New CT Technology Developed To Improve Image Quality and Reduce Dose

A new computed tomography (CT) system scans the heart in two beats to aid in diagnosis and treatment of serious health conditions.

At the 93rd annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA), held in November 2007 in Chicago, IL, USA, Philips Medical Systems (Best, The Netherlands) unveiled its latest innovative healthcare products and technologies that were developed to help radiologists prevent, diagnose, treat, and monitor disease.

The Philips flagship product, 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. The scanner, incorporating Philips' technology that has reduced radiation doses by up to 80%, is so powerful that it can capture an image of the entire heart in just two beats.

"Our innovations are perfect demonstrations of Philips' commitment to enable healthcare providers to devote attention to their patients, not just the technology,” commented Steve Rusckowski, CEO of Philips Medical Systems. " The new Brilliance iCT scanner was specifically designed by Philips to make the job of the clinicians easier and improve the experience of the patient.”

Brilliance iCT and a new 64-channel system both feature Philips Essence technology, consisting of new X-ray tubes, detectors, and reconstruction design elements. This technology can provide detailed and clear three-dimensional (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. To date, more than 30 CT systems incorporating Essence technology have been shipped.

The scanners provide significant clinical insights for a wide range of applications in the radiology and cardiology settings, while the enhanced visualizations will be beneficial for clinicians 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 faster, 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% faster than current systems.


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