A new CT scanner at Medcenter One doesn't miss a beat.

The scanner is fast enough to capture an image of the heart as it is beating, showing doctors the contraction of the heart muscle.

"It gives a functional assessment" of the heart, said Dr. Sean Russell, a cardiovascular surgeon at Medcenter One.

It adds another tool, along with stress tests and catheterization, to detect heart problems. It also can be used to show other organs, joints and blood vessels in the body.

The CT scanner is a 320-slice scanner, which means it has 320 detectors. The equipment cost $2.5 million.

"It is an investment in technology that can make a big difference in patient outcomes,"said radiologist Dr. Mike McIntee.

The scanner creates a three-dimensional image that can give radiologists a clearer picture to form a diagnosis. It has the potential to save patients time and money by replacing the need for other tests and providing results in as few as 15 minutes, McIntee said.

The hospital has used the new equipment since it was installed in April. St. Alexius Medical Center got a new scanner in March.

(Reach reporter Sara Kincaid at 250-8251 or sara.kincaid@;bismarcktribune.com.)