Tom Kracus, chief technologist for the 3D lab in Medical Imaging at Kettering Medical Center has traveled around the Midwest, showing other hospitals how to do what he does. The Cleveland Clinic, Ohio State University, and other centers are anxious to learn from Kracus, knowing what an asset he is to cardiologists, cardiothoracic surgeons, neurologists and neurosurgeons here in Dayton.

Brain aneurysms, vessel blockages, and other ticking time bombs are Kracus' targets, and he hits them with the accuracy of a skilled marksman. Increasingly the 3D studies are replacing angiography, as the imaging can be done in an hour as opposed to a day and does not require anesthesia so the patients can drive themselves to and from the hospital.'

"This is one of the top 3D reconstruction labs around," said Ajay Reddivari, MD, an interventional Cardiologist. "They are really a great resource. People like Tom have gotten into this technology at the grass roots level, and he has a great wealth of experience in these reconstructions."

"I had triple bypass 11 years ago and single bypass last year, but I was having chest pains again," says Jack Mullins of Middletown. "I am sure grateful to that lab for finding out what was wrong."

"Mr. Mullins had a 99 percent blockage in one of his original grafts, so it is very likely it would have closed completely if we had not found it," Dr. Reddivari said. "We couldn't find the vessel through angiography because it was hidden behind his latest graft. The 3D lab was really our only option left, they were able to find the problem, and we went back into the cath lab and opened up the graft with a stent. It really made a big difference clinically for Mr. Mullins, because he would have been looking at a greater heart attack."

"Jay and I have a blend of experience the doctors find really valuable, and we get so much positive feedback from the assistance we give the docs," Kracus said. "Jay has 30 years of angio and other special procedure experience. He's kind of like a walking anatomy book. His knowledge is a huge asset, and keeps us at the top of our game. I worked as a technologist in the cath lab for 10 years, spent 5 years in CT and angiography, and I've also worked in the electrophysiology lab for one year. Working together, Jay and I know just what views the physicians want to see."