Technology Gives Doctors A Glimpse Of The Beating Heart
By Jon Karroll
COLORADO SPRINGS – Rapid advances in technology are giving doctors a better-than-ever glimpse of the human heart. One of the newest pieces of equipment is the Dual Source CT 128. The one at Penrad Imaging in Colorado Springs is the only one of its kind in Colorado.
What makes the CT 128 unique is that it has two X-rays instead of one, providing doctors with twice the information in half the time. Doctor Eric Weidman, Chief of Computed Tomography at Penrad Imaging, says its more comfortable for the patient. “We do not have to give medication prior to the scan to slow down the heart beat, so the patient’s able to come right in, be put on the table, get their injection and scan typically within 15 minutes.”
An iodine dye “contrast” is used to highlight the blood vessels of the heart. This allows doctors to look for fatty deposits or calcium build-up in the arteries that feed the heart. “The plan is to find disease when its still easy before patients are affected so that we can reduce the devastating problems that happen with heart disease” says Dr. Weidman.
Advanced software allows the CT 128 to image the heart while using the lowest possible dose of radiation. The CT 128 can also be used to image the head, neck and just about any part of the body.
