HeartSmart IMTplus goes far beyond conventional carotid ultrasound in providing a safe, convenient and cost- effective method for early detection of cardiovascular disease.

Ultrasound scans of the carotid artery are used to measure the intima-media thickness (IMT) to detect atherosclerosis at its earliest stages. The results are then compared to our proprietary database of more than 40,000 patients, which provides an accurate and reliable assessment of the patient’s cardiovascular health compared to the patient’s peer group based on age and gender.

HeartSmart IMTplus looks at the actual state of the disease and the extent of the patient’s atherosclerosis.

Carotid IMT has been conclusively shown to correlate to the progression of disease in the coronary arteries.

In addition to IMT measurement, our unique post-image analysis allows HeartSmart IMTplus to:

• Assess the presence and severity of plaques in the carotid arteries,
• Assess the vulnerability of the plaque to rupture that can result in a heart attack or stroke

IMT testing is endorsed by the American Heart Association, the American College of Cardiology and the American Society of Echocardiography as a proven technique for the early detection of cardiovascular disease. It has also been recommended by the SHAPE Task Force for all men over the age of 45 and women over 55.

Scanning of the carotid arteries takes about 10 minutes. The scans are then uploaded via HIPAA compliant secure Internet connection to the HeartSmart server where our credentialed vascular techs download the scans for processing, analysis and reporting.

The full-color report is sent back in PDF format for review with your physician.

The findings from the analysis are presented in a graphic format that makes it easy for patients to understand the state of their cardiovascular health. The IMT “grade” on the first page is based on a comparison with outcome data on 40,000 patients with an average of six years follow up.

Any plaque that is observed in the arteries is also shown by plaque composition and the extent of stenosis. Subsequent pages contain the actual IMT measurement and enlarged images of any pathology observed.

Report results allow physicians to effectively treat the disease instead of treating risk factors for disease.