Aloka e-flow technology improves accuracy of coronary heart diseases diagnosis

2 August 2010

The Universidad Complutense de Madrid is using Aloka’s e-tracking technology to advance the early detection of cardiovascular events.

 Professor Garcia Fernandez, Professor of Cardiology in the Department of Medicine, is using the system to easily measure predominant parameters on arterial vessels.

 Aloka Wave intensity technology offers the unique possibility to look at the interaction between the heart and the vascular tree — a new and very promising field of investigation.

Prof Garcia Fernandez explained the problem facing cardiologists, “Currently, we are analysing factors that can be used as predictors of coronary heart disease in high-risk populations. One essential aspect of this is to appraise arterial stiffness, as this is an independent predictor for cardiovascular events in patients with hypertension, diabetes mellitus, end-stage renal disease and in general the population — but in the past this has been difficult to assess.”

“As our Aloka system works intuitively, it means all our echocardiographic and vascular studies can now be conducted more quickly than in the past. For example, despite the complex parameters required, ventricular asynchrony and the arterial stiffness can be analysed quickly and with minimal calibration to the machine itself.”

The new parameters of Prof Garcia Fernandez arterial wall study are a key advancement in the evaluation of patients’ cardiac functions. This method, derived from pressure and blood flow velocity, provides quantitative information about the heart interacting with the arterial system. In addition, consultants can view both blood velocity and vortices, but without the need for an invasive contrast medium, by using Aloka’s Vector Flow Mapping — meaning shorter consultation times, reduced patient discomfort and costs.

Prof Garcia Fernandez continued, “Aloka also pioneered Vector Flow Mapping, which is without any doubt one of the most exciting breakthroughs of recent years — providing greater detail, it allows me to view both blood velocity and vortex, without the need for an invasive contrast medium”

Laurent Rapon, European Marketing Manager of Aloka Europe, said: “We are working with a number of pre-eminent consultants from across the globe to further advancements in ultrasound medicine. Working in partnership with Prof Garcia Fernandez has enabled Aloka to fine tune its advanced cardiovascular settings, with expert advice for assessing cardiac functions, in a highly intuitive manner — limiting human error, speeding-up patient appointments and improving the accuracy of diagnosis.”