About Northwest Community Hospital:
New Technology
Spotlight Technology
The da Vinci® Surgical System— Enhancing Surgical Capabilities and Improving Clinical Outcomes
Northwest Community Hospital is proud to introduce the da Vinci® Surgical System, a leader in the rapidly emerging field of robotic-assisted surgery.
Clinical studies support the use of the da Vinci® Surgical System as an effective tool for minimally invasive surgeries including myomectomy and prostate cancer surgery. By enhancing surgical capabilities with da Vinci®, Northwest Community will provide leading-edge treatments and improved clinical outcomes, and help patients return to active and productive lives.
Spotlight Technology
Introducing the CyberKnife® Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS) System
The CyberKnife® Radiosurgery System was introduced at Northwest Community Hospital on June 14, 2006. To effectively treat tumors, the CyberKnife uses a combination of a robotic arm, linear accelerator, and image guided technology. It has the ability to locate and monitor the position of a tumor within the body and compensate for patient movement during treatment. Northwest Community was the first hospital in Northern Illinois to offer this most advanced non-invasive treatment for cancer. Click here to read more.
While other sites may be treatable in the future using this new technology, currently it is possible to treat tumors located in the following sites:
- Brain tumors (primary and metastatic)
- Spine metastases
- Lung tumors
- Locally advanced pancreatic tumors
- Liver metastases
- Intracranial benign tumors, including acoustic neuromas, meningiomas, and AVMs
New Technology May Be "Wave" of the Future in Breast Cancer Detection
Northwest Community Hospital is the first in the country to debut the latest technology in detecting breast cancer. The new technology that uses radio wave signals, similar to those in cell phones and radar, is showing great promise in detecting breast cancers that may be missed on mammography, preliminary studies have shown. Follow this link to read more about Women's Wellness.
Northwest Community Hospital Treats its First Patient with MammoSite™ Radiation Therapy System
What used to take about seven weeks to complete can now be done in just five days, cutting therapy time by 85%. Breast cancer therapy has made some great strides over the years as Cheryl Pond, a 57-year-old Arlington Heights resident, can attest. She recently became the first patient at Northwest Community Hospital to undergo the MammoSite™ Radiation Therapy System for her breast cancer treatment. Follow this link to read more about Cancer Services.
R2 ImageChecker® System Now Used to Read All Mammograms
Northwest Community Hospital's Comprehensive Breast Center has installed the ImageChecker Computer Aided Detection (CAD) system for use in breast cancer screening to assist radiologists in minimizing false negative readings during mammograms. The ImageChecker, from R2 Technology, is the first U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) approved CAD system for use in breast cancer screening. Follow this link to read more about The Comprehensive Breast Center.
PET Scan
Northwest Community Hospital is providing the latest, most advanced whole-body imaging technology with positron emission tomography (PET) that is not yet available at other area hospitals. PET provides an invaluable clinical test for cancer, heart disease and neurological disorders. Follow these links to read more about Cancer Services and Cardiovascular Services.
M2A Capsule Diagnostic Imaging System
Northwest Community Hospital's Gastroenterology Center is the first in the northwest suburbs to offer the Given® M2A Enteroscopy Diagnostic Imaging System. M2A Capsule Enteroscopy is a procedure in which a tiny camera is ingested by the patient. It then travels through the digestive tract, producing detailed color images used to diagnose gastrointestinal disease. Click the image at left to view an enlarged version of an illustration of the M2A capule. Follow this link to read more about the Gastroenterology Center.
Infant Hearing Screening
Thanks to innovative technology, each baby at Northwest Community Hospital is screened for hearing loss before ever leaving the hospital. The technology is part of Northwest Community’s infant hearing screening program. Follow this link to read more about Children's Services.
Last Updated on 04/01/08
