Southwest Florida's Health and Wellness Magazine Health and Wellness Articles
Sarasota Interventional Radiology (SIR-Florida), now at its new location in Lakewood Ranch, is the area’s full-service, comprehensive radiology center that features the most advanced medical technology available today. Our equipment was thoroughly researched and carefully selected to provide the ultimate in performance and patient experience, with patient comfort and safety as our top priorities. Featured below are two of our new diagnostic systems—the Canon Aquilion One CT and the Canon Digital 3T MRI.
CT (Computed Tomography)
The Canon Aquilion One CT boasts heightened levels of image quality and detail, reduced radiation, and individualized contrast dosage in a patient-centric design.
• Highest image quality—SIR-Florida is committed to superiority and excellence in our technology to produce the most accurate diagnosis for our patients. Its sharp, clear, and distinct images place this CT system at the head of its class for imaging quality.
• Less radiation—With patient safety at the forefront, our CT system provides an excellent balance between image quality and reduced radiation dose requirements, along with contrast dosage that is specifically tailored to each patient.
• Maximum patient comfort—The widest opening of all CTs and flexible table height ensure that the patient will have a calming, comfortable, and relaxed experience. With the push of a button, the patient can be moved electronically during the scan so that physical repositioning is not needed.
• Faster exam times—Less time on the table means a faster return to normal activities, and there is no compromising on the quality of the exam. For example, in just three minutes, this CT is capable of taking as many as 320 images. Also, one rotation scanning is sufficient to capture high quality images in a fraction of a second for many routine and advanced studies.
Our CT system performs diagnostic and screening exams, virtual colonoscopy after a failed traditional colonoscopy, and provides precise CT-guidance for our minimally invasive interventional procedures. Screening exams at SIR-Florida include lung cancer screening, cardiac CT for coronary calcium, and coronary CT angiography.
3T MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging)
The Canon Digital 3T MRI selected for our patients at SIR-Florida is a transformation in the patient experience for an MR exam. It is an extremely fast advanced scanner that produces high-resolution digital image quality to ensure accurate diagnoses.
This scanning system prioritizes the patient experience by accommodating patients of all sizes in an open, quiet environment. Designed for patient comfort, its larger bore and shorter magnet create an open feeling that significantly reduces patient anxiety.
Quiet, quick, and digital are the operative words that describe this MRI system:
Quiet—Significant noise reduction in and around this system make for a calming MRI atmosphere, contributing to a patient-friendly environment and making the exam more peaceful, comfortable, and easier to complete.
Quick—The powerful 3 Tesla magnetic field is extremely efficient and results in shorter exam times. Scan times can be accelerated with a new imaging technique called compressed sensing technology.
The anticipation of faster scan times is a calming factor for many patients who come to the exam with high anxiety levels.
Digital— The fully digitized technology of SIR-Florida’s MRI system purifies input and output signals to deliver sharper images and provides better and more consistent image resolution. The powerful 3 Tesla magnetic field in this scanner contributes to optimal image quality. SIR-Florida is fortunate to be the first facility in the U.S. to receive the newest software platform for this 3T MRI.
Now at SIR-Florida, even the most challenged patients with claustrophobia or high anxiety are able to complete the MR exam. When needed, these patients may choose to receive conscious sedation (twilight anesthesia) administered by our board-certified anesthesiologists so that they can complete the exam. They will feel nothing during the exam and will have no memory of it.
TO ALL PATIENTS: The choice of a medical facility for your CT, MRI or other imaging need is yours, regardless of where your script may direct you to go. By scheduling at SIR, you will be choosing the best technology in a state-of-the-art facility that is staffed by experienced, caring clinicians.
SARASOTA INTERVENTIONAL RADIOLOGY
Gerald E. Grubbs, MD, Medical Director
6600 University Parkway, Suite 102
Sarasota, FL 34240
Phone: 941-253-5191
Fax: 941-378-3253
Website: www.sir-florida.com
