Hadassah has installed a revolutionary new Computerized Tomography (CT) scanner – the first of its kind in Israel – at its Mt. Scopus University Hospital. The new OPTIMA CT660, manufactured by General Electric, has demonstrated consistent high image quality at a dramatically low dose across examination types and body regions. It produces up to 128 pictures per round, providing information for fast and definitive diagnoses while patients stay calm and comfortable, without anesthesia.
This feature is extremely important when dealing with functioning organs such as the heart and an essential consideration for treating children, trauma victims and patients with neurological problems.
Equally important, the OPTIMA’s reconstruction ASIR system emits 50 percent less radiation per test.
In comparison with conventional scanners, the ASIR system also overcomes the issues of noise and image artifact by actually removing noise instead of masking it, as image-filtering methods do – a significant asset when scanning problematic areas, such as the back lobes of the brain and metal prosthetic joints.
The new scanner’s advanced functions include the ability to scan a large area, such as the entire brain or liver, a major benefit in assessing the damage to patients who have suffered strokes and other brain events. This feature helps identify brain infraction, measure its size and identify brain tissues that can be saved by drug treatment to break up or dissolve blood clots.
The OPTIMA CT660’s navigation system allows physicians to better assess the performance and progress of invasive treatments and allows the guidance of minimally invasive surgery. This function enables quick and accurate access to the affliction, which will significantly shorten the procedure.
The scanner also has an advanced work station, which enables the accurate reconstruction of blood vessels, including those in the heart and virtual reconstructions, including virtual colonoscopy – just a few of its many advantages.