Date: Nov 21, 2013 Source: (
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Syntermed, Inc., announced today that their SyncTool™ nuclear cardiology imaging software is being used in a large global clinical trial for the diagnosis of heart failure. The VISION-CRT trial, sponsored by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), a branch of the United Nations, involves heart failure patients in nine countries (Italy, Algeria, South Africa, Pakistan, India, Colombia, Brazil, Mexico, and Vietnam). This study will include phase analysis for LV Dyssynchrony. SyncTool is a phase analysis software tool that analyzes the benefits of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) in heart failure patients.
"SyncTool software is currently available for myocardial perfusion SPECT and PET, as well as, FDG-PET nuclear cardiology studies. Its inclusion in the global clinical trial underscores the flexibility of this technology for heart health around the world," said Michael Lee, CEO, Syntermed, Inc.
"You cannot perform a 3-D or stress echo in all patients," adds Ernest V. Garcia, PhD, Director of Nuclear Cardiology R&D at Emory University and a principal investigator in the VISION-CRT trial. "But all patients can undergo a nuclear cardiology gated SPECT study." The VISION-CRT clinical trial is designed to help improve the heart failure diagnosis in at-risk groups of people and to improve patient selection for cardiac resynchronization therapy. Given the morbidity and mortality from heart failure, as well as, the considerable resources that are used to diagnose and treat these patients, appropriate diagnosis and prognosis assessment are vital.
Emory University nuclear cardiology researchers have been at the forefront of research evaluating SPECT MPI versus Speckle Tracking Echocardiology (STE) for the diagnosis of heart failure. Ji Chen, PhD, Associate Professor of Radiology and Nuclear Cardiology R&D at Emory University says, "Of all heart failure patients, about two-thirds of the patients getting CRT will benefit from that treatment yet one-third will not. Phase analysis of left ventricular dyssynchrony can help with two critical issues: First, how to select the right patient for CRT; and second, where to put the left ventricular lead." Studies show that the patients respond more favorably if the left ventricular lead is positioned in the right place.
About Syntermed's Advanced Cardiac Tools: Since 1999, Syntermed has added and refined advanced diagnostic software tools as part of the Emory Toolbox. SyncTool for phase analysis /LV Dyssynchrony has been proven to be more sensitive than TDI Echo to analyze LV Dyssynchrony. SyncTool analysis takes just one minute and uses the same data from perfusion studies. The reporting process can also be applied to any Gated SPECT MPI data set or previously stored image, and provides prognostic information from the 3D perfusion images about the presence and location of scar tissue. In addition to myocardial perfusion SPECT and PET studies, SyncTool can also be used with FDG-PET studies for patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy.
The technology for SyncTool is based on multi-harmonic phase analysis research originally developed by E.V. Garcia and J. Chen at Emory University. [Disclosure: Dr. Garcia, Dr. Chen and Emory University receive royalties from Syntermed for the licensed technologies. Additionally, Dr. Garcia and Emory University own equity in Syntermed. The terms of the arrangement have been reviewed and approved by Emory University in accordance with its conflict of interest policies.]
About Syntermed, Inc.: The Atlanta-based imaging and informatics software company serves nuclear cardiology and nuclear medicine labs with its quantification and decision support software analyzing SPECT and PET images of the heart and brain. Emory Toolbox 4.0 (now in its fourth generation), SmartReport (powered by Syntermed IDS), and Syntermed Live delivers improved workflow, new levels of efficiency, fewer clicks, fewer screens, and no redundant data entry. Emory Toolbox is one of the most widely applied methods of cardiac imaging. Syntermed Inc. was established in 1999; Michael Lee is the CEO and Ken VanTrain is President. A full profile is available at the Nuclear Cardiology Marketplace.
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