Technology Update

Multislice CT LightSpeed QX/i

Based on the unique Lighspeed Matrix Detector technology - the Lightspeed QX/i delivers 4 images (slices) per 360 0 rotation, as against 1 image per rotation of a single-slice system. The LightSpeed QX/i uses a high performance 64 bit Silicon Graphics computer system and integrates the Performix 6.3 MHU X-ray tube.

How it works :

Single-slice systems collimate the x-ray beam to the desired slice thickness and focus it on the center of the detector arc. Changing slice thickness is easy - simply open the collimator to increase the width of the x-ray beam. A single data set is acquired for each 360° rotation of the x-ray tube.

With the LightSpeed Matrix Detector, the technology is much more complex. The x-ray beam is collimated to a wider thickness and focussed on the central 4, central 8, central 12 or all 16 rows of detectors. Simultaneously, the data acquisition system selects which elements to acquire data from, using proprietary switching technology. For each 360° rotation, four separate data sets are acquired.

What you get :

With single-slice you get one image for each rotation. With LightSpeed you get much more. Using proprietary reconstruction algorithms, you get 1,2 or 4 images with each rotation. The advantages : better image quality with reduced partial volume artifacts at 1 image per rotation; better image quality and speed with 4 images per rotation.

How Fast Is It?

LightSpeed axial is 4x faster than single-slice axial, and 2x faster than single-slice, 1:1 pitch helical!