Cardiovascular disease is a dominant cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States and acute myocardial infarction (MI) is one of the major underlying etiologies. Acute MI is a medical emergency that is precipitated when coronary occlusion leads to ischemia and then necrosis of cardiac myocytes. The necrosis will often precipitate a cardiac arrhythmia (e.g., ventricular fibrillation), which is a major cause of death for patients presenting in the acute phase. The diagnosis of an acute MI is based on the patient’s history and diagnostic testing, including an electrocardiogram (ECG) and serum enzymes. The faster the diagnosis can be made and the occlusion reversed, the more likely the patient is to salvage myocardial tissue and benefit from improved outcomes.