The images, gathered during a routine angiogram, are fed into a supercomputer. Within 24 hours, a model of a person’s artery is 3D printed. This gives cardiologists crucial information about the behaviour of blood flow and the precise structure of the artery from the inside.
It also helps them make decisions about the best stent (the device used to hold open a collapsed or blocked artery) to insert.
The technique can also detect ‘hot spots’ for plaque, the waxy substance that builds up in arteries and causes heart disease. Some of these plaques have been difficult to find using traditional techniques.
The potential use of supercomputers for personalised medicine is described in an academic paper published today in the European Heart Journal.
Heart disease remains the number one killer in Australia, affecting one in every six adults.. Every nine minutes, a person suffers a heart attack. New techniques to predict plaque build up in the heart will be essential to reduce this toll.
Lead author, University of Melbourne Associate Professor Peter Barlis, is an interventional cardiologist with St Vincent’s and Northern Hospitals.
“Using our ultrasensitive heart scans combined with models derived using supercomputers, we are now able to print out segments of the patient’s arteries and hope to tailor devices to fit them perfectly,” Assoc Prof Barlis said.
“No two arteries are shaped the same. We’re all different, with arteries that have different branches and sizes, tapering from larger to smaller. And much like debris accumulates along a riverbank, plaque can cling to certain areas of a person’s artery. So this technology really gives us a clearer picture of those areas.
“We ideally want to use models to predict the best type of stent for a patient. Once this process is streamlined, we can have a patient on the table and an artery 3D printed and modeled to guide the procedure.”
Identifying which plaques go on to cause a heart attack remains the ‘holy grail’ of cardiology.
“Using a super-high resolution camera, known as optical coherence tomography (OCT), to scan the insides of the heart arteries has made it easier to image cholesterol plaques, but it still isn’t clear which of these plaques will go on to cause heart attacks.
“If we can identify these high-risk plaques more accurately and much earlier, we may be able to prevent heart attacks before they occur.”
Associate Professor Barlis introduced OCT to Australia in 2009 and has been refining the technology to benefit cardiac patients since. He says 3D modelling has very promising potential to predict where plaques could form and will ultimately help cardiologists predict heart attacks.
Co-author and University of Melbourne researcher Dr Vikas Thondapu says the clues about dangerous cholesterol plaques lie in certain disturbances in blood flow patterns.
“Our work involves using supercomputers to simulate blood flow in the arteries. The goal is to use blood flow patterns and disturbances to potentially predict the future development of high-risk plaques,” Dr Thondapu said.
Assoc Prof Barlis and his team now have two ARC grants to work with the University’s Engineering School, to find a biocompatible polymer to 3D print heart stents to precisely match a person’s physical makeup, reducing the risk of stent collapse or complications.
They are also interested in new polymers that will allow the stent to slowly disintegrate over time and that can deliver drugs directly to the location of the plaque.
Learn more: Cardiologists use 3D printing to personalise treatment for heart disease
The Latest on: Personalised treatment for heart disease
[google_news title=”” keyword=”personalised treatment for heart disease” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
via Google News
The Latest on: Personalised treatment for heart disease
- Health-tech firm ZS unveils data science's role in personalised treatments and streamlined trialson April 27, 2024 at 5:26 am
Manish Menon of ZS discusses the transformative impact of data science in healthcare. He highlights its role in personalized treatments, streamlined clinical trials, and predicts breakthroughs in AI ...
- Spotlight on kidney disease: driving change for patientson April 26, 2024 at 4:34 am
Fast forward to 2033, and the number of patients with end stage kidney disease requiring dialysis could increase by nearly 400% to 143,000 and the total economic burden of kidney disease on the UK ...
- Dame Deborah James’ family pen urgent letter calling for action to ‘give cancer patients more time with loved ones’on April 25, 2024 at 5:12 am
DAME Deborah James’ family are today calling for urgent action to give more cancer patients precious time with their loved ones. In a letter to the leaders of all political parties, the Sun ...
- Embrace digitisation in healthcare for better outcomes - expertson April 24, 2024 at 9:31 am
Speaking at a Nairobi forum, they said tech revolution will simplify and make healthcare more affordable and offer personalised solutions ...
- Innovative Heart Disease Calculator Shows Promise in Identifying High-Risk Patients Overlooked by Current Tools, Potentially Saving Liveson April 23, 2024 at 6:35 pm
Experts have developed a new tool, called QR4, that more accurately predicts an individual's ten-year risk of cardiovascular diseases, like heart disease and stroke, particularly identifying high-risk ...
- Don’t snooze, time to wake up to sleep issueson April 22, 2024 at 4:58 pm
BENGALURU:" Stress, modern life demands and a 24/7 work culture are taking a toll on the quality and quantity of sleep in individuals. As a result, sleep disord ...
- Managing Diabetes: The Worst Foods To Eat on an Empty Stomachon April 18, 2024 at 10:03 pm
Consuming black pepper on an empty stomach may enhance its effectiveness. When the stomach is empty, the absorption of nutrients and bioactive compounds is optimised. This includes piperine from black ...
- India's ancient tradition that aligns mind, body and spirit – and where to experience iton April 18, 2024 at 6:00 am
Ayurveda originated in India more than 3,000 years ago, and the southern state of Kerala is at the heart of this ancient medicine system's renaissance.
- Nearly 30% Indians Have Never Measured Their Blood Pressure: Know Risks And Recommendationson April 17, 2024 at 12:41 am
An ICMR-NCDIR study reveals that nearly 30 of people in India have never had their blood pressure checked Know the risks and what can be done ...
- What's the difference between a dietician and a nutritioniston April 12, 2024 at 6:30 pm
Dieticians and nutritionists have distinct roles in healthcare. Dieticians focus on medical nutrition therapy, while nutritionists emphasize preventive health. Both professionals contribute to better ...
via Bing News