UK’s NICE set to recommend Heartflow’s FFRct

The U.K.’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence last Friday released guidance supporting HeartFlow‘s FFRct technology, which uses algorithms to generate 3D models of blood flows and can help diagnose heart disease.

Redwood City, Calif.-based HeartFlow’s FFRct technology works by taking the data from a standard CT scan and applying algorithms that result in a color-coded 3D “map” detailing the changes in flow across coronary lesions.

The organization’s medical technology advisory committee released provisional recommendations that support using the FFRct tech in patients with stable recent chest pain which is through to be heart related and have an intermediate risk of heart disease, according to a report from NICE.

“Accurately diagnosing the cause of chest pain is important for ensuring that the affected person receives appropriate care and treatment. The preliminary view of the independent committee is that HeartFlow FFR CT is innovative and using it in practice may simplify the series of tests used to diagnose the condition. Based on the evidence that the committee considered, they concluded that the device is highly accurate in diagnosing coronary artery disease, and that it has the potential to reduce the need for invasive coronary investigations – which is good news for the patient,” NICE centre for health tech evaluation director Carole Longson said in prepared remarks.

The group said that, due to the number of more invasive and complicated investigations that could be avoided with the test, that the system could save the U.K.’s NHS more than $262 (U.K. £200) per patient.

In June, HeartFlow said it launched a new version of its FFRct cardiac imaging platform. The new iteration improves the FFRct algorithms and streamlines case processing, incorporates Amazon Web Services for its cloud-based infrastructure and upgrades the software’s security, the company said.

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