When Robert Mata arrived at Methodist Hospital in Houston by ambulance, bleeding from the brain, doctors suspected an aneurysm and scheduled an angiogram. They found that Mata was suffering from an arterio-venous malformation (AVM), a condition that prevents blood from being pumped to the brain properly and can cause a stroke.

Physicians were able to diagnose Mata almost immediately using the DynaCT imaging application to obtain highly detailed anatomical images showing the exact location of the malformation and the characteristics and the anatomy of the vessels that supplied blood to it. Based on this information, Mata’s physicians were able to change their treatment recommendations in a matter of minutes.

The same technology can be used in the diagnosis and treatment of strokes, when time is of the essence, as brain cells begin to die within minutes of being deprived of oxygen. In the past, stroke patients had to get computed tomography (CT) scan, be moved to the treatment lab, then moved back to get another CT scan. Now that this can be done all on the angio table where treatment occurs, it can save physicians a valuable hour or two.

“Clearly, I think it did save my life,” said Mata.

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  Siemens on TV: Diagnosing Strokes Faster, Windows Media Player for DSL/Cable/T1[3.78 MB]