July 6, 2021
First In The World
CentraCare’s Heart and Vascular Center team made history this summer, becoming the first organization in the world to use 4D hologram technology during a WATCHMAN implant procedure, which is a one-time, minimally invasive procedure to help people with atrial fibrillation. This procedure helps reduce the risk of stroke and is especially beneficial to patients who are intolerant of blood thinners.
Dr. Jacob Dutcher, interventional cardiologist and director of the structural heart program at the Heart and Vascular Center, describes it as space age stuff. “4D technology is like that moment when things are flying at you in a 3D movie,” he said. “I have the ability to take the object on screen and pull it out of the screen toward my eye to see deep into the patient’s heart and see things you can’t with other technology.”
“4D technology is like that moment when things are flying at you in a 3D movie.”
Dr. Jacob Dutcher, interventional cardiologist, CentraCare Heart and vascular center
This new technology, developed by EchoPixel, lends a new approach to the WATCHMAN procedure that combines True3D software with the company’s Holographic Therapy Guidance software platform. Together, these technologies allow the entire heart team to interact with the patient’s organs and tissues as if they were physical objects.
FOX-9 News recently visited the Heart and Vascular Center and shared this story:
While the much-deserved recognition is appreciated, what has the team most excited is the benefits this procedure has for patients. “EchoPixel’s pre-planning True3D software helped us reduce our procedure times by more than 27% and increase optimal procedure outcomes by 20%,” said Dutcher. “This technology is taking us to the next level. We are always looking for new ways to advance and improve patient care, and are proud to be the first organization in the world to offer this novel imaging technology.”
“We are always looking for new ways to advance and improve patient care, and are proud to be the first organization in the world to offer this novel imaging technology.”
DR. JACOB DUTCHER, INTERVENTIONAL CARDIOLOGIST, CENTRACARE HEART AND VASCULAR CENTER
Together, these mixed-reality technologies help further reduce procedure time, improve accuracy of the procedure, reduce risk of complication and speed up recovery. “To see something with this amount of clarity and to see something actually floating just kind of blew me away,” said Dutcher. “It’s very cool.”