Indian bio-medical scientists working at the Centre for Advanced Research and Development (CARD) have invented a 3-dimensional cardiovascular cartography (3-DCCG) for conducting tests to detect blood flow disorders in the body apart from early diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases. The novel equipment is helpful for doctors to measure the heart function, cardiovascular physiology and heart muscle blood flow during cardiac emergencies. It is designed not only to help diagnosis of the disorder but also provide specific line of treatment when abnormalities are detected.

The 3 DCCG also referred to as Haemotron, which is developed using the Realistic Geometry Cartographic Imaging (RCGI) has received the USFDA (United States Federal Drug Agency) approval for investigational purposes and has been certified by the European Union. "This is the first-ever advanced medical diagnostic technology from India that is being used world wide. The product is already installed before its formal launch in India at 30 Haemotron labs worldwide, which includes 18 centres in the country, four diagnostic labs in Karnataka, (three in Bangalore and one in Mysore, Dr. Rajah Vijaykumar, co-inventor, Centre for Advanced Research and Development said at a press conclave.

According to Dr. Sanjay Shirbur, head, Heart Disease Detection Centre, 3-DCCG aids early diagnosis of cardiovascular disorders (CAD). It is a completely non-invasive, painless with no side effects. The 20-minute procedure requires no hospitalisation except for a 12-hour abstinence from food. "There is no complete diagnostic equipment available to provide details on the Myocardial (heart muscle) flow and 3-DCCG will help doctors to detect the deficiencies in the blood flow not only in the heart and lungs but the entire circulatory system."

The product is manufactured at three centres in the world- Scalene Cybernetics in India, (where the critical components are imported from US, Europe and Japan), ASKIT kft.com in Europe and Austin Systems Inc. in US.

The Bangalore-based CARD which is engaged in the others areas of research like pollution control, has been working on the development of 3-DCCG for the last 12 years for which it received a private grant for the project. "Extensive studies have been undertaken in India, Europe and now in UK which have proved that the sensitivity and specificity of the 3-DCCG which is as high as 91 per cent, stated Dr. Vijaykumar.

The product is priced Rs. 32 lakh and the cost on the patient will be between Rs. 3,500- 7,000 depending on the diagnostic charges in each city.