Philips Introduces AI Assistance in Heart-Valve Repair Procedure Rooms
Amsterdam, November 18, 2025 — In an exciting advancement for interventional cardiology, Royal Philips has unveiled DeviceGuide, an AI-powered system designed to assist physicians during minimally invasive heart-valve repair procedures. Integrated with Philips’ EchoNavigator imaging platform, DeviceGuide brings real-time artificial intelligence directly into procedure rooms, offering clinicians enhanced visualization and guidance while working on a beating heart.
The technology made its debut at the London Valves 2025 conference, one of the world’s premier events for structural heart specialists. This marks Philips’ first major deployment of AI-assisted guidance for transcatheter heart-valve repair.
Tackling a Complex Clinical Challenge
Mitral valve regurgitation, a condition where the mitral valve allows blood to leak backward, affects millions of people worldwide. Many patients are too frail for open-heart surgery, making transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (M-TEER) the preferred minimally invasive solution.
During M-TEER, clinicians insert a flexible repair device through a small incision, usually in the groin, and guide it into the heart to fix the leaking valve. The procedure is highly intricate, requiring physicians to coordinate live ultrasound and X-ray imaging while handling delicate instruments and making split-second decisions.
DeviceGuide helps simplify this process by offering AI-driven visualization and navigation support, allowing doctors to perform procedures more safely and efficiently.
How DeviceGuide Works
DeviceGuide leverages advanced AI algorithms to track the repair device in real time within the beating heart. By combining live ultrasound with X-ray imaging, it creates a three-dimensional model of the device and overlays it directly onto the clinician’s live imaging view.
This 3D visualization helps physicians see the exact position and orientation of the device, improving accuracy in targeting and repairing the mitral valve. Dr. Atul Gupta, Chief Medical Officer for Diagnosis & Treatment at Philips, explains that the system is designed to enhance physician expertise, providing greater situational awareness without taking control from the clinician.
Collaboration Between Philips and Edwards Lifesciences
DeviceGuide was developed in close partnership with Edwards Lifesciences, the maker of the PASCAL Ace device used in M-TEER procedures. Philips contributed AI and imaging expertise, while Edwards provided clinical insights into device-specific workflow needs.
This collaboration demonstrates a new model in healthcare technology, where imaging and device companies work together to create AI-assisted tools that directly support physician performance and patient safety.
Physician-Centric Design
A standout feature of DeviceGuide is that physicians remain fully in control at all times. The AI system acts as a guide, providing real-time visualization and support, but it does not perform any therapeutic actions on its own.
Dr. Gupta emphasizes, “The AI serves as an assistive tool, with the physician always remaining in control.” This approach prioritizes safety, clinical judgment, and confidence during complex heart procedures.
Clinical and Patient Benefits
DeviceGuide’s introduction offers several potential advantages:
- Enhanced Safety: Accurate 3D guidance may reduce procedural complications.
- Improved Efficiency: Better visualization can shorten procedure times, lowering risks associated with extended anesthesia.
- Broader Access: Patients who cannot undergo open-heart surgery may have safer, minimally invasive options.
- Future Innovation: The partnership model may pave the way for AI-assisted interventions in other structural heart procedures.
Regulatory and Deployment Outlook
DeviceGuide is currently intended for use with the Edwards PASCAL Ace mitral repair system. Philips plans to expand its availability, subject to regulatory approval in various regions. The London Valves 2025 showcase represents an important milestone toward clinical adoption.
The Future of AI in Heart Procedures
DeviceGuide highlights a growing trend: AI is moving from diagnostics to real-time procedural support. By integrating intelligent imaging and tracking, AI is transforming the way clinicians perform complex interventions.
If proven successful, DeviceGuide could inspire AI-assisted tools for other structural heart procedures, including tricuspid and aortic valve repairs, potentially reshaping minimally invasive cardiac care.
Conclusion
Philips’ DeviceGuide marks a major step forward in applying AI in interventional cardiology. By combining real-time imaging with AI navigation, it enhances physician awareness, precision, and confidence during delicate heart-valve repairs. While broader adoption and regulatory approvals are still pending, DeviceGuide signals a new era where AI actively supports life-saving procedures, ultimately benefiting both patients and clinicians.
