Earlier detection, targeted treatment: Solutions for cardiology

Heart diseases often develop unnoticed over the course of years and are frequently diagnosed only when symptoms appear or a procedure becomes necessary. New medical technology developments intervene much earlier: they make even the smallest changes detectable, help better understand complex findings, and enable more targeted interventions.

Three examples illustrate how new technological approaches can bridge different phases of cardiac care. They share a common purpose, from diagnosis through planning to treatment: to base decisions on more precise information and to make care more transparent and less burdensome for patients.

One approach involves new imaging techniques that reveal even the smallest changes in the vascular system. With "fast-RSOM" researchers from Helmholtz Munich and the Technical University of Munich are developing a technology capable of producing high-resolution images of the smallest blood vessels directly through the skin without invasive procedures.

This makes it possible to detect changes in the vascular system before clinical symptoms appear. The technology provides detailed insights into microvascular function, opening new perspectives for the early detection of cardiovascular diseases. At the same time, it can help determine individual risk profiles more precisely and guide therapeutic measures in a more targeted manner.

Following diagnosis comes the challenge of correctly interpreting complex findings. This is where augmented reality comes into play. In the "HoloHeart" project, funded by the German Heart Foundation (Deutsche Herzstiftung e.V.), patient-specific heart holograms are created based on real image data and displayed in three dimensions.

These models make it possible to interactively explore anatomical structures and clearly illustrate relationships. They can support the planning of procedures while also facilitating the explanation of procedures to patients and their families.

In addition to diagnostics and planning, treatment options are also evolving. At the University Medical Center Freiburg, a procedure called "HeartGate" is being tested that allows for the implantation of heart pumps without the use of a heart-lung machine.

The procedure is performed on a beating heart using a minimally invasive approach and could therefore be significantly less stressful than previous methods. The goal is to make the therapy more accessible to patients for whom a conventional procedure would carry high risks. At the same time, this approach offers the possibility of performing treatments more efficiently while also shortening recovery time.

These examples illustrate how technological advancements complement one another throughout the entire treatment process. Early diagnostic findings, clear presentation of complex results, and less invasive procedures come together to create a consistent foundation for medical decisions.

The added value lies in this synergy: diagnostics become more accurate, decisions more informed, and procedures easier to plan. This leads to approaches that not only improve treatment but also increase the overall transparency of care and better align it with individual needs.

Source: University Hospital Freiburg, Deutsche Herzstiftung e.V. (German only), Helmholtz Munich