Futuristic CT scanners to image organ in less than a second

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Washington, June 3 (IANS) Futuristic CT scanners will image an entire organ in less than a second or track blood flow through the brain or to a tumour - with less radiation exposure to patients, according to experts.Aquilion One dynamic volume computed tomography (CT) can create a detailed 3-D movie of an organ in real time.That makes it particularly useful for quickly diagnosing strokes and heart attacks, for example, where diagnostic speed can be a critical factor in survival and recovery.For patients, the new technology can mean less time in a scanner and less exposure to radiation, said Phil Evans, associate vice president for clinical imaging and professor of radiology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Centre (UTSMC).UTSMC radiologists anticipate better visualisation in neurology, trauma, whole body, lung, cardiac, vascular and paediatric studies.Other applications include providing distinctive capabilities in orthopaedic and joint studies, diagnosing renal function, and even vocal-cord analysis.Aquilion One, manufactured by Toshiba, exposes patients to less radiation because one strip covers a larger area, therefore requiring fewer swathes overall and less time.The result can be as much as 80 percent less radiation in some cases, according to published research.Aquilion One uses 320 high-resolution X-ray detectors in each rotation. What takes 12 to 15 seconds for other scanners to complete takes only about a third of a second for the 320-slice machine.Aquilion One can take images continuously or intermittently, allowing doctors to see the heart pumping, or blood or medication working through the vascular system.'One of the most exciting things about this technology is the real-time ability to image changing anatomy,' said Phillip Purdy, UTSMC professor of radiology and neurological surgery.'We have been able to image physiology such as blood flow in parts of the brain, but now we can image the entire brain faster and more safely,' added Purdy.The faster speed may also mean less required contrast materials and can also benefit patients who have difficulty remaining still, such as children, the elderly and trauma patients.Using Aquilion One, UT Southwestern physicians said they will be able to accurately diagnose a stroke or heart attack in about 20 minutes, as well as be able to gauge tissue damage, said an UTSMC release.Currently, doctors often perform a battery of tests to confirm a heart attack - an EKG, CT angiography, nuclear testing and catheterization - which can take hours or even days.

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