Big-data visualization software developer Zebra Medical Vision has received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance for its Coronary Calcium Scoring software algorithm for calculating coronary artery calcium (CAC) scores from CT scans.
The algorithm is designed to automatically calculate CAC score from electrocardiogram-gated CT scans, thereby giving doctors information that can be used to assess a patient's risk of coronary artery disease (CAD). Zebra's algorithm can be used to analyze CT scans of the chest and possibly help identify those with CAD sooner.
The company noted that coronary artery disease is responsible for one-third of all deaths of people older than 35, and nearly half of men and one-third of women older than 40 will develop CAD symptoms. FDA clearance of Coronary Calcium Scoring will enable Zebra to expand in the U.S., according to co-founder and CEO Elad Benjamin.
![Axial images from unenhanced calcium score cardiac CT (left) and curved planar reformation images from CT angiography (right) show that higher long-term exposure to air pollution is associated with greater coronary artery calcium and more obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD). Top row: Images in a 68-year-old male patient with higher 10-year mean ambient air pollution exposure (7.9 μg/m3 for particulate matter measuring ≤2.5 μm in diameter [PM2.5] and 17.4 parts per billion [ppb] for NO2) with extensive CAD (coronary artery calcium score [CACS] >1,000 and obstructive CAD [≥70% diameter stenosis]). Bottom row: Images in a 57-year-old female patient with lower 10-year mean ambient air pollution exposure (6.3 μg/m3 for PM2.5 and 4.6 ppb for NO2) with no CAD (CACS = 0 and no obstructive stenosis).](https://img.auntminnie.com/mindful/smg/workspaces/default/uploads/2026/06/hanneman.r6SMLzkezo.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&dpr=2&fit=crop&h=167&q=70&w=250)
