NHS Adopts HeartFlow's FFRCT Analysis Technology to Improve Treatment of CHD

August 20, 2018—HeartFlow, Inc. recently announced that the National Health Service (NHS) has adopted the company’s fractional flow reserve computed tomography (FFRCT) analysis technology as part of the Innovation and Technology Payment (ITP) program to help physicians better diagnose coronary heart disease (CHD).

According to the company’s press release, 13 hospitals in England are now using HeartFlow FFRCT analysis, with the expectation to expand to more than 35 hospitals by the end of the year. Additionally, the United Kingdom’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence estimates that the NHS can save approximately £9.1 million per year by using this technology.

The technology works by utilizing deep learning and state-of-the-art data processing following a coronary CT scan to create a detailed digital three-dimensional model of the patient’s arteries. It then applies advanced algorithms to solve millions of complex equations to assess the impact of any blockages on blood flow to the heart, explained HeartFlow in their announcement.

“[This technology] helps to diagnose CHD more quickly and more effectively whilst reducing reliance on more invasive procedures,” commented Timothy Fairbairn, MBChB, FRCP, PhD, in HeartFlow’s announcement. “In [our practice], we have seen how the clinical introduction of the HeartFlow technology is helping improve patient management by reducing waiting times and positively influencing clinical decision-making.” Dr. Fairbairn is Consultant Cardiologist at Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital in Liverpool, England.

The HeartFlow FFRCT analysis technology is approved and available for use in the United States, Canada, Europe, and Japan.