Can 3D Modeling Replace a Guidewire-Based Cardiac Procedure?

The CathWorks FFRangio System, which received FDA clearance in late last year, has just been approved by the Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW). Designed for use during angiography, the non-invasive diagnostic tool turns routine angiogram images into color-coded 3D renderings of blood flow in the heart's arteries. Physicians can then use the images to determine whether a stent is needed. “The CathWorks FFRangio System automatically receives the angiograms in DiCOM format from the C-ARM (X-Ray) systems at the time of angiogram procedure,” Ramin Mousavi, vice president, global marketing & strategy, CathWorks, told MD+DI. “It first develops a 3D model of coronary artery using three angiograms. The system then scans the entire coronary artery tree for any narrowing of artery and transforms the entire coronary artery tree to an electrical circuit with each segment (lesion or bifurcation) modeled as a resistor.” Such information can be used to evaluate Fractional Flow Reserve (FFR), which according to Medscape is “the ratio between the maximum achievable blood flow in a diseased coronary artery and the theoretical maximum flow in a normal coronary artery.” “The technology leverages flow dynamic/flow resistance to calculate FFR,” said Mousavi. The 3D modeling captures flow resistance and estimated micro vas...
Source: MDDI - Category: Medical Devices Authors: Tags: Cardiovascular Source Type: news