Offer fast speed at the lowest possible dose for cardiac applications, the SOMATOM Definition Flash dual source computed tomography (CT) scanner requires only a fraction of the radiation dose that systems previously required to scan even the tiniest anatomical details.
Scanning the thorax, including the heart, can be done in only 0.6 seconds, taking the burden of breath-holding off the patient and allowing functional imaging for body regions up to 48 cm. Temporal resolution of 75 ms and scan speed of up to 43 cm/s make heart-scanning without beta-blockers possible and, for the first time, breath-hold optional with dose levels below 1 millisievert (mSv). The average dose ranges from 8 to 40 mSv.
This offers considerable advantages, especially in cases involving the elderly, children, emergency, and ICU patients. Since its introduction in November 2008, Siemens said the Flash has gained worldwide acceptance, with 18 systems installed in the U.S., and more than 100 worldwide.
For more information: www.medical.siemens.com