64-Slice “Time of Flight” Phillips PET/CT – Saint Louis University Hospital is one of only two Beta sites for this diagnostic equipment, making it the only hospital in a 500-mile radius to own and operate this powerful diagnostic equipment.
MEG – Magnetoencephalography allows for mapping of brain activity, which has many diagnostic and treatment indications. Patients with epilepsy, arteriovenous malformations or brain lesions stand to benefit from this technology. There are just a few dozen MEGs currently in the United States, and SLU Hospital has the only one in a 200-mile radius.
Intraoperative MRI – Intraoperative MRI (iMRI), used during brain surgery, allows neurosurgeons to take a complete scan of the brain during a procedure. This imaging usually takes place after a patient’s surgery is “completed,” to determine whether all of a tumor was successfully removed, or to see if any other brain tissue appears abnormal. By allowing the surgeon to scan the brain while still in the operating room, the chance that an entire tumor is removed increases, helping improve patient outcomes. This technology is available in the St. Louis region only at Saint Louis University Hospital.
CyberKnife – There are fewer than 50 CyberKnife Stereotactic Radiosurgery System sites in operation throughout the United States. SLU Hospital is the only one in the St. Louis region. The technology applies pinpoint radiation to malignant and benign brain tumors and vascular malformations. At SLU Hospital, it also is used to treat extracranial tumors and lesions of the spine, lung, liver and pancreas. Soon, prostate cancer will be added to that list. Patients have benefited from the system’s precision and flexibility, as well as the ease and comfort of the treatment process compared to similar modalities.
Angiography suite capabilities – A third angiography suite at SLU Hospital includes the latest technology specifically designed to combine the lowest possible radiation dose with a high imaging quality for patients with vascular problems of the brain and surrounding tissues. The system offers sophisticated imaging capabilities, allowing the physician to easily capture images. Better images help lead to faster, more accurate diagnoses. A further benefit of the new system is its soft-tissue imaging capability based on the latest innovation for C-arm angiography systems. This enables physicians to perform angiographic computed tomography during the procedure.
Vagal nerve stimulation – SLUCare psychiatrists at Saint Louis University Hospital have been involved in the research and development of this innovative therapy for treatment-resistant depression. A vagal nerve stimulator is implanted under the collar bone and has leads that run to the vagal nerve in the neck. The device emits electrical pulses to stimulate the brain. It has been used for and is FDA-approved to treat epilepsy, as well.