When used with a common heart scan, machine learning, a type of artificial intelligence (AI), does better than conventional risk models at predicting heart attacks and other cardiac events, according to a study published in the journal Radiology.

A West Virginia-based rural medical outreach event showcased the use of point-of-care technology in an ambulatory setting and demonstrated that it can enhance clinical decision making. Physicians used new digital health technologies to diagnose acute and chronic cardiovascular diseases in a resource-limited area, and found that it improved their ability to diagnose common cardiac conditions such as atrial fibrillation and heart failure. Research findings on how this technology-based care impacts provider referral and downstream testing were presented during the 30th Annual American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) Scientific Sessions, June 21-25 in Portland, Ore.

In June 2019, Medis received clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for its QAngio XA 3D technology (QFR). The FFR-angio technology can show the FFR readings in a 3-D image and overlaid on a fluoro image.
In December 2018, the FDA cleared CathWorks' FFRangio System. It derives the FFR numbers from routine X-rays acquired during a diagnostic fluoroscopic angiogram procedure. It is performed intra-procedurally during a coronary angiography, eliminating additional time and costs associated with invasive FFR. The system provides a 3-D reconstruction of the entire coronary tree with FFR values along each vessel.

New technologies have been developed that may replace the traditional pressure wires and adenosine to assess the fractional flow reserve (FFR). This includes image-derived FFR, such as noninvasive computed tomography imaging derived FFR (FFR-CT), and X-ray angiography derived FFR (FFR-angio) that can be performed while the patient is on the table in the cath lab. 

Abbott is recalling the Ellipse Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators (ICDs) because electrical failures have been identified and determined to be due to a faulty manufacturing process, causing some aluminum wires to be partially exposed. ICDs which contain aluminum wires that are not fully insulated are prone to electrical shorting of the capacitor.  The potential patient impact could be the inability to deliver high voltage therapy. There is currently no available method or procedure to determine which of these devices have this issue prior to failure.

The American Society of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT) announced its support for House Resolution (HR) 3772, a measure that loosens certain radiopharmaceutical bundling practices and simplifies Medicare billing for nuclear medicine procedures.

B. Braun Interventional Systems Inc. (BIS) announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Breakthrough Device Designation for the SeQuent Please ReX drug-coated PTCA balloon catheter for the treatment of coronary in-stent restenosis (ISR).

There are always a lot of guidewires used in CTO cases, but they all look the same so it can be confusing as to which is which as they are exchanged out and are all set on the same table. John Messenger, M.D., at the University of Colorado, likes to write the name of each wire on a towl and put the towel on top to keep them straight for himself and staff in the room.
Multiple guidewires being used in a complex CTO case at Henry Ford Hospital.
Standard types of guidewires used in the cath labs at the University of Colorado.
Guidewires in the supply cabinets of the main CTO cath lab at the University of Colorado.
Bins labled for guidewires in the supply cabinets of the main CTO cath lab at the University of Colorado.

Guidewire engineering has become more advanced over the past decade as interventional cardiologists have advanced their trade to tackle much more complex lesions, including chronic total occlusions (CTO). Moving beyond simple, straightforward percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) lesions to harder-to-reach lesions located in tortuous anatomy, revascularizing completely blocked vessel segments that often require guidewires approaching the CTO both integrate and retrograde and at times using a subintimal approach. This has been the biggest growth area for new guidewires technology.

Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT)

In July, the biggest news item was Datascope initiating a Class I recalled of its intra-aortic balloon pumps due to potential battery failure. Most Popular Cardiology Technology Content in July 2019

Here is the list of the most popular cardiovascular news content on the Diagnostic and Interventional Cardiology (DAIC) magazine website from the month of July 2019. This is based on the website’s 261,124 pageviews for the month:

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a new draft guidance titled Testing and Labeling Medical Devices for Safety in the Magnetic Resonance (MR) Environment.

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