Banner Health has announced a new partnership with Heartflow to advance the treatment of complex coronary disease. The collaboration uses advanced CT scan technology and interventional tools to improve care for patients with significant calcium buildup and plaque in their coronary arteries.
Paul Sorajja, MD, director of interventional cardiology and structural heart at Banner – University Medicine, said, “The comprehensive approach addresses one of cardiology’s most challenging scenarios: heavily calcified vessels where plaque has become bone-like and difficult to treat with traditional methods. By integrating multiple advanced imaging technologies in the near future, Banner Health will be able to offer patients treatment options that were previously unavailable.”
Patients may undergo a CT scan before any stenting procedure. An AI-driven technology analyzes the data to create 3D models showing anatomy, plaque composition, and lesion-specific physiology. This information helps interventional cardiologists plan procedures more effectively.
During procedures, physicians use the Heartflow PCI Navigator for real-time images of calcium deposits and plaque, which assists in optimizing stent placement.
Michael Morris, MD, diagnostic radiologist with Banner – University Medicine and associate professor at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix, stated, “We now have both the technology to see the problem clearly and the tools to fix it effectively. This transforms outcomes for our most challenging cases and provides hope for patients who previously had few options.”
To treat heavily calcified vessels, Banner Health uses an intravascular lithotripsy device that delivers shockwaves into blood vessel walls to break down calcium deposits before placing a stent. This method is similar to how kidney stones are treated.
David Rizik, MD, interventional cardiologist with Banner – University Medicine Cardiology Scottsdale, said, “This care approach brings together our radiology and cardiology teams in a truly collaborative way. By combining advanced imaging with cutting-edge treatment tools, we can now successfully help patients with complex coronary disease who previously had limited treatment options.”
Banner Health is one of the largest nonprofit health systems in the United States and operates facilities across Arizona, California, Colorado, Nebraska, Nevada, and Wyoming according to its official website. The organization offers a wide range of services including hospitals, health insurance plans, outpatient centers and virtual visits. It also emphasizes improving patient care through integrated networks and advanced technologies while providing substantial community benefits as part of its nonprofit mission (source). Headquartered in Arizona (source), Banner Health aims to simplify health care for better quality of life.
