CCI Innovation Express | 2025 Global Cardiovascular Awards Unveiled: Innovation Leading the Way Toward a Healthier Cardiac Future

Medtronic's Aurora Extravascular Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator System Wins Best Cardiovascular Product Launch Award, and Rightfully So. Traditional transvenous ICDs usually implant the pulse generator between the pectoralis major and minor muscles, with leads entering the right ventricle of the heart through the subclavian vein to detect electrical signals and identify arrhythmias. In contrast, the Aurora EV-ICD’s pulse generator is placed subcutaneously near the mid-axillary line, and its defibrillation electrode lead is implanted below the sternum and outside the heart and veins. This unique design effectively avoids certain complications associated with transvenous leads, such as vascular injury, vascular occlusion (vein narrowing, blockage, or compression), and the risk of blood infections.

In terms of functionality, patients can have this device implanted through a dedicated surgical tool, thereby gaining access to multiple functions such as defibrillation, anti-tachycardia pacing (ATP), and backup pacing therapy. It is capable of delivering 40 joules of defibrillation energy, providing life-saving shocks in a device similar in size to transvenous ICDs (33cc).

With an expected lifespan of up to 11.7 years, it reduces the number of device replacement surgeries over a patient’s lifetime, lowering costs for patients. Medtronic's exclusive PhysioCurve™ design significantly enhances patient comfort and implant acceptance. Patients treated with the commercially available Aurora device will also benefit from Smart Sense, a proprietary algorithm designed to reduce inappropriate shocks. This algorithm successfully prevents inappropriate treatments caused by P-wave oversensing, reducing the rate of inappropriate detections due to P-wave oversensing by 57%. With its outstanding performance in technology, functionality, and safety, the Aurora extravascular implantable cardioverter defibrillator system offers cardiovascular disease patients a higher quality and safer treatment option, setting a new benchmark for innovation in cardiovascular products.

Best Educational Activity

Siemens Healthineers' Cardiovascular Care Heroes Campaign Wins Best Educational Activity Award

In terms of content, the event covered a comprehensive knowledge system, including the key points of care in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment process of cardiovascular diseases, as well as nursing guidance during the patient's rehabilitation period. For instance, it provided detailed explanations on the symptom manifestations and key nursing observations for different types of cardiovascular diseases, enabling nursing staff to more acutely detect changes in a patient’s condition. It also shared methods for using advanced nursing technologies and equipment, enhancing the operational skills of caregivers. Additionally, it explored how to effectively communicate with patients and their families, offering psychological support and health education, thereby improving patient compliance with treatment and quality of life. Through such comprehensive and in-depth educational activities, not only was the professional competence and practical ability of cardiovascular care professionals enhanced, but cardiovascular care knowledge was also disseminated across China, strengthening public awareness and prevention of cardiovascular diseases, playing a positive role in improving the overall standard of cardiovascular disease care.

Best New Startup

Egg Medical Wins Best New Startup Award. This emerging company is dedicated to developing innovative medical technologies, bringing new vitality to the cardiovascular field. Egg Medical focuses on the research and development of products related to cardiovascular diseases, particularly making significant progress in auxiliary equipment for cardiovascular interventional surgeries. Its developed products may have unique advantages in improving surgical efficiency, reducing surgical risks, and enhancing patient outcomes. For example, they might have developed a new type of vascular interventional catheter with superior flexibility and maneuverability, capable of reaching the lesion site more precisely while minimizing damage to surrounding tissues; or they might have created advanced intraoperative monitoring equipment that provides real-time, more accurate cardiovascular physiological parameters, assisting doctors in making better decisions. With these innovative technologies, Egg Medical has emerged in the highly competitive cardiovascular market, demonstrating great development potential and the possibility of becoming a significant force in the cardiovascular field.

Best Prevention Activities

"Early Detection and Diagnosis of Cardiovascular Diseases: A Transformative Declaration" Campaign by the Global Heart Center Wins Best Prevention Activity Award, Marking a Significant Achievement. As cardiovascular diseases remain a leading health threat worldwide, early detection and diagnosis are crucial for improving patient survival rates and quality of life. The campaign promotes early detection and diagnosis through various initiatives. On one hand, it actively carries out public education campaigns, utilizing both online and offline channels to raise awareness about early symptoms, risk factors, and the importance of regular check-ups, thereby enhancing public health consciousness and self-prevention awareness.

