Rennes Hospital Pioneers Heart Holograms: A Leap in Cardiac Care

Rennes, France – Imagine seeing​ a ⁢beating heart suspended in mid-air, able to rotate it, zoom in, and examine​ its intricate structures with unparalleled clarity. This is no‌ longer science ‌fiction, but a reality at the ‍Rennes university Hospital, which has just become the first in France to acquire a​ Holoscope – a ⁢revolutionary ⁣imaging technology that generates heart holograms.

Developed‍ as​ an additional tool‌ for complex operations, the Holoscope ⁢promises to ‍enhance precision and safety in cardiac procedures. The acquisition was ​made possible‌ through the generous support of the Nominoë​ patronage.

“We add this helmet and glasses, and​ we see the ⁣heart ‌appear in⁣ three dimensions,” explains ​Dr. Guillaume Leurent, Interventional Cardiologist at the ‍Rennes University hospital. “What you‍ see from the‌ exterior is just a hand moving in the⁤ void.With ⁣your finger, we can manipulate the image, zoom, and cut to ⁢see the⁣ structure that interests us.”

The⁢ Holoscope creates ⁤these holograms using 3D images derived from⁢ scans or ultrasounds. This is particularly crucial in interventional cardiology, where doctors⁢ perform procedures through small punctures in ‍veins‍ or arteries, without ​opening the patient’s chest.

“When you work on heart ​structures,especially the cardiac⁣ valves,you need to ​see clearly,” Dr. Leurent emphasizes. “We believe that‍ this optimization of visualization⁣ will improve the safety of procedures.”

While not used for every case, the Holoscope is invaluable for complex operations.Professor​ Erwan Donal, cardiologist at the Rennes University Hospital, highlights its⁤ potential in procedures like left auricle closures.‍ The left auricle, a small recess in the ⁤atrium, can ⁤harbor clots in patients with arrhythmia. ‍Closing it prevents these clots from migrating to the brain.

“These interventions are guided by imaging,” Professor Donal explains. “Using ‍the hologram might shorten the procedure time while ensuring an absolute level of ‍security. With‍ the 3D visualization, we can be certain that we have wholly closed the auricle, eliminating‌ any risk for the patient.”

The Holoscope represents a significant advancement in cardiac care, offering doctors a new dimension of insight and control ‍during ‍critical procedures. As Dr. Leurent puts it, “With the hologram, we could be sure ​by visualizing ⁢the 3D auricle well that we ‍have‌ closed everything and ⁢that there is no risk for the patient.” The Rennes ‍University Hospital is now at the forefront of ⁤this innovative technology, paving the ‌way for safer and ⁤more ‌effective heart treatments.