GE Healthcare and HeartFlow Announce Global Cardiovascular Imaging Collaboration

July 6, 2017—GE Healthcare and HeartFlow, Inc. announced that they have entered into a global collaboration agreement with the goal of increasing the clinical availability and adoption of the HeartFlow fractional flow reserve CT (FFRCT) technology. The collaboration will involve CT scanners from GE Healthcare with the HeartFlow FFRCT. The companies made the announcement at SCCT 2017, the Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography's annual meeting, held July 6–9 in Washington, DC.

The combination of GE and HeartFlow technologies will assist in diagnosing coronary artery disease (CAD) and guiding appropriate treatment. This combination also could help reduce unnecessary and invasive diagnostic coronary angiography procedures, which can be associated with serious complications such as bleeding, stroke, and major blood vessel damage, stated the companies.

The noninvasive HeartFlow FFRCT technology helps clinicians diagnose and treat patients with suspected CAD. It provides insight into both the extent of CAD and the impact of the disease on blood flow to the heart. HeartFlow FFRCT is designed to enable clinicians to select a definitive, personalized treatment plan for each patient and reduce the need for additional invasive testing. The agreement will initially focus on the United States, with plans to expand into other markets in the future.

GE's portfolio of cardiac CT solutions includes the Revolution family of CT scanners; CardioGraph, a whole-heart coverage CT system that is affordable and accessible; and AW, advanced clinical visualization applications including CardIQ, VesselIQ, and transcatheter aortic valve replacement planning to enhance physician diagnostic accuracy and productivity.