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Royal Free London and Barts Health roll out 3D image analysis software to improve heart disease diagnosis

19 December 2019
The Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust and Barts Health NHS Trust are rolling out innovative new image analysis software to radically improve accuracy rates for coronary heart disease diagnoses and reduce the use of invasive patient testing.

Using data captured by a CT scan, the advanced image analysis ‘Heartflow’ software generates a personalized, 3D model of the coronary arteries to rapidly diagnose patients with suspected coronary artery disease, and applies deep learning techniques to predict the impact of any blockages.

Use of the device can avoid the need for invasive investigations such as coronary angiography, usually carried out under local anaesthetic, where a catheter is passed through the blood vessels to the heart to release a dye before X-rays are taken. NICE estimate up to 35,000 people per year could be eligible.

UCLPartners’ Health Tech Advisors introduced Heartflow to cardiology and innovation leads at the Royal Free London and Barts Health and supported them with implementation. Health Tech Advisors are from clinical backgrounds and work with senior NHS stakeholders to identify priority areas and support the NHS to implement new technologies.

Dr Parmajit Jeetley, Consultant Cardiologist and Cardiac Lead at Royal Free NHS Foundation Trust, commented:

“We made the decision to implement Heartflow at the Royal Free London to diagnose heart disease more accurately, saving patients unnecessary exposure to radiation and invasive tests like angiography. Staff and patients are delighted with the results so far.“

Dr Emma Cheasty, Consultant Radiologist and Clinical Lead for Cardiac CT and Dr Andrew Wragg, Consultant Cardiologist and Clinical Lead for Rapid Access Chest Pain Service at Barts Health commented:

“We have implemented Heartflow under the ITP pathway since early August for cases referred from the Rapid Access Chest Pain Clinic for CT coronary angiography (CTCA). We are continually looking at integrative ways to improve patient care whilst utilising our resources cost-effectively. When used in the right clinical context, Heartflow has proven to be a positive tool in reducing unnecessary invasive angiography and providing a more succinct patient pathway.”

Gareth Cairns, Health Tech Advisor at UCLPartners said:

“We’re excited about Heartflow being adopted at Barts Health and the Royal Free London and are in talks with other NHS organisations about this powerful technology. We are committed to helping our NHS partners take up innovative healthtech in their organisations and invite others in our region to get in touch with us for this purpose.”

Notes:

UCLPartners helps NHS organisations in its region to identify and implement clinically proven, cost-effective products and services that are ready for NHS adoption and spread.
Contact: innovation@uclpartners.com

Heartflow has been selected as a product for ‘Rapid Uptake’ by the Accelerated Access Collaborative and as one of four innovations to be fast-tracked into use through the ITP programme and supported by the AHSN Network. More: https://uclpartners.com/work/healthtech-solutions/