Cardiovascular Institute of Mississippi cardiologists Drs. Bhatt, Lovejoy, Covin, and Shapira, with CIM's $1.3 million Allura Xper FD20 X-ray system, the only one of its kind in Mississippi.

Michael Torn, CIM Administrator sees great things ahead as the State-approved 1.3 million dollar cath-lab expansion begins. “We are the first facility in the state of Mississippi to partner with Phillips Medical Systems and make this cutting-edge technology available for our patients” said Torn.

Within the next two months, CIM will be able to conduct minimally invasive procedures on the new system to treat a wide range of clinical problems including coronary artery disease – a leading cause of heart disorders in the U.S. These catheter-based procedures are designed to enhance therapeutic results and reduce the risks and recovery time found in traditional surgical approaches.

Specifically, CIM will use the new Allura Xper FD20 X-ray system. This fully digital system enables physicians to capture and view detailed images of a patient’s coronary structure, thereby facilitating faster and more accurate diagnosis and treatment of cardiac disease. Additionally, the system:

• Exposes patients to less radiation during the actual procedures than other systems.
• Enables a physician to have better patient access during an exam as the system is compact.
• Provides better X-ray images through the use of a Flat Detector System for the most accurate diagnosis possible. Additionally, the system’s digital design reduces image distortion.

“Both our patients and clinicians will benefit from the speed and superior image accuracy of this new X-ray system,” explained Torn. “It will allow our physicians to complete a variety of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures faster, and that means the patient is off the table and on their way to recovery and discharge much sooner. It also means less radiation exposure for the patient.”

This flexible system can aid in the diagnosis and treatment of a range of patient conditions and can be used for procedures such as diagnostic catheterizations, stenting, and balloon angioplasty. CIM performs over 1800 of these types of procedures each year.

CIM is excited to bring this remarkable technology to the community. “Interventional X-ray technology is a vital component in the future of medicine,” said Cardiologist Milton Concannon, M.D. “This new technology brings a new level of quality and detail to CIM images which will allow us to offer our patients safe and effective alternatives to surgery.”