Advanced X-ray system expected to benefit Ottawa heart patients

"Heart patients at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute can look forward to shorter wait times and less radiation as doctors hunt down artery blockages, according to a release put out by the institute Thursday. The institute has just installed a special cardiac X-ray that only requires one dye injection into the heart to map out where the blood flow stops – a 20-per-cent reduction possible because the machine can rotate around the patient as it maps out the body. It's a first in North America. "As part of our research mandate, we are also planning to investigate the full impact of this advanced X-ray technology on patient risk and improved effectiveness," stated Marino Labinaz, director of the institute's catheterization laboratory. In addition, the dual-axis rotational cardiac X-ray system lets doctors view a live 3D image of the artery, which the institute expects will make diagnosing problems more efficient. Radiation levels are also lower by as much as a third, reducing the risk of side effects" - Ottawa Business Journal