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.

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
DiA Imaging Analysis, an Israel-based healthcare technology company, has gained U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance for LVivo IQS, a new software solution designed to help users acquire high-quality echocardiography images.

FDA clears new AI-powered cardiac imaging solution

The newly approved software uses artificial intelligence to provide users with real-time feedback related to image quality.

February 6, 2023
An example of an FDA cleared radiology AI algorithm to automatically take a cardiac CT scan and identify, contour and quantify soft plaque in the coronary arteries. The Cleerly software then generates an automated report with images, measurements and a risk assessment for the patient. This type of quantification is too time consuming and complex for human readers to bother with, but AI assisted reports like this may become a new normal over the next decade. Example from Cleerly Imaging at SCCT 2022.

Legal considerations for artificial intelligence in radiology and cardiology

There are now more than 520 FDA-cleared AI algorithms and the majority are for radiology and cardiology, raising the question of who is liable if the AI gets something wrong.

February 3, 2023
Tiny fragments of plastic are commonly found deep inside the human body. Heart surgery, it seems, is one of many ways these microplastics are reaching their destination.  Surgeons Operating On Patient

AI model predicts risk of post-operative AFib

Post-operative atrial fibrillation was once viewed as a fairly insignificant issue, but more recent research suggests it can increase a patient’s risk of multiple adverse events. 

February 3, 2023
Samir Kapadia, MD, chairman of the Robert and Suzanne Tomsich Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Sydell and Arnold Miller Family Heart, Vascular and Thoracic Institute at Cleveland Clinic, explains why he believes the results of the late-breaking PROTECTED TAVR testing the use of a TAVR cerebral protection device were positive, although it did not meet its primary endpoint.

VIDEO: Exploring the use of cerebral protection devices during TAVR

Samir Kapadia, MD, chair of the department of cardiovascular medicine at Cleveland Clinic, shared his perspective on the use of cerebral protection devices during TAVR procedures. 

February 3, 2023
Abbott FlexAbility Sensor Enabled Ablation Catheter FDA

Abbott gains new FDA approval for one catheter, CE mark approval for a second catheter

Both devices were approved for treating significant heart rhythm issues. 

February 2, 2023

Around the web

Eleven medical societies have signed on to a consensus statement aimed at standardizing imaging for suspected cardiovascular infections.

Kate Hanneman, MD, explains why many vendors and hospitals want to lower radiology's impact on the environment. "Taking steps to reduce the carbon footprint in healthcare isn’t just an opportunity," she said. "It’s also a responsibility."

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