A new computed tomography (CT) system which scans the heart in two beats and will aid in the diagnosis and treatment of serious health conditions was unveiled last week at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) by Royal Philips Electronics.
The 256-slice Brilliance iCT scanner, allows radiologists to produce high-quality images with exceptional acquisition speed, including complete coverage of the heart and brain.
It is so powerful it can capture an image of the entire heart in just two beats, while incorporating technology that has reduced radiation doses by up to 80 percent.
It was specifically designed to make the job of the clinicians easier and improve the experience of the patient.
Picture: An example of an image produced by the Brilliance iCT scanner, showing a patient's head and neck.
How it works
This technology can provide detailed and clear 3D images of an entire organ, including the heart and brain and can also show changes over time. All images also can be accessed on any computer in a hospital or by colleagues and researchers remotely, to make it easier for the whole team to share information.
The scanners deliver key clinical insights for a wide range of applications in the radiology and cardiology settings, while the enhanced visualisations will be valuable for doctors diagnosing and treating problems within the heart.
The Brilliance iCT scanner is also designed to reduce patients’ exposure to X-rays. The scan is much quicker, as the machine’s X-ray emitting gantry - the giant ring-shaped part that surrounds the patient - can rotate four times in a single second, which is 22 percent faster than current systems.
Source: Royal Philips Electronics; www.phillips.com
(Health24.com, November 2007)
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