Philips is the first big name to sign on as a sponsor of Cardio Ex, a heart-themed medical video game targeted at interventional cardiologists, Medical Design & Outsourcing reported Oct. 21.
Gamemaker Level Ex developed the three-level game, which familiarizes physicians with common practices like locating arterial blockages, using intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) catheters, interpreting imaging scans and determining optimal stent size. Cardio Ex provides players with a timed task for each short level, tips on how to achieve that task and warnings about the consequences of making mistakes.
The game also tells a player when their “patient” is in danger or at risk of dying, and indicates when the player has managed to save a patient’s life.
Level Ex told Medical Design & Outsourcing that sponsors other than Philips have signed on to back Cardio Ex, but declined to name them. Philips technology, including the Eagle Eye platinum IVUS catheter, Verrata Plus pressure wire and ELCA laser atherectomy catheter, will be featured in the game.
“This is a way to really learn on specialized equipment,” Andrew Tochterman, business category leader for coronary image-guided therapy devices at Philips, told the outlet. “If they fail, they fail, but hopefully through failure, they learn how to treat patients and optimize care. We think it’s a great compliment to the education they’re already getting in their fellowships.”
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After graduating from Indiana University-Bloomington with a bachelor’s in journalism, Anicka joined TriMed’s Chicago team in 2017 covering cardiology. Close to her heart is long-form journalism, Pilot G-2 pens, dark chocolate and her dog Harper Lee.