Image-guided Cardiac Interventions: Successes, Challenges, Lessons Learned and Future Opportunities

Cristian Linte1 and David Holmes III2
1Rochester Institute of Technology, 2Mayo Clinic - Biomedical Imaging Resource


Abstract

Ongoing developments in computing and data acquisition, along with continuous advances in medical imaging technology, computational modelling, robotics, and visualization have revolutionized many medical specialties, and in particular diagnostic and interventional cardiology. During the past two-three decades, medical imaging has evolved from its initial purpose and intended use for disease diagnosis into an interactive tool often used to not only plan procedures, but also guide interventions to deliver therapy. As a result, the diagnosis and treatment of many cardiac conditions that previously relied on invasive tests or procedures have been reshaped by breakthroughs in medical imaging and visualization.

Effective minimally invasive approaches to diagnose, plan therapy or treat cardiac conditions rely heavily or almost entirely on medical imaging, and require the     development of reliable, accurate, and robust tools and techniques at the interface of medical image computing, modelling, and visualization. These research contributions are often the result of multi-disciplinary collaborations among scientists and professionals spanning basic and translational research, clinical practice, medical (bio)physics, engineering, mathematics, and computer science.

This CinC Special Session will bring together scientists and clinicians to disseminate emerging techniques and innovative solutions that comprehensively address unmet needs in cardiovascular disease, and have the potential to be translated into the clinical arena to help improve the timeliness and accuracy of disease diagnosis, as well as the precision and efficacy of therapy delivery, toward achieving optimal patient outcomes.