The New Era of X-ray Imaging

Medical imaging has made vast strides over the past decade. Technologies that were once limited to diagnostic applications are increasingly being used for minimally invasive surgeries, cancer ablations and colonoscopies. Image Guided Interventional techniques(IGI) have not only helped reduce patient recovery duration, but also helped to improve efficiency of treatment.


Modern imaging techniques started with the invention of 2-D X-ray scans. As the popularity of these scans increased, the demand for a more comprehensive coverage of the object also grew. This along with the advances in computing technologies eventually led to 4-slice Computed Tomography(CT) scanners. Today all major players, Philips Medical Systems, GE Medical Systems and Siemens Medical Systems offer multi-slice scanners that can be used in axial mode to quickly scan moving organs or in helical mode to cover the entire human anatomy. Recently Philips has introduced a new 256 slice scanner in its Brilliance iCT series while Toshiba has introduced a 320 slice scanner in its Aquilion series.

As imaging technologies improve and scanners get more intelligent and efficient, the market for diagnostic as well as interventional radiology will continue to grow.

(Note: Image coutesy of Toshiba)