PHOTO GALLERY: ACC.23 in New Orleans
This is a photo gallery of images from the American College of Cardiology's annual meeting, ACC.23 Together with the World Congress of Cardiology. It includes technologies displayed at the expo and sessions from the event.
This meeting is billed as the ACC's first true post-pandemic annual meeting, with attendance numbers higher in 2023 than at the last conference prior to the pandemic in 2019. The number of vendors displaying in the expo was also large. Read more details here.
Links to all the American College of Cardiology late-breaking studies for ACC.23
<p>The most popular selfie spot at ACC.23. At one point the first day of the conference, there were about 1,0000 attendees waiting in a line about two football fields long to get a photo in front of the logo. A testament to the first post-COVID pandemic ACC and large numbers of returning clinicians to the in person event. ACC.23 had more attendees and vendor booths than in pre-pandemic 2019. <a href="https://cardiovascularbusiness.com/topics/professional-associations/car… more</a> </p>
Steven E. Nissen, MD, chief academic officer of the Cleveland Clinic’s Heart Vascular & Thoracic Institute, presents late-breaking data March 4 at ACC.23/WCC. Read more or watch the video in CLEAR Outcomes trial shows statin-intolerant patients benefit from bempedoic acid.
Start-up vendor Pericor displayed a unique direct endoscope visualization port system to guide pericardial needle access at the Innovation Hub at the American College of Cardiology (ACC) 2023 meeting. The vendor said the button like port can be placed in neonates so needle access can be made under direct visualization, since the is little margin for error in the tight space. of a neonate chest.
Here are links to more details for all of the American College of Cardiology (ACC) late-breaking trial presentations at the ACC.23 meeting March 4-6, in New Orleans. These key late-breaking science sessions include studies in all aspects of cardiovascular medicine, including interventional cardiology, structural heart, cardiac surgery, electrophysiology and drug therapies.
A The FDA-pending Medtronic Spyral renal denervation system curled into its trademark corkscrew shape to ablate the nerves in the renal arteries leading to the kidneys to stop vasodialtion and prop them fully open. This is designed to help patients with uncontrolled hypertension where diuretics and other drugs are not enough. The system has regulatory clearance already in Europe and was submitted to the FDA for review in the fall of 2022 based on data from the SPYRAL HTN-ON MED trial.
James Muller, MD, a cardiac specialist at Brigham and Women's Hospital, was named as an ACC Distinguished Scientist at ACC.23 for his work in the study of circadian rhythms in heart disease and developing the concept of vulnerable plaques. He stopped by the Cardiovascular Business booth at ACC.23 for a video interview. Muller also has the distinction of being the only cardiologist who earned a Nobel Peace Prize,. This was for his work in organizing U.S. and Russian doctors in the 1980s to oppose nuclear weapons. It was actually one of his discussions with the Pentagon that inspired the term "vulnerable" for plaques. Muller went on to help found a company that developed intravascular near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) to look at the chemical signatures of coronary plaques and identify the ones that were vulnerable to rupture, or the culprit lesion involved in a heart attack.
An interesting addition to the American Collage of Cardiology (ACC) 2023 expo floor this year were several artificial intelligence (AI) vendors with FDA-cleared products. Two of these vendors situated next to each other with similar products were Viz.AI and Aidoc. Both offer AI that can pre-read CT exams and auto-detect stroke, PE, AAA and other acute conditions and send an alert to the acute care teams. These alerts are sent before a radiologist confirms the finding on imaging and can help speed activation of cath labs. Viz.AI also released a cardiology AI app that pulls all of a patient’s data, reports, imaging and ECG wave forms into a mobile friendly format.
Example of artificial intelligence (AI) integration for automated echo measurements and quantification integrated into the Ascend Cardiovascular CVIS reporting system demonstrated at ACC.23. Several vendors at ACC showed deeper AI integrations to help speed workflows and standardize quantification in imaging to avoid intra-operator variability.
Example of artificial intelligence (AI) integration for automated echo measurements and quantification integrated into the Ascend Cardiovascular CVIS reporting system demonstrated at ACC.23 this past week. Several vendors at ACC showed deeper AI integrations to help speed workflows and standardize quantification in imaging to avoid intra-operator variability.
Hemodynamic system from Merative (formerly IBM Watson/Merge) being demonstrated by the vendor at ACC.23 last week. Merative won the Best in KLAS 2023 awards for both CVIS and hemodynamic monitoring systems just before the conference.
A PDA from a congenital heart 3D printed model from the 3D printing vendor Ricoh at ACC.23. The company offers contract medical-grade 3D printing to hospitals that do not have a 3D print lab. The models are often used to help cardiologists better understand complex cases and to help guide procedures.
