During this procedure, a tiny camera is inserted into the heart.
Cardiologists use the images from the camera to diagnose blockages and other problems.
After the procedure, the film is rushed into a darkroom and there is a 40-minute wait while the film is being developed and loaded onto a projector. In serious cases when the patient requires immediate surgery, precious minutes are lost waiting for the developing process. For a typical hospital that does 5000 procedures a year, that adds up to one-half million dollars per year in film alone. ComView Corp., a manufacturer of digital imaging products for cardiology and radiology, has developed a digital imaging system that allows laboratories to record cardiac catheterization procedures without using film. Images can be viewed in real time or immediately after the test.