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Northside gets new robotic technology

By Shelia Poole
Oct 15, 2014

Northside Hospital is getting new technology that will be used in the treatment of peripheral artery disease.

The Magellan Robotic System at Northside will help physicians navigate the blood vessels outside of the heart and brain. Using the robotic arm, physicians can precisely steer a catheter through complex anatomy to open a blocked artery during vascular procedures.

Dr. Joseph Ricotta, is a lead developer of the technology and a physician at Northside.

PAD, as it is known, is a narrowing of the peripheral arteries to the legs, stomach, arms, and head - most commonly in the arteries of the legs. According to the American Heart Association, the most common symptom of PAD, also known as peripheral arterial disease, in the lower part of the body is muscle cramping in the hips, thighs and calves when exercising, walking or climbing stairs.

The technology will be used in a procedure on Oct. 21 at Northside Forsyth.

About the Author

Shelia has worked at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution for more than 30 years. Previously, she worked at The Lexington Herald-Leader and The Louisville Defender. Her beat is a bit of a mixed bag that includes religion and spirituality, culture and trends, race and aging. She earned degrees from Spelman College and Northwestern University.

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