The Diagnostic Center “Asklipios Diagnosis” has installed the Ultramodern CT-Scanner SOMATOM DEFINITION FLASH made by Siemens.
The diagnostic center “Asklipios-Diagnosis”, based in Heraklion, Crete, proceeded to the installation of the innovative CT-Scanner SOMATOM DEFINITION FLASH made by Siemens. It is a system that consists the capstone of long-term research efforts for the creation of a system that is friendly to the patient and – most importantly – uses the lowest possible radiation dose. The innovative technical features of SOMATOM DEFINITION FLASH, as its unique spiral scanning speed (280 milliseconds) and its large diameter (Gantry 78 cm), simplify even the most difficult examinations, minimizing the time that is needed to perform them. More particularly, the heart examinations and the examinations of coronary arteries are performed in less than one second, without breath holding being necessary for the examined patients, while the scan of the entire human body does not last more than five seconds. The SOMATOM DEFINITION FLASH Scanner is an ultramodern 2 x 128 section system. It has two X-ray tubes, which have the capacity of output of different energy amounts without additional radiation burden, which consists a global innovation by Siemens. The medical images it provides are of high resolution and allow the depiction of even the tiniest anatomical and functional details (e.g. the exact separation of bones, calcifications and tissues), significantly improving the reliability of the diagnosis. For the diagnostic center “Asklipios-Diagnosis” the protection of the patient against radiation is the main priority. Based on this criterion, the diagnostic center proceeded to the selection of the CT-Scanner SOMATOM DEFINITION FLASH, which has the innovative technology FLASH SPIRAL / X – CARE. This technology regulates radiation depending on the characteristics of the patient and the type of the examination, maintaining the speed and resolution of the examination. In this way, all vulnerable organs are protected, such as the breasts or the thyroid gland, since their exposure to radiation is reduced by up to 40%. Furthermore, in the CT coronary angiography, a reduction, at least by ten times, of the radiation is achieved, compared to the radiation emitted by conventional CT-scanning systems. This radiation amount is three times less than the annual dose of radiation the average person receives from natural environment, as the latter is determined by United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation. This does not exceed 0.8 mSv. At the same time, the SOMATOM DEFINITION FLASH CT-Scanner offers the possibility of early diagnosis of coronary heart disease, through the scan of the heart in only 250 milliseconds, or even in the most difficult cases such as tachycardias or arrhythmias. In order to cover the needs of modern dentists and oral and maxillofacial surgeons, the SOMATOM Definition Flash CT-Scanner is equipped with the Syngo® Dental CT software. With this software, panoramic images of the jaws can be created automatically at the end of the examination, as well as sections along the dental arch. The CT spiral scanning imaging lasts only a few seconds and is performed without any inclination of the patient’s head. Syngo® Dental CT is a valuable tool for the preoperative planning of implants, the study of the structures of the jaws and the localization of the alveolar nerve. SOMATOM DEFINITION FLASH is the most reliable CT-Scanner for examinations of the heart, brain, limbs and vessels. It uses significantly less radiation, while its unique features consist a quality guarantee for the examination and ensure the accuracy of the diagnosis.