Example of a FFR-angio, image-derived hemodynamic flow model performed table side in the cath lab. It was reconstructed using three different C-arm contrast image acquisitions. This technology from CathWorks can eliminate the need for pressure wires and adenosine to assess FFR pressures. These measurements are used to determine the hemodynamic significance of a stenosis and determine if a stent is necessary or if a patient can be treated medically.
Example of a FFR-angio, image-derived hemodynamic flow model performed table side in the cath lab. It was reconstructed using three different C-arm contrast image acquisitions. This technology from CathWorks can eliminate the need for pressure wires and adenosine to assess FFR pressures. These measurements are used to determine the hemodynamic significance of a stenosis and determine if a stent is necessary or if a patient can be treated medically.
Example of an automated artificial intelligence (AI) assessment of soft coronary plaque in a CT scan from the vendor Cleerly. The AI gives a very detailed report for all the plaque types in all the coronary vessels. Some cardiology experts believe this may be the way of the future to screen patients for early coronary disease and monitoring the impact of prevention efforts such as statins to determine if more aggressive treatments are needed.
Example of an automated artificial intelligence (AI) assessment of soft coronary plaque in a CT scan from the vendor Cleerly. The AI gives a very detailed report for all the plaque types in all the coronary vessels. Some cardiology experts believe this may be the way of the future to screen patients for early coronary disease and monitoring the impact of prevention efforts such as statins to determine if more aggressive treatments are needed.
Example of an automated artificial intelligence (AI) assessment of soft coronary plaque from a CT scan from the vendor Cleerly. This image shows the AI's reconstruction of a patient's coronary tree and color codes the vessel segments by the amount of overall plaque burden. The AI gives a very detailed report of all the plaque in all the coronary vessels. Some cardiology experts believe this may be the way of the future in screening patients for early coronary disease and monitoring the impact of prevention efforts such as statins to determine if more aggressive treatments are needed.
Example of an automated artificial intelligence (AI) assessment of soft coronary plaque in a CT scan from the vendor Cleerly. The AI gives a very detailed report for all the plaque types in all the coronary vessels. Some cardiology experts believe this may be the way of the future to screen patients for early coronary disease and monitoring the impact of prevention efforts such as statins to determine if more aggressive treatments are needed.
An example of HeartFlow's new RoadMap Stenosis software that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to show areas of interest for possible stenting based on a patient's CT scan and FFR-CT. The software was rolled out commercially in April 2023.
Example of a FFR-angio, image-derived hemodynamic flow model performed tableside in the cath lab. It is reconstructed using three different C-arm contrast image acquisitions. This technology from CathWorks, which has had a lot of investment from Medtronic, can eliminate the need for pressure wires and adenosine to assess FFR pressures. These measurements are used to determine the hemodynamic significance of a stenosis and determine if a stent is necessary or if a patient can be treated medically.
Example of an FFR-angio report. This technology from CathWorks, which has had a lot of investment from Medtronic, can eliminate the need for pressure wires and adenosine to assess FFR pressures. These measurements are used to determine the hemodynamic significance of a stenosis and determine if a stent is necessary or if a patient can be treated medically.
ACC has recognized telemedicine is a growing and important part of patient care and offers information for centers looking to set up telecardiology programs. Read an article on how telecardiology greatly expanses during COVID and how to set up a program and use the technology.
Example of the Quant FFR-angio, image derived fractional flow reserve system integrated with Siemen's angiography systems shown at ACC23. The technology allows operators to image a vessel in the cath lab without the need for pressure wires or adenosine to assess the severity and percentage of stenosis. This is a licensed version of the vFFR technology from Pie Imaging.
Abbott Vascular Chief Medical Officer Nick West presents at the ACC.23 Innovation Hub Theater on a new deep-learning intravascular imaging technology will use artificial intelligence to offer immediate interpretation of what is seen on intra-coronary imaging, which can sometimes be hard to assess. The AI also makes suggestions for interventional cardiologists on next steps.
Todd C. Villines, MD, chief medical officer at Elucid, presents at its booth at ACC.23 on a new FFR-CT technology the AI vendor is developing. It uses an algorithm that assesses the plaques in the arteries to determine hemodynamic flow non-invasively. The company also showed its FDA-cleared AI that performs detailed soft plaque assessment to go beyond calcium scoring for a more accurate measure of patient risk and to monitor the progress of preventive therapies.
An example of the Nipro combined IVUS and near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) intravascular imaging system on display at ACC.23. The system has been available for a few years and allows the operator see a color code and location of lipid-rich soft plaques. It was designed to help identify vulnerable plaques inside vessels and add additional information about lesions seen on IVUS.
