Interventional cardiology procedures have grown significantly in recent years, fueled by demographic, technologic, and economic factors. According to the American Heart Association, the number of interventional cardiology procedures grew by 470% in the U.S between 1979 and 2003¹. Aging populations have increased the prevalence of CVD ,with one in two men and women in the age group of 55-64 years having the disease². New catheter-based interventional tools (e.g. balloons and stents) allow physicians to treat more conditions and more complicated patient cases. Since these new minimally invasive, image-guided procedures have positive patient outcomes and are less costly than open-heart procedures, physicians are actively encouraged by governmental and private payers to use these procedures to treat patients. These procedures all require real-time x-ray imaging.

The x-ray-based cardiac catheterization system is the standard of care and is the only imaging modality for both diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. It provides real-time images of obstructions to blood flow in the coronary arteries. When an obstruction is identified, real-time x-ray imaging is used to guide the insertion of balloon-tipped catheters to the point of obstruction for treatment by angioplasty (balloon expansion of the restricted flow area in the artery) and stent placement (expanding a supporting structure to keep the newly enlarged artery open). The goal of therapy in patients with coronary artery disease is to alleviate symptoms of angina and reduce the risk of death or myocardial infarction by employing techniques and devices for re-opening the coronary arteries.

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¹ American Heart Association, Heart disease and stroke – 2006 Update
² American Heart Association, Heart disease and stroke – 2006 Update