KNOXVILLE, Iowa – In an ongoing effort to provide the latest and most up-to-date medical equipment for the community, Knoxville Hospital & Clinics (KHC) and Knoxville Nuclear Medicine have installed a revolutionary diagnostic nuclear medicine imaging system, the General Electric (GE) Infinia. The new system delivers unprecedented image quality that provides diagnostic confidence to physicians and enhances patient management and scanning capabilities.
“By installing the new nuclear medicine scanner, GE Infinia, we are able to provide the newest technology to help detect the precise localization of diseases, thus boosting diagnostic confidence and improving outcomes for patients,” said Brian Clarke, owner of Knoxville Nuclear Medicine and lead technician. “This new technology allows KHC to continue offering the highest quality service to the community.”
Nuclear Medicine is a specialized area of radiology that uses small amounts of radioactive materials to examine and assess organ structure and function. Physicians and medical professionals use the diagnostic procedure to diagnose various conditions in the intestines, lungs, kidneys, gallbladder, cardiac, tumors, and inflammatory and infectious diseases. Combined with Computerized Tomography (CT) capabilities, which provide images of different levels of anatomy, medical professionals are able to eliminate guesswork, increase diagnostic confidence and enable better treatment plans.
Using small trace amounts of radioactive materials (radiotracers) that are typically injected, inhaled or swallowed; a nuclear medicine test can help determine the cause of a medical condition based on the function of tissue, bone, or organ. A special camera detects the gamma rays produced by the radiotracers to create computer generated molecular information images of the inside of the body that cannot be obtained using other imaging options.
At KHC, Clarke uses the GE Infinia scanner to perform nuclear medicine screenings and Single Proton Emission Computerized Tomography (SPECT) scans, one of the most powerful diagnostic tools available. The GE Infinia delivers continuous 360-degree imaging with an open comfortable table to enhance the patient experience. The GE Inifina provides high image quality with low injection dose and shorter exam times.
The GE Infinia offers tremendous patient flexibility by allowing for all scanning positions in an ultra-rapid scan cycle. With the foundation of the all-digital Elite™ detector technology and advanced image attenuation correction, the GE Infinia delivers ultimate SPECT reconstruction and unsurpassed image resolution. It also features an advanced workstation that delivers advanced processing speed, innovative productivity tools and built-in connectivity to archive images.
Knoxville Hospital & Clinics is a non-profit community hospital serving Marion County and the surrounding area. Named a “Top 100 Critical Access Hospital” and Voted as Best of Red Rock Area’s “Best Place to Work” and “Best Hospitality”, KHC’s highly skilled medical staff and specialists provide personal, compassionate and innovative quality health care to patients. For more information regarding this release and other happenings at Knoxville Hospital & Clinics, call Public Relations at (641) 842-1485.