An example of the Nipro combined IVUS and near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) intravascular imaging system on display at ACC.23. The system has been available for a few years and allows the operator see a color code and location of lipid-rich soft plaques. It was designed to help identify vulnerable plaques inside vessels and add additional information about lesions seen on IVUS.
Todd C. Villines, MD, chief medical officer at Elucid, presents at its booth at ACC.23 on a new FFR-CT technology the AI vendor is developing that uses an algorithm that assesses the plaques in the arteries to determine hemodynamic flow non invasively. The company also showed its FDA-cleared AI that performs detailed soft plaque assessment to go beyond calcium scoring for a more accurate measure of patient risk and to monitor the progress of preventive therapies.
A late-breaking session being presented in the Main Tent theater at ACC.23. Here are links to all the American College of Cardiology late-breaking studies for ACC.23
Start-up vendor Egnite has artificial intelligence (AI) software to data-mine a healthcare system’s existing EMR and echocardiography patient data to find patients who may have structural heart disease, atrial fibrillation and heart failure. Using this targeted approach, centers can then followup with these patients for possible TAVR, LAA occlusion or other therapies.
Start-up vendor Egnite has artificial intelligence (AI) software to data-mine a healthcare system’s existing EMR and echocardiography patient data to find patients who may have structural heart disease, atrial fibrillation and heart failure. Using this targeted approach, centers can then followup with these patients for possible TAVR, LAA occlusion or other therapies.
Start-up vendor Egnite has artificial intelligence (AI) software to data-mine a healthcare system’s existing EMR and echocardiography patient data to find patients who may have structural heart disease, atrial fibrillation and heart failure. Using this targeted approach, centers can then followup with these patients for possible TAVR, LAA occlusion or other therapies.
Start-up vendor Egnite has artificial intelligence (AI) software to data-mine a healthcare system’s existing EMR and echocardiography patient data to find patients who may have structural heart disease, atrial fibrillation and heart failure. Using this targeted approach, centers can then followup with these patients for possible TAVR, LAA occlusion or other therapies.
AI vendor Elucid showed a work-in-progress FFR-CT technology that uses an algorithm to assess the soft plaques in the arteries and then determines the hemodynamic flow noninvasively. The company also showed its FDA-cleared AI that performs detailed soft plaque assessment to go beyond calcium scoring for a more accurate measure of patient risk and to monitor the progress of preventive therapies.
Cardiac patient and HeartFlow employee Tom Murphy shows off his cardiac CT, FFR-CT and angiogram at ACC23. While he had a low calcium score and was considered a low-risk patient, he experienced chest pain and went to a hospital that uses the Heartflow FFR-CT technology for an evaluation. It was found he was indeed having a heart attack and was rushed to the cath lab. He shows his own imaging to explain the value of the technology, which helped save his life
Image showing the 0.4 mm extension of the blade from its sheath on the Philips Healthcare TightRail Guardian lead extraction system for electrophysiology. The short extension of the blade aids safety. The system is powered like a drill so the operator does not have to hand-actuate the trigger hundreds of times to cut through the scar tissue adhesions on EP device leads. This can make the lead management procedures faster.
An example of HeartFlow's new RoadMap Stenosis software that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to show areas of interest for possible stenting based on a patient's CT scan and FFR-CT. It is designed to help interventional cardiologists see all the areas that may contribute to a patient's ischemia to help make decisions on how to best treat the patient and plan PCI procedures. This software is still undergoing beta testing at several hospitals and will likely be rolled out commercially later in 2023.
An example of HeartFlow's new RoadMap Stenosis software that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to show areas of interest for possible stenting based on a patient's CT scan and FFR-CT. It is designed to help interventional cardiologists see all the areas that may contribute to a patient's ischemia to help make decisions on how to best treat the patient and plan PCI procedures. This software is still undergoing beta testing at several hospitals and will likely be rolled out commercially later in 2023.
A demonstration of augmented reality (AR) for use in the cath lab in the GE booth at ACC23. This is a partnership with start-up vendor Mediview VR. The headset allows operators to still perform their case and see the overhead screen, but they also can project 3D models the operator can manipulate or enlarge in mid-air. They also can place different screens from the overhead screen into the heads-up AR display so they do need to move their heads or take their eyes off what they are doing with the patient.
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Dave Fornell has covered healthcare for more than 17 years, with a focus in cardiology and radiology. Fornell is a 5-time winner of a Jesse H. Neal Award, the most prestigious editorial honors in the field of specialized journalism. The wins included best technical content, best use of social media and best COVID-19 coverage. Fornell was also a three-time Neal finalist for best range of work by a single author. He produces more than 100 editorial videos each year, most of them interviews with key opinion leaders in medicine. He also writes technical articles, covers key trends, conducts video hospital site visits, and is very involved with social media. E-mail: dfornell@innovatehealthcare.com