| STAMFORD, CT - May 7, 2009 Stamford Hospital now employs the new iLab™ Ultrasound Imaging System to provide improved diagnosis and treatment of patients with coronary artery disease (CAD).
CAD, the leading cause of death for both women and men in the United States, affects more than 13 million Americans and is a result of atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries. Atherosclerosis occurs when arteries become clogged or narrowed by fatty deposits (plaque) that restrict blood flow to the heart. Without adequate blood, the heart is deprived of oxygen and the vital nutrients it needs to work properly.
The iLab Intravascular Ultrasound Imaging System uses high-frequency sound waves that reflect off tissue in the arterial walls and provide physicians with a cross-sectional view of the internal structure of the coronary arteries. Intravascular ultrasound shows physicians where the healthy arterial wall ends and the plaque begins. This three-dimensional image also helps doctors better understand the size and shape of a lesion blocking the artery, guides placement of stents (tiny mesh tubes used to restore blood flow to the heart) and provides information about how well the treatment worked.
"The iLab System provides an excellent view of the patient's coronary artery disease from inside of the body, giving a clear understanding of the composition of the plaque and helping to determine the best diagnosis and treatment path," said Dr. Ted Portnay, medical director for Stamford Hospital's cardiac catheterization labs.
Intravascular ultrasound is performed during a cardiac catheterization, when a catheter is inserted into an artery in a patient's groin area and moved up to the heart. When this procedure is used in combination with angiography, the most common way to view arteries involving a two-dimensional X-ray, it provides a more complete picture of the diseased artery and helps the cardiologist to determine the best treatment option.
iLab is manufactured by Boston Scientific, a worldwide developer, manufacturer and marketer of medical devices whose products are used in a broad range of interventional medical specialties. For more information, please visit www.bostonscientific.com.
Stamford Hospital is a not-for-profit provider of comprehensive healthcare services in lower Fairfield County and the region. The mission of Stamford Hospital is to provide, together with its physicians, a broad range of high quality health and wellness services focused on the needs of our communities. Stamford Hospital is a Magnet Hospital and a member of the Planetree Alliance, a group of hospitals nationwide focused on patient-centered care. Stamford Hospital is affiliated with New York Presbyterian Health System and is a major teaching affiliate of the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons.
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