GE Healthcare and HeartFlow have formed a global collaboration to bring together GE CT systems and HeartFlow's FFRct Analysis system.

The proprietary technology aids in the diagnosis and treatment of coronary artery disease (CAD).

“The deal will let the noninvasive technology enter the “the mainstream of cardiac care at thousands of hospitals that are already using state-of-the-art CT systems from GE,” stated Dr. John H. Stevens, president and chief executive officer of HeartFlow, adding that the collaboration “can ensure that HeartFlow FFRct can be easily integrated into existing CAD protocols and more readily transform the care of patients with suspected and potentially life-threatening CAD.”
The arrangement will give added insight into both the extent of CAD and the impact of the disease on blood flow to the heart. It will also “enable clinicians to select a definitive, personalized treatment plan for each patient and reduce the need for additional invasive testing.”

The arrangement was announced at the annual scientific meeting of the Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography.

“GE has collaborated with HeartFlow over the last five years, and this agreement reinforces our joint commitment to patients worldwide,” said Scott Schubert, general manager, Global Premium CT, GE Healthcare.

HeartFlow FFRct works by uploading data from coronary CT angiograms securely to the cloud. It then uses deep learning to form a “personalized, digital 3D model of the patient’s coronary arteries.” The system then simulates blood flow in the model to assess the impact of the blockages. The results of the simulations are sent to the clinician through a secure interface on the Web.

The arrangement will be used with GE's portfolio of cardiac CT systems, including:

• The Revolution family of CT scanners


• CardioGraphe


• AW advanced clinical applications such as CardIQ, VesselIQ and TAVI

In February, the British National Institute for Health and Care Excellence issued guidance for use of the HeartFlow FFRct Analysis to help determine the cause of stable chest pain in patients.

“The HeartFlow FFRct Analysis provides a definitive understanding of both the anatomical and functional findings, without any additional testing or risk for patients,” Dr. Joseph Mills, Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital said at the time, adding that the “application of the HeartFlow FFRct Analysis is likely to transform the quality of care we can provide for patients, ensuring the most accurate diagnosis and the best treatment plan, as well reducing the need for invasive coronary angiography – a procedure not without its risks.”

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