News & Insights

The journey from unmet need to novel device is a long adventure.  And like any adventure, it can be full of missteps, unexpected hurdles and surprise learnings.

One statistic shared during TCT 2025 surprised us all: In the next decade, more than 200 million heart patients are expected to be added to the patient base, yet less than 30% of them have access to a solution.

Access to care is the next innovation target.

As CMF co-founder Juan Granada said, “Innovation is the engine that propels our field.”  And, like every other field, it is being transformed by “outside” elements: advances in AI, Robotics and molecular biology.

Imagine solving a disease state before the first symptom arrives…

Take calcium as an example.  Calcium is the enemy of the Interventionalist.  It limits vessel expansion; requires dilation without rupture.

Treatment started in the peripherals and, thanks to innovation, moved to coronary and pulmonary vessels.

Shockwave’s presentation was compelling – taking the learnings from treating calcium the form of kidney stone; applying and adapting them to other vessels.

The key observation: There is a connection between the sympathetic nervous system and the inflammatory process ultimately leading to calcification. 

Now with more than 1 million patients treated, Shockwave continues to iterate and innovate this approach to optimize outcomes and shorten the lead time for patients to receive care.