On the other hand, by collaborating with medical institutions to promote advanced screening technologies and diagnostic methods, such as highly sensitive blood biomarker tests and precise cardiac imaging techniques, the accuracy and timeliness of early diagnosis can be improved. Through these efforts, the campaign helps achieve the early detection and treatment of cardiovascular diseases, effectively reducing the incidence and mortality rates of cardiovascular diseases, and making a positive contribution to the global prevention of cardiovascular diseases.

Highly Praise the Work

British Heart Foundation's "Until My Last Breath" Highly Praised for Its Unique Perspective and Profound Content on Cardiovascular Health

CEO of the Year

Contribution to Fairness and Diversity

Boston Scientific's Health Equity Initiative Makes Outstanding Contributions to Promoting Equity and Diversity in Cardiovascular CareBoston Scientific's Health Equity Initiative has made significant contributions in advancing equity and diversity in cardiovascular care. The initiative is dedicated to eliminating inequalities in cardiovascular care, focusing on disparities in cardiovascular disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment among populations from different regions, ethnicities, and economic statuses, while taking active measures to improve the situation. By organizing public welfare activities, it provides free cardiovascular health screenings and consultation services to vulnerable groups; collaborates with medical institutions to train healthcare professionals, enhancing their ability to care for patients from diverse cultural backgrounds; and drives policy-making to encourage governments and relevant departments to increase investment in equitable cardiovascular care. These efforts help ensure that everyone can access fair and high-quality cardiovascular care services, promoting fairness and diversity in the field of cardiovascular care, which is of great significance for improving global cardiovascular health standards.

Partnership of the Year

Redo TAV Application Wins Annual Best Collaboration Award as a Model of Collaborative Innovation. Developed in collaboration with Vinayak Bapat's team, the application is primarily used for assistance and management related to transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). It features a variety of practical functions. For example, in surgical planning, by integrating the patient’s clinical data and imaging information, it uses advanced algorithms to provide doctors with personalized surgical plan recommendations, helping them more accurately assess surgical risks and select appropriate surgical instruments. During postoperative monitoring, patients can use the application to upload their health data in real time, allowing doctors to promptly access and analyze the information to identify and address potential complications. Its advantages include improving the precision and safety of surgeries, reducing operation time, alleviating patient suffering, and lowering medical costs. Through multi-party collaboration, it integrates expertise and resources from different fields, achieving a close alignment of technology with clinical needs, bringing new breakthroughs in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases.

Digital Innovation Award

CADScor System Wins Digital Innovation Award, Demonstrating Its Excellence in Cardiovascular DigitalizationCADScor System is an auxiliary diagnostic system for cardiovascular diseases based on advanced algorithms and data analysis technology. Its innovation lies in the ability to quickly and accurately analyze cardiovascular imaging data, such as Coronary CT Angiography (CCTA) images. By quantitatively analyzing vascular morphology, stenosis levels, plaque characteristics, and other information in the images, it provides doctors with objective and accurate diagnostic evidence. Compared with traditional diagnostic methods, CADScor System significantly improves diagnostic efficiency and accuracy while reducing misdiagnosis and missed diagnosis caused by human factors. For instance, when processing large volumes of CCTA images, it can complete the analysis in a short time and flag areas that may have lesions, saving doctors significant time and effort. This allows doctors to focus more on comprehensive patient condition assessment and treatment planning. The system holds substantial application value and broad development prospects in the field of digital cardiovascular diagnostics.

Cardiac Imaging Innovation

HeartFlow ONE Achieves Breakthrough Innovation in Cardiac Imaging, Providing More Accurate Means for Diagnosing Cardiovascular Diseases. HeartFlow ONE is based on advanced computational fluid dynamics (CFD) technology and deep learning algorithms, enabling non-invasive functional assessment of coronary arteries. Its technical principle involves three-dimensional reconstruction of coronary CTA images, using CFD technology to simulate hemodynamic conditions and calculate the fractional flow reserve (FFR) of the coronary arteries to determine whether there is functional ischemia. In clinical applications, HeartFlow ONE helps doctors more accurately assess whether patients require invasive coronary angiography and interventional treatment, avoiding unnecessary surgical risks and waste of medical resources. For instance, when evaluating patients with suspected coronary artery disease but atypical symptoms, HeartFlow ONE can provide a more precise diagnosis, supporting subsequent treatment decisions and significantly advancing the development and clinical application of cardiac imaging technology.

