Regency Specialist Hospital elevates diagnostics with biplane angiography technology

April 8, 2023 @ 10.04am

Regency Specialist Hospital (Regency) recently introduced a biplane angiography system to produce high-quality images while emitting the least amount of radiation.

Angiography is a type of X-ray used to check blood vessels to allow doctors to view any problems. This biplane angiography system goes beyond traditional angiograms and procedures. It is equipped with the technology to provide accuracy when diagnosing and guiding healthcare professionals during interventional procedures in cardiology and radiology.

Explaining the benefits of the machine, Dr Yeow Kee Min, Consultant of Clinical Radiology and Interventional Radiology shares, “The biplane angiography system is technologically designed to deliver precise intraoperative diagnostic results, meaning it can deliver accurate imaging during surgery. This machine has a combination of two different detectors located in two different areas, allowing for improved guidance during treatments. As a result, high contrast resolution is produced at any angle and for any patient size.

“Angiography uses ionising radiation, producing a radiation dose which can be concerning if the dosage gets too high. With this biplane angiography system, healthcare professionals have access to high image quality in advanced 3D imaging and visualisation of details such as vessels, devices, tissues and bones without the need for increased radiation doses.”

Cardiovascular surgery
Biplane angiography provides clinicians and patients with the technology to perform minimally invasive angiography quicker and at low radiation doses compared to conventional angiography machines. This biplane angiography technology provides the opportunity to elevate the diagnosis and treatment of difficult cases.

The technology also has the ability to improve clinical outcomes not only for coronary artery disease but also able to treat stroke and tumours in real-time. The Biplane angiography system allows healthcare professionals to capture, examine, and edit images instantly, improving the flow of clinical work and avoiding the need to move patients to a CT scanner. This feature is particularly vital in emergency situations where time is critical.

Dr Paul Ling Kah Hing, Consultant of Cardiology and Internal Medicine added, “The Biplane angiography technology can detect and produce sharp images of moving objects and high contrast resolution even at steep angulations. This is especially important for complex cardiovascular diseases and their interventional treatment because the machine can still produce high-quality images of coronary arteries even when the patient is breathing or moving without any disruption to the quality of the image. The radiation doses are also reduced by 60% with the optimised x-ray pulse feature, making it much safer for the patient.”

Explaining the machine’s use and benefits for neurological patients, Dr Ganesan Arthimulam, Consultant of Clinical Radiology and Interventional Radiology said, “Biplane angiography technology with its proprietary x-ray tube provides for better visibility of the finer vessels that are located within our skull and brain. Its detector technology with a manoeuvrable C-arm, offers better image quality at any angles, helping doctors better understand each patient’s unique vascular anatomy and disease process. With this technology our interventionalists are able to decide on the optimal treatment approach to obtain the best possible outcome for our patients.”