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Pocket-sized scanner captures images in seconds Continued from page 1 3 · Thursday, April 15, 2010 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.oakvillebeaver.com "I saw it there and I was very impressed with it. It wasn't released yet. It was just demonstrated as a future product," he said. Zawadowski kept his eye on the product and in the meantime, he researched various manufactures of ultrasound equipment. "We have three ultrasound machines that are the full size machines," he said. "This time when we were looking to purchase, we did a competitive evaluation between various manufactures and one of them was General Electric. We were already working with General Electric on the replacement of our main office unit and so right about at that time, I found out that the product was released and we jumped at it." Core Cardiology received the unit on March 23. "We've had it now for a couple of weeks," said Zawadowski. "It's very easy to manipulate by one person. It uses iPod-like features. You have simple menus. It's got touch technology. So you just put that on the patient's chest and again, you have to know how to get the picture. Within 30 seconds, you have a basic image of the heart and the flow." Zawadowski first used the unit on a patient that was referred for a stress test, but had no medical history with the health centre. "The electrocardiogram was definitely abnormal, but was not abnormal in a specific way. So it wouldn't tell me whether he had a heart attack or not," he said. "I whip out this little thing from my pocket, put the probe on the patient's chest, and I don't think it was more than 15 seconds when I knew that he had a past heart attack. I could be prepared for any emergency that might arise while we're doing the stress test." Vince Campagnoni, cardiovascular ultrasound account executive at General Electric Health Care, said the unit works similar to larger ultrasound machines. "The probe is similar to probes that are used on the larger machines with crystal technology," he said. "It's called echo, so it transmits and receives sound waves. The crystals then direct that to the electronics within the Vscan unit and then it transmits that into imaging." Campagnoni said the Vscan retails for $8,600. Zawadowski explained that only spe- (Vscan) does is provides me the opportunity to apply to the point of care, so I don't have to refer the patient to come back to have an ultrasound." Zawadowski said the Vscan can't replace a full ultrasound unit. "The point that needs to be made is that this unit provides basic information that's very sophisticated in its right," he said. "It can't, by its very nature, replace a full ultrasound unit. What it allows me to do is extend my physical examinations. So when I examine the patient, I can add on this feature, which broadens my assessment of the patient right in the examining room, in the emergency room, or even on the plane." Zawadowski said he is very impressed with the unit and is happy he purchased it. "There's definitely a future for this product but how it's going to be defined in Canada, that's still to be determined." Core Cardiology Services is located at 1060 Speers Rd. Call 905-842-6084. NIKKI WESLEY / OAKVILLE BEAVER SCANNER: Dr. Andrew Zawadowski uses the Vscan on a patient at Core Cardiology. cialists in the field could use the unit. "It acquires certain skill and not every physician is trained to do that," he said. "If you gave it to a doctor, who is not specializing in cardiovascular care, for example, a plastic surgeon, unless he or she was specifically trained to use a cardiovascular ultrasound, they might not know where to put the probe to get the picture." Zawadowski said the difference between Vscan and regular ultrasound equipment is in the intended use. "The main stationary ultrasound is designed to do a full study with a great amount of detail," he said. "It's an extremely sophisticated unit. What that lacks is portability. What this unit SHUTTERS Authorized Eclipse Shutters Dealer Shop at Home Service CALIFORNIA & PLANTATION · Customer Satisfaction Guaranteed · Wood & Vinyl Shutters, · Serving Oakville with Shop at Supplied & Installed Home Service · High Quality at Affordable Prices FREE SHUTTERS ETC. 905.691.4455 www.shuttersetc.ca