Doctors hail new non-invasive 3D heart disease tool

Doctors are using a new tool to create a 3D image of a patient’s coronary arteries in a “pioneering” technique to diagnose and manage heart disease.

The technology, fractional flow reserve computed tomography, developed by US company HeartFlow, creates a detailed 3D model of a patient’s coronary arteries from a standard CT scan image.

It then uses complex calculations to work out the extent of blockages in the coronary arteries and if they are restricting the flow of blood — all without the need for invasive intervention.