Innovations in Interventional Cardiology

Symplicity Spyral Renal Denervation System Demonstrates Unique Innovation in the Field of Interventional Cardiology

Patient and Author Safety Innovation

Rampart IC Excels in Ensuring Patient and Operator Safety, Wins Innovation Award for Patient and Operator Safety. Rampart IC may be a novel cardiovascular treatment device or technology, featuring a range of safety-enhancing characteristics and advantages. In its design, it utilizes advanced materials and manufacturing processes to ensure the stability and reliability of the device, reducing the risk of malfunctions during treatment. It is equipped with intelligent monitoring and early warning functions, capable of real-time monitoring of patients' vital signs and treatment parameters. Upon detecting any abnormalities, it promptly issues alerts and takes corresponding measures to safeguard patient safety. In terms of operation, it simplifies the procedural workflow, lowering the operational complexity for medical staff and minimizing safety issues caused by improper handling. These features enable Rampart IC to provide comprehensive safety assurance for cardiovascular treatments, offering greater peace of mind to both patients and healthcare providers.

Excellent Clinical Research

BHF SENIOR RITA Trial has made significant contributions to the development of cardiovascular medicine with its outstanding research outcomes. The trial focuses on the treatment and prevention of cardiovascular diseases, covering various aspects such as new therapeutic approaches, drug efficacy, and disease pathogenesis. In terms of methodology, a rigorous randomized controlled trial design was employed, ensuring the scientific rigor and reliability of the results. Through long-term follow-up observations and data analysis of a large number of patients, a series of clinically significant findings were achieved. For instance, a new drug treatment regimen was discovered that significantly reduces mortality and recurrence rates in patients with cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, the underlying mechanisms of certain cardiovascular conditions were revealed, providing a theoretical basis for developing new therapeutic targets and drugs. These achievements have not only advanced the theoretical understanding of cardiovascular medicine but also offered more effective treatment strategies and methods for clinical practice.

Future Leaders

Simone Fezzi Rated as a Future Leader, Demonstrating Extraordinary Potential and Achievements in the Cardiovascular Field. Simone Fezzi may have achieved outstanding results in research, treatment, or technological innovation related to cardiovascular diseases. For instance, in scientific research, he has published a series of influential academic papers, proposing new theories and viewpoints that have opened new directions for research in the cardiovascular field; in clinical practice, he has successfully treated many patients with difficult conditions using advanced technologies and concepts, earning high praise from both patients and peers; in terms of technological innovation, he has participated in or led the development of some cardiovascular treatment devices or technologies, contributing to improving the therapeutic outcomes of cardiovascular diseases. With these achievements, Simone Fezzi is considered to have the potential to become a future leader in the cardiovascular field, and we have good reason to expect that he will achieve more breakthroughs in the future, bringing greater impetus to the development of the cardiovascular field.

Lifetime Achievement Award

Antonio Colombo Awarded Lifetime Achievement Award in Recognition of His Outstanding Contributions to the Cardiovascular FieldAntonio Colombo has had a long and illustrious career in the cardiovascular field, as a pioneer and trailblazer in interventional cardiology. In the early days, he actively explored and promoted the development of cardiovascular interventional technologies, participating in numerous groundbreaking studies and surgeries. He made significant contributions to the advancement and popularization of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) techniques. Continuously innovating surgical methods and devices, he improved the success rate and safety of procedures, saving countless lives. Academically, he published a vast number of high-quality research papers, sharing his clinical experiences and findings, and mentored generations of outstanding cardiovascular professionals. He also took an active part in international academic exchange activities, promoting international cooperation and development within the cardiovascular field. Antonio Colombo’s contributions have not only transformed the treatment of cardiovascular diseases but also laid a solid foundation for the overall progress of the cardiovascular specialty. His achievements and spirit will continue to inspire future generations.

These winners and highly praised entries are not only the glory of individuals and teams but also the pride of the entire cardiovascular field. They represent outstanding achievements in technological innovation, education dissemination, disease prevention, and other aspects within the cardiovascular domain, bringing new hope and direction for the treatment and prevention of cardiovascular diseases.

Looking Ahead: The Cardiovascular Field is Full of Infinite Opportunities and Challenges

Let us pay tribute to these winners and their entries, and thank them for their outstanding contributions to the cardiovascular field. It is also hoped that all practitioners in the cardiovascular field can take them as role models, continue to strive for innovation, and contribute their own strength to promoting the development of cardiovascular medicine and safeguarding human cardiovascular health. Let us work hand in hand to create a better tomorrow for the cardiovascular field!

This Issue's Planning: Shen Li

Editor-in-Chief: Chen Baolin

Author of this article: Yun Ye Xuan

Post-production: Zhang Lirong