Medtronic to acquire CathWorks for FFRangio non‑invasive coronary physiology mapping

Medtronic moves to acquire CathWorks to expand non‑invasive coronary diagnostics

FFRangio acquisition aims to reshape cath lab physiology mapping

Medtronic is exercising its option to acquire privately held CathWorks, the company says from Galway, Ireland on Feb. 3, 2026, in a deal valued at up to $585 million plus potential post‑close earn‑outs. The move follows a 2022 strategic partnership and co‑promotion agreement covering the FFRangio® System in the United States, Europe and Japan, where the technology is already commercially available. Medtronic frames the purchase as a targeted investment to broaden its cardiovascular pipeline and strengthen its interventional cardiology offerings.

Medtronic says the FFRangio system leverages artificial intelligence and advanced computational science to produce a physiological assessment of the entire coronary tree from routine coronary angiograms, avoiding the pressure wires and pharmacologic hyperemia required for traditional wire‑based fractional flow reserve (FFR). Company executives note that wire‑based FFR, despite evidence of clinical benefits and cost effectiveness, remains underused because it is invasive and provides measurements at a single transducer location. Medtronic’s coronary business leadership says co‑promotion experience shows FFRangio can provide real‑time, data‑driven information that supports individualized patient pathways from diagnosis to treatment.

The company is positioning the acquisition as a way to transform cath lab workflows by delivering broader physiologic mapping to inform revascularization decisions and reduce unnecessary percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI). Medtronic cites clinical studies demonstrating the FFRangio System’s diagnostic accuracy and promising outcomes as the basis for anticipated broader adoption. The deal is presented as aligning with Medtronic’s strategy to integrate less invasive diagnostics into its therapeutic platforms and to scale access to data‑driven tools across hospitals and health systems globally.

Broader industry context

The transaction reflects a wider trend in cardiology toward image‑based, software driven diagnostics that aim to reduce procedure invasiveness and shorten decision cycles in the cath lab. Vendors and hospital systems are increasingly seeking tools that combine imaging, AI and physiology to standardize revascularization pathways and improve resource use.

Deal mechanics and next steps

Medtronic and CathWorks are proceeding under the terms of their existing option agreement, with details on any remaining contingent payments not disclosed. Medtronic plans to leverage its commercial footprint to accelerate adoption of FFRangio and integrate the technology into its coronary and renal denervation portfolio over the coming years.