Caristo's AI Technology Receives Major Approval in Heart Disease Detection

Caristo's AI-Powered Heart Disease Innovation

In a groundbreaking move for cardiovascular health, Caristo Diagnostics has announced the approval of new CPT codes for their innovative technology, CaRi-Heart®. This AI-driven tool specializes in detecting coronary inflammation through routine CT scans, a vital step in enhancing heart disease risk assessment and prevention. The American Medical Association's (AMA) decision demonstrates a significant stride towards integrating advanced technology in everyday clinical settings.

Heart disease, recognized as the leading cause of mortality in the United States, has long been a challenge for healthcare professionals. Traditional imaging scans primarily focus on detecting visible plaques that result in blockages; however, they often fail to identify the invisible factors that precipitate heart attacks. Among these elusive threats is coronary inflammation, a condition that destabilizes arterial plaques and increases the likelihood of life-threatening cardiac events.

The newly approved CPT codes (X409T and add-on code X434T) are set to facilitate the application of Caristo's perivascular fat analysis in clinical practices. This approval allows healthcare providers to access CaRi-Heart® for both newly conducted and historical cardiac CT scans, thus enabling proactive, AI-assisted risk evaluation on a broader scale. With the integration of these codes, Caristo positions itself at the forefront of preventive cardiology, addressing a critical gap in current healthcare practices.

Frank Cheng, the CEO of Caristo Diagnostics, emphasized the immense impact this innovation could have on heart care. "This is a huge leap forward in the fight against heart disease, and a major validation that AI-powered coronary inflammation analysis belongs in routine care," Cheng stated. The introduction of these codes not only sets the stage for wider adoption once FDA clearance is acquired but also marks the beginning of a new era in how heart disease is approached.

Research indicates that many heart attacks occur in individuals with seemingly 'normal' coronary arteries. Caristo's AI technology has proven capable of identifying high-risk markers indicative of coronary artery disease (CAD) progression, predicting potential heart attacks even years in advance. By analyzing perivascular fat captured in standard coronary CT angiography (CCTA) scans, CaRi-Heart® unveils hidden coronary inflammation that could dictate actionable treatment strategies.

The proprietary FAI-Score™ and CaRi-Heart Risk Score provided by this technology deliver personalized assessments of cardiac mortality risk, signaling to clinicians when intervention is both necessary and timely. Current usage of CaRi-Heart technology in the U.S. is mainly for research, but the CPT approval heralds a significant transition to clinical applicability.

Accomplishing such a milestone is notable given that often less than half of CPT applications receive approval. Caristo Diagnostics achieved this thanks to the robust support of medical communities, including the American College of Cardiology (ACC), which affirmed the necessity of including coronary inflammation assessments in routine practice. The ACC's public support highlighted how this analytical service enhances patient management and risk stratification for preventive cardiology.

As these new CPT codes become effective on January 1, 2026, healthcare providers are set to transform their approach to heart disease. The integration of AI in cardiology underscores the ongoing evolution in medical technology, promising a more responsive and preventive model of care. Ultimately, Caristo’s innovation offers immense potential to save lives by allowing early detection and targeted interventions before heart disease trajectories escalate to critical stages.

For Caristo Diagnostics, this is merely the beginning of their ambitious plans to reshape the landscape of cardiovascular care. With a vision rooted in early detection and proactive prevention, the company's trajectory reflects the broader movement towards utilizing AI technology to enhance healthcare outcomes in a dynamic and efficacious manner. Stay informed about these breakthroughs by visiting Caristo's website for the latest updates in heart disease detection.