Imagine your heart is a nightclub. Normally, the DJ — your sinoatrial node — keeps the rhythm tight, the dance floor flowing, and everything pulsing in sync. But with atrial fibrillation (AF), the beat gets hijacked. Now there are strobe lights, conflicting tempos, and total chaos in the upper chambers. And when the beat’s broken, the consequences can be deadly.
AF is the most common heart rhythm disorder in the world, affecting 1–2% of the global population — and that number skyrockets as we age. By the time you hit your 80s, the chance of developing AF climbs to 15%. But it’s not just about irregular heartbeats. Left unchecked, AF increases your risk of stroke by up to five times, and can snowball into full-blown heart failure. This is not your garden-variety heart flutter — it’s serious business
One of the leading treatments for AF is catheter ablation — a procedure where doctors insert a catheter into the heart and literally burn (or freeze) the tissue causing the electrical chaos. The goal? Shut down the rogue signals and reboot the rhythm.
But here’s the catch: the human heart doesn’t exactly come with GPS coordinates for “problem area: burn here.” Cardiologists must identify regions with abnormal electrical activity called CFAEs — Complex Fractionated Atrial Electrograms. Finding them is part science, part art, and part surgeon’s intuition.
“Detecting these abnormalities is extremely difficult,” explains Associate Professor Supan Tungjitkusolmun, one of the project’s lead researchers. “It requires years of experience, and not all cardiac surgeons have that level of skill. Even for the most seasoned experts, it's easy to miss.”
Researchers at CMKL University are rewriting the playbook with an AI-powered heart mapping system that could change how catheter ablation is done — forever.
This system employs five specialized AI engines to analyze data, predict ideal ablation sites, and assist doctors in real time. It’s like putting a digital co-pilot inside the operating room — one that doesn’t get tired, distracted, or overwhelmed.
“My goal has always been to use AI to help people — in any way I can,” says Assoc. Prof. Supan. “And in cardiology, this is where AI can make the most impact. It adds precision, speed, and confidence where doctors would otherwise have to rely on judgment alone.”
Getting a heart procedure wrong isn’t just inconvenient — it can be fatal. Repeat ablations, misfires, and missed signals lead to longer surgeries, more complications, and poorer outcomes.
By contrast, AI can:
“If this system becomes available in hospitals,” Assoc. Prof. Supan adds, “it could dramatically improve quality of life for patients with heart disease. That’s the ultimate goal — not just to treat, but to help them live better.”
This technology doesn’t replace doctors — it empowers them. It gives surgeons more information, sharper precision, and fewer risks. What was once a high-stakes guessing game becomes a smart, AI-guided strategy.
For patients, it’s a second chance at rhythm.
For cardiologists, it’s the trusted copilot they didn’t know they needed — precise, tireless, and always there.
For science? It’s a testament to how innovation and medical insight together can push the boundaries of what’s treatable — and what’s imaginable.
Co-developed between CMKL University and Bumrungrad Hospital, this AI-powered heart mapping project is a groundbreaking example of interdisciplinary collaboration — bringing together engineering, AI, and medical science for a future where hearts beat stronger, and smarter.
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