A new high speed CT scanner will help physicians at Willamette Valley Medical Center quickly diagnose patients in life-threatening situations, when seconds matter, as well as complete more accurate exams of the heart, brain, blood vessels and organs.

The new, state-of-the-art VCT (Volume Computed Tomography) scanner is a non-invasive imaging system from GE Healthcare that is faster than any other CT scanner on the market today. It can capture images of whole organs in seconds, the heart in 5 beats or go head-to-toe in under 10 seconds.

According to Clint Gabrys, director of diagnostic imaging and radiation oncology at Willamette Valley Medical Center, speed is crucial for certain diagnoses. "The new CT scanner gives our physicians the tools to diagnose in seconds whether the patient is having a heart attack or a stroke, or if the patient's chest pain is caused by a blood clot, a tear or blockage in a blood vessel," he explained. "In these instances, the faster the diagnosis, the faster the physician can begin appropriate treatment. The quick response time means better care for our patients. The investment in new technology directly benefits patient care."

Gabrys also noted that the new equipment will be helpful for the patients who experience anxiety when they have to undergo a scan. "For those patients, if we can reduce the time, we can also reduce their stress and provide for them a better experience." The scanner table's ergonomic design also contributes to patient comfort. It has a longer scannable range and allows for flexible patient positioning and higher patient weight capacity.

The new CT scanner also provides enhanced quality images. At 350 milliseconds per rotation, the scanner creates 64 credit card-thin images that are very high resolution and have great detail to give physicians more complete information. In addition to the scanner, new software from TeraRecon provides fantastic 3-dimensional images for physicians, just like those found in medical textbooks. Because of its speed and precision, the new scanner also enables new applications in the heart, brain and blood vessels.

"When new technology can enhance patient care, we think it's important to incorporate that technology," added Gabrys.