Affiliated with the Continuum Heart Institute at Beth Israel Medical Center

News about Inner Imaging

The Heart Scan Authority
featured in New York Times Special Section "Heart Disease, from Cause to Cure"

In a goal to provide readers with a state-of-the-art review of the most recent insights into the dangers and causes of heart disease, and significant advances in the detection and treatment of the problem, Inner Imaging was the only scanning facility featured because of its unique patient-centric services.

Inner Imaging is the only scanning facility in the country affiliated with a major heart institute, the Continuum Heart Institute at Beth Israel Medical Center. All of Inner Imaging's Cardiologists and Radiologists are from the Heart Institute, and Inner Imaging can provide the full resources of the institute to its patients should it be necessary.

Reprinted here are excerpts from the New York Times special section interview with Dr. Thomas Killip, M.D., director of the Continuum Heart Institute at Beth Israel Medical Centers, and Albert E. Barrette, Managing Director of Inner Imaging.

 

New York Times New York.
NEW SCANNER TO PREDICT HEART ATTACK RISK.

Medical researchers are constantly looking for new ways to determine an individual's risk for heart disease. One method that is attracting a great deal of attention is the technique of scanning the coronary arteries to detect calcium. "Research has shown that the more calcium in the arteries, the more likely a person is to suffer a heart attach," said Thomas Killip, M.D., director of the Continuum Heart Institute at Beth Israel Medical Center in New York.

"Calcium plays an important role in atherosclerosis. As plaque begins to thicken and harden the artery, calcium becomes part of the buildup and we can measure it to determine the degree of atherosclerosis."

Heart Scanning: the most advanced early detection methodology To accomplish this, the Continuum Heart Institute recently formed an affiliation with Inner Imaging LLC, which will provide state-of-the-art scanning services to the Institute's patients using the Imatron Ultrafast Electron Beam Scanner. The EBT scanner takes a series of high-resolution images of the heart. A computer reconfigures these multiple images and displays them on a computer monitor. Physicians then examine the images for flecks of calcium in the areas where the three major coronary arteries are located within the heart.

Increasing calcification is a marker of atherosclerosis. A non-invasive procedure The procedure requires no needles, no dyes, no discomfort. Another advantage of the EBT scanner is the revolutionary approach to cardiac imaging through its speed compared with the conventional spiral CT (computed tomagraphic) equipment, which relies upon mechanical rotation of X-ray tubes.

Imatron: the Gold Standard of EBT scanners Albert E. Barrette, Inner Imaging's Managing Director, explained: "Unlike the slower spiral CT scanner, an Imatron EBT scanner (such as the one at Inner Imaging) can capture calcium in a clear, sharp image and is capable of observing small changes (progression)." The new technology will play an important role in prevention, according to Dr. Killup. People who have a family history of heart disease, smoking, a sedentary lifestyle or other risk factors may complete a scan to detect lesions of plaque before they impede blood flow to the heart. "People who are worried about their risks will be able to start a program of prevention," he said. "The EBT scanner also will be useful in monitoring treatments because we will be able to tell if they are working."

The Continuum Heart Institute combines the cardiac programs at Beth Israel Medical Center and St Luke's Roosevelt Hospital Center in Manhattan and Long Island College Hospital in Brooklyn.

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WABC TV

Medical Authority, Dr. Adlesberg, investigates the accuracy of heart scans at Inner Imaging. New York.

With a focus on the latest medical services available to New Yorkers, WABC TV's Dr. Adlesberg brought over a million viewers into the offices of Inner Imaging for a demonstration of the new non-invasive heart scanning technology, and a discussion of it's accuracy.

What makes Inner Imaging unique is that it is the only independent scanning facility in the New York area affiliated with a major heart institute - the Continuum Heart Institute at Beth Israel Medical center. So, all the Cardiologists and Radiologists at Inner Imaging are from the Heart Institute, and Inner Imaging can offer its patients the full services of Beth Israel Medical Center if necessary.

Viewers saw an interview with a recent patient of Inner Imaging, and also witnessed a patient receiving a heart scan, with the actual process taking little more than 40 seconds! After a consultation with the Cardiologist at Inner Imaging, where he reviewed the patient's results in detailed pictures on a large screen and discussed her cardiac risk factor, the patient felt that the non-invasive procedure provided the peace of mind that she was not at risk of heart disease.

In commenting on Mr. Adlesberg segment, Albert E. Barrette, Managing Director of Inner Imaging said, "at Inner Imaging, we use only the gold standard: the Imatron Ultrafast Electron Beam Scanner. There is clinical evidence reported in over 2,000 independent clinical studies to support that the Imatron is 98% accurate in the detection of coronary heart disease compared to scanners used by other facilities which have up to a 40% chance of misdiagnosis!"

Those interested in more information about the non-invasive heart scanning services at Inner Imaging should call: (212) 777-8900.

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