Today, more than one in five Americans suffer from some form of cardiovascular disease. No longer under an automatic death sentence, most heart patients today will suffer fewer heart attacks, undergo less invasive surgery, and live longer, more productive lives-thanks to the efforts of design engineers who are devoting their talents and energy to improving patients' quality of life.

In this special report on how engineers are fighting heart disease, join us for a fascinating look behind the scenes at the latest technologies and advances in diagnostic tools, surgical procedures, and implantable devices. Specifically, you'll learn about the material innovation behind a new angioplasty- balloon design that allows for more accurate positioning. Read about the electronics behind a new ultrasound catheter that pro- vides doctors with more accurate images of the heart, and a liquid-core laser catheter that eliminates blood clots in the brain. And find out how magnetic bearings will vastly improve the longevity of two new and different implantable heart pumps.