CT Scan

The advanced imaging capability of our SOMATOM definition Flash Siemens’ 256 slices CT scanner allows good quality coronary artery images to be captured at much lower radiation doses even in the presence of high heart rates or arrhythmia.

Setting new standards for speed and dose reduction, the SOMATOM Definition Flash requires only a fraction of the radiation dose that systems previously required to scan even the tiniest anatomical details faster than ever before. The SOMATOM Definition Flash is a new dual-source CT, featuring two X-ray tubes that simultaneously revolve around the patient’s body. The fastest scanning speed in CT (i.e., 43 cm/s) and a temporal resolution of 75 ms, enable for example complete scans of the entire chest region in just 0.6 seconds. Thus, patients are no longer required to hold their breath during the exam the way they had in the past. At the same time, the SOMATOM Definition Flash operates at an extremely reduced radiation dose. For example, a spiral heart scan can be performed with less than 1 millisievert (mSv), (whereas the average effective dose required for this purpose usually ranges from 8 mSv to 40 mSv), thus, opening up possibilities for using CT scanners for routine cardiological and other examinations.