Cardiac Imaging

While cardiac ultrasound is the widely used imaging modality for heart assessments, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and nuclear imaging are also used and are often complimentary, each offering specific details about the heart other modalities cannot. For this reason the clinical question being asked often determines the imaging test that will be used.

Apple Watch AFib feature becomes first-ever digital tool approved by FDA to evaluate medical devices
Healthcare technology companies can now use AFib findings recorded by an Apple Watch to help demonstrate the effectiveness of their devices to the FDA.
Radial vs. femoral access during PCI: Real-world data show proof of a ‘sea change’ in cardiology
The use of radial access during PCI procedures is increasing throughout the United States, and new data presented at the SCAI's annual meeting suggest that could be beneficial for patients.
Cardiologists and surgeons perform world’s first robot-assisted TEER
A 62-year-old women presented with severe MR and recurrent heart failure episodes. Initial data suggest the procedure was a success.
FDA approves Abbott’s resorbable stent for BTK arteries
The bioresorbable stent, examined at length for the LIFE-BTK clinical trial, stays in place for up to three years before completely dissolving.
Confirmed: AFib ablation more beneficial for patients with HFrEF than those with HFpEF
Researchers explored data from nearly 2,500 AFib ablation patients, sharing their findings in JAMA Cardiology.

Bijoy K. Khandheria, a cardiologist known for his generosity and kindness, dies at 66

"He will be deeply missed by everyone who had the pleasure of interacting with him and learning from him," according to a loving tribute from the American Society of Echocardiography.

February 15, 2023

Ed Nicol, MD, consultant cardiologist and honorary senior clinical lecturer with Kings College London and president-elect of the Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography (SCCT), explained artificial intelligence (AI) in cardiac CT is here to stay and its use is expanding. He noted that one AI-based algorithm is already included in recent cardiology guidelines and more will likely follow. #SCCT

Cardiac imagers need to understand AI as it enters clinical use and ACC guidelines

Most FDA-cleared AI algorithms are related to radiology and cardiology, meaning radiologists and cardiologists need to make an effort to learn how these technologies work.

February 15, 2023

A CT coronary calcium scoring exam at Northwestern Medicine's Central DuPage Hospital in the Chicago Suburbs. Dave Fornell

The remaining gaps in evidence for cardiac CT

While the ACC/AHA 2021 Chest Pain Assessment Guidelines included cardiac CT angiography as a top level recommendation, gaps in evidence still need to be filled.

February 10, 2023

GE healthcare has purchased Caption Health. This added cardiac ultrasound AI guidenance to GE's echocardiogram systems so even inexperienced sonographers and point of care ultrasound (POCUS) users will be able to obtain high-quality echo exams.

GE Healthcare to acquire AI imaging specialists Caption Health

Caption Health has been a major player in the cardiac imaging space in recent years, gaining attention for its AI-powered echocardiography solutions.

February 10, 2023

A 3D intracardiac echo (ICE) view of a surgical mitral valve using the NuVision ultrasound catheter developed by Biosense Webster in partnership with GE Healthcare.

Can intracardiac echo replace TEE during structural heart procedures?

TEE has been used to guide most transcatheter structural heart cases over the past decade, but 3D ICE is changing how some centers image those patients.

February 10, 2023

Abbott to acquire vascular disease specialists for $890M

Minnesota-based Cardiovascular Systems Inc. is perhaps best known for its atherectomy devices designed to treat PAD and CAD.

February 9, 2023

Image courtesy of the University of Missouri Zheng Yan, PhD. He led a team of engineers at the University of Missouri (UM) to develop a new soft, stretchable material that could potentially be used in wearable devices that gather key cardiovascular data. The group shared its findings in Science Advances, noting that the material creates such a small amount of pressure that users will not even notice they have it on.

Researchers design new material for wearable devices: ‘You cannot feel it, and you will likely forget about it’

The soft, stretchable material creates so little pressure that users will likely not even even be able to feel it.

February 8, 2023

Ajay J. Kirtane, MD, director of the cardiac catheterization laboratories and professor of medicine at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center, explains the current trial data on catheter renal denervation to treat drug-resistant hypertension at AHA 2022.

Where renal denervation stands for the treatment of drug-resistant hypertension

Ajay Kirtane, MD, director of the cardiac catheterization laboratories at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center, explained the most recent clinical trial data on this topic.

February 8, 2023

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Cardiac Imaging

Apple Watch AFib feature becomes first-ever digital tool approved by FDA to evaluate medical devices

Radial vs. femoral access during PCI: Real-world data show proof of a ‘sea change’ in cardiology

Cardiologists and surgeons perform world’s first robot-assisted TEER

FDA approves Abbott’s resorbable stent for BTK arteries

Confirmed: AFib ablation more beneficial for patients with HFrEF than those with HFpEF

Around the web