Ultrafast CT developer Imatron has something to crow about this week. The South San Francisco, CA, firm’s heart-scanning technology has landed on the American Heart Association’s list of top 10 research advances in stroke and heart disease for 1999.
In a report issued Dec. 30, the AHA described ultrafast CT as accurately measuring the volume and distribution of calcium in the coronary arteries. Clinicians believe that such measurements can help physicians tailor treatment to patients at risk of a heart attack.
The report also noted that Imatron has received 510(k) clearance for its electron beam angiography technique, which allows direct contrast-enhanced visualization of blood flow in the coronary arteries. Imatron believes that EBA is a good means of visualizing stenoses in coronary arteries.
By AuntMinnie.com staff writers
January 6, 2000
Copyright © 2000 AuntMinnie.com
![Axial images from unenhanced calcium score cardiac CT (left) and curved planar reformation images from CT angiography (right) show that higher long-term exposure to air pollution is associated with greater coronary artery calcium and more obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD). Top row: Images in a 68-year-old male patient with higher 10-year mean ambient air pollution exposure (7.9 μg/m3 for particulate matter measuring ≤2.5 μm in diameter [PM2.5] and 17.4 parts per billion [ppb] for NO2) with extensive CAD (coronary artery calcium score [CACS] >1,000 and obstructive CAD [≥70% diameter stenosis]). Bottom row: Images in a 57-year-old female patient with lower 10-year mean ambient air pollution exposure (6.3 μg/m3 for PM2.5 and 4.6 ppb for NO2) with no CAD (CACS = 0 and no obstructive stenosis).](https://img.auntminnie.com/mindful/smg/workspaces/default/uploads/2026/06/hanneman.r6SMLzkezo.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&dpr=2&fit=crop&h=167&q=70&w=250)
