Improved patient safety
Existing CT technology at Sacred Heart uses 1 or 4 slices to create an image. While this older technology is still very useful in some applications, the 64-slice scanner shifts diagnostic imaging to a whole new level. It produces three-dimensional, high-definition, color pictures of most organs with incredible detail and it does so in a matter of seconds.

With a 64-slice scanner, the resolution is greatly enhanced because of the number of images that are created in a very short amount of time. It’s like a camera with a very fast shutter speed that is able to capture fast-moving subjects. The 64-slice scanner actually captures 192 images per second, in a non-invasive, pain-free procedure.

Improved patient comfort
Electrocardiography (ECG)-gated coverage of the entire chest can be completed in as little as a 15-second breath hold. For the first time, the evaluation of the most common causes of acute chest pain can be evaluated with a single scan. A routine scan of the coronary arteries only takes about eight seconds.

Improved provider diagnosis
The 64-slice scanner delivers unmatched image quality and faster acquisition time for cardiac examinations, virtually freezing the heart’s motion. The increased speed is more practical for patients who have higher heart rates or those who have difficulty holding their breath, such as elderly or pediatric patients. 

Beyond offering patients a fast, painless exam, this new technology provides doctors with much more data and information to aid in the detection of heart disease, strokes, head injuries, fractures, and bone and soft tissue damage in trauma patients. The fast turnaround time can lead to quicker intervention when necessary.

The 64-slice CT scanner is capable of generating 3-D images of the cardiovascular system and any organ in the body.
 

A surgical option
This new, non-invasive scanning procedure is an option to a two-part surgical procedure that diagnoses certain cardiovascular problems in non-emergent patients. The two-part procedure requires cardiac catheterization, where a tiny plastic tube is threaded from the groin to the entrance of the coronary artery. This is followed by an angiogram, where a special x-ray dye is injected into the artery so it can be seen. High speed x-rays are taken at the same moment the dye is injected into each artery. Angiograms can be taken of the heart, lungs, brain and kidneys. 

The 64-slice scanner requires no surgery and uses lower radiation doses than angiograms. It requires less time on the exam table and a much shorter breath hold than with previous technology, usually less than 20 seconds. A 64-slice diagnostic scan allows for better planning of a surgical procedure if indicated by the scan.

Improved provider quality of care
Images that are created with the new 64-slice scanner are fed directly into the Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS), which allows diagnostic imagery to be shared with any provider using a computer terminal connected to the system. Images are stored digitally, meaning easier retrieval and transfer, and superior archiving of images over the long term. The benefits are improved access and overall quality of care.

What to expect
Are you scheduled for a scan? Here’s what to expect.

How is the CT image or CT scan made?
While the patient is in the gantry, the X-ray system takes extremely detailed cross-sectional images of the body. Based on the data acquired, the computer then generates the so-called result images. This aids the physician in reliably and precisely visualizing, and then diagnosing, the presence or absence of disease inside the body.

The CT examination is called “scanning” by the experts. Scanning is a computer-controlled electronic procedure comparable to digital photography. Whether you call it a scan or an image, after the examination the patient and physician will be able to see an extraordinarily precise image of the inside of the body.

For more information on the Siemens Somatom Sensation 64 Scanner, visit their Web site.

This clinical image of the heart was acquired using the 64-slice computed tomography system. The system takes 64 “slices” of the human anatomy, delivering unprecedented diagnostic detail in less than ten seconds.