Florida Hospital Cardiologist First in Orlando to Use New Technology for Coronary Artery DiseaseCardiologist Dr. Rohit Bhatheja from Florida Hospital is the first cardiologist in Orlando to perform atherectomy with the Diamondback 360 Coronary Orbital Atherectomy System (OAS) from Cardiovascular Systems, Inc. (CSI.) The system gained U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval in October and is the first and technology approved for the treatment of severely calcified coronary arteries. Dr. Bhatheja used OAS technology in the cardiac cath lab to treat a patient with coronary artery disease by removing the calcium inside the artery.The Diamondback 360 provides a solution for patients with a calcium buildup problem by reducing calcified plaque and facilitating stent deployment with low complications. The ORBIT II trial is the first study in history designed to treat severely calcified lesions.The Diamondback 360 is a 1.25-millimeter catheter that works by spinning around inside the artery to “sand down” the buildup of calcium along the artery walls. The orbital motion causes calcium to be released into tiny particles small enough to flow safely into the bloodstream. A balloon and stent are then deployed to increase blood flow.Orlando Health’s Next Step to Bring New Cancer Treatment to Central FloridaForty tons of equipment has been delivered to the Orlando Health construction site of the new Proton Therapy Center.The $25 million facility, which will house Central Florida’s first proton therapy center, will provide cancer patients with a form of radiation therapy that uses proton beams to shrink tumors. It’s a revolutionary tool to fight cancer, but building a proton therapy center is no easy feat. The very heavy parts of the proton accelerator, the machine that generates proton therapy, have to be transported on multiple semi-trucks all the way from Boston. Then, it takes a crane to move the pieces from the trucks into the proton center’s vault through the ceiling.This was the first of two deliveries of equipment. Once completed, the entire proton therapy machine will weigh 84 tons which is equivalent to the weight of a fully loaded Boeing 747-800 airplane.New Medical Director In Seminole CountyThe Florida Department of Health in Seminole County (DOH-Seminole) is pleased to announce Meena Joseph, MD, as the new Medical Director for DOH-Seminole. As Medical Director, Dr. Joseph will be responsible overseeing the physicians, Executive Nursing Director and Dental Care Program.Dr. Meena Joseph received her Undergraduate Degree from Mercy College in Palghat, India and her M.D. Degree at Calicut Medical College in Calicut, India. She completed her residency in Pediatrics at St. Louis University in St Louis, Missouri.
