarction caused by blocked blood vessels in the brain and cerebral hemorrhage caused by ruptured blood vessels. More than 100,000 patients experience stroke each year. In the medical field, the "golden time" for stroke is considered to be 4 hours and 30 minutes. The brain controls all functions of the body. Missing this golden time can lead to severe aftereffects such as disabilities or even death. In other words, time is literally life.

Shin Dong-hoon, CEO of Huron. He is currently a medical school professor and concurrently runs a business. (Photo by Huron)

However, in reality, many patients fail to meet the golden time. Korea University Medical Center analyzed that “only 30-40% of stroke patients meet the golden time.” While some patient negligence stems from thinking “this should be fine,” chronic manpower shortages are a major issue. Last year, a nurse at Seoul Asan Medical Center collapsed from cerebral hemorrhage while on duty and tragically died due to the absence of related medical staff. Neurosurgery, which oversees the brain, is classified as a representative “minor department,” competing for the top spots in avoidance rankings.

There is a company that has introduced an AI (artificial intelligence) solution to assist medical staff with stroke. The software company is ‘Huron.’ Huron’s integrated AI diagnostic support solution for stroke recently received Class 3 approval from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. Huron is the first company in Korea to provide such a solution. Huron stated, “Stroke support AI solutions are now in their infancy,” and “Our solution is a leading technology even on a global scale.” Recognized for its excellent technology, the company has attracted investments totaling 33.8 billion KRW.

Huron’s stroke AI solution integrates three software programs: ‘Huron ICH,’ which determines whether it is cerebral hemorrhage or cerebral infarction; ‘Huron ELVO,’ which identifies the specific area affected in cases of cerebral infarction; and ‘Huron ASPECTS,’ which scores the severity of cerebral infarction. Each solution has undergone clinical phases and is preparing for practical application. To this end, Huron has signed MOUs (Memorandums of Understanding) with Ajou University Hospital and Gyeonggi Provincial Medical Center Anseong Hospital.

The greatest advantage of Huron’s solution is that it can determine whether it is cerebral hemorrhage or cerebral infarction using only non-contrast CT images. Currently, accurate diagnosis requires contrast-enhanced CT scans, which involve injecting contrast agents. However, injecting contrast agents causes blood vessels to dilate, which can worsen the condition of patients suspected of cerebral hemorrhage. By enabling AI to make a judgment within minutes using only non-contrast CT, this reduces risk and helps maintain the “golden time.” If cerebral hemorrhage is diagnosed, emergency surgery can be performed immediately, and if cerebral infarction is diagnosed, the AI precisely identifies the blocked area, allowing for rapid emergency treatment. In the UK, where AI solutions have already been adopted, research (NHS report) shows that treatment time was reduced by one hour and patient prognosis improved threefold.

Huron’s solution boasts over 90% accuracy. This achievement was recognized with publication in the SCI-level international journal JNIS. Huron’s medical AI technology does not stop there. The company also developed the world’s first MRI-based Parkinson’s disease diagnostic support AI software, ‘Huron IPD,’ which has received certification from medical authorities in the United States and Europe. Including this, Huron possesses more than ten different solutions.

The person leading the integration of brain-related disease treatment and AI is Shin Dong-hoon, CEO of Huron. As a professor of neurology at Gachon University Gil Medical Center, he encountered AI technology while conducting research projects for the Ministry of Health and Welfare and decided to start a business to help patients. That was in 2017. Currently, the company has about 50 employees, with more than half working in R&D. CEO Shin continues his business while maintaining his professorship.

CEO Shin said, “The stroke AI solution is significant in that it can contribute to early diagnosis of stroke and saving patients’ lives in communities with low medical accessibility,” and added, “Going forward, Huron will seek various collaborations to enable its solutions to be active in medical sites nationwide.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.