A SOPHISTICATED new ultrasound scanner has been handed to Penryn Surgery thanks to the friends of the surgery and funds raised by Penryn Friday Market.

A Doppler ultrasound is a non invasive test that is used to estimate blood flow by bouncing high-frequency sound waves (ultrasound) off circulating blood.

A Doppler ultrasound can help diagnose many conditions, including:

Poorly functioning valves in your leg veins, which can cause blood or other fluids to pool in your legs (venous insufficiency)

A blocked artery (arterial occlusion)

Decreased blood circulation into your legs (peripheral artery disease)

Previously the test used to take at least an hour while a hand held was placed on each limb with a rest period of at least 20 minutes needed before commencing the procedure.

The results then had to be manually interpreted and recorded. For patients needing compression hosiery the check needs to be done on an annual basis.

With the new Dopplar all limbs are scanned at the same time, the results produced electronically and linked instantly to the patients clinical record in a fraction of the time.

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