Israel invention freezes images heart for catheter insertion

Catheterisation, an investigative technique, could help to identify blocked arteries and other problems. But manoeuvring a catheter in and around the heart and other vital organs requires great care, particularly as the heart in constant motion.

The software developed by the Israelis academics could create a virtual image, “freezing” the heart and arteries in place while the remaining organs continue to move in real-time. Catheter navigation could be greatly improved, making the catheter operator's job much easier and the procedure much safer. The technology is different from current software that freezes the entire picture, failing to provide useful real-time information.

While the heart is beating normally and all its structures are moving regularly with each cycle, operators will be provided with a special screen with a virtually frozen heart on which they will able to perform real diagnostic and therapeutic procedures of the heart and its structures.

At the same time the operator will be provided with the regular screens on which the heart and it structures are depicted with their real moving condition. The virtually frozen configuration will enable the operator to concentrate better without diverting attention on interpreting the information relating to moving target. Special software and hardware interface with the regular equipment at the catheterisation laboratory.

The technology was jointly developed by Morris Mosseri, director of interventional cardiology at the Hadassah University Hospital’s Heart Institute in Jerusalem, and Yoav Smith, manager of the Genomic Data Analysis Unit of the Hadassah University Hospital Medical School of the Hebrew University. The ownership of the technology jointly belongs to Hadasit, the technology transfer company of Hadassah University Hospitals, and Yissum, the technology transfer unit of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.