The XO Directory

Human organs, bones and blood vessels in living patients are unveiled as never before by a new type of X-ray scanner.

The Brilliance CT machine provides stunning three-dimensional images of the inner workings of the body. Entire organs, such as the heart and lungs, appear as if they exist outside the patient.

Skeletons look uncannily real and fine structures such as networks of blood vessels can easily be seen. Because they are three-dimensional, the images can be rotated and viewed from different directions.

The new CT (computerised tomography) scanner from Philips takes large numbers of X-ray pictures and feeds them into a computer. Cross sections or "slices" through the part of the body being scanned are combined together to produce the final images.

The machine uses technology that reduces the normal radiation dose to patients by up to 80 per cent.

It was launched yesterday at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America in Chicago.

Steve Rusckowski, the chief executive of Philips Medical Systems, said: "We are seeking to make a difference in how radiologists can prevent, diagnose, treat and monitor disease and allow them to focus more on their patients.

"This scanner allows radiologists to produce high-quality images and is also designed to reduce patients' exposure to X-rays. It is so powerful it can capture an image of the entire heart in just two beats."

The cost of the machine has not yet been disclosed. Source