Siemens has installed Asia’s first SOMATOM Definition Edge CT Scanner with Stellar Detector technology at PSG Hospitals, Coimbatore. The Stellar detector technology helps improve image sharpness without increasing the radiation dose as compared to other single source CT scanners.

With this single source CT scanner, it is now possible for doctors to visualize structures up to 0.3 mm in size even in routine examinations – in fact cardiac stents smaller than 3 mm size can be viewed. The technology thus makes Definition Edge one of the safest scanners for patients, including children and neonates.

SOMATOM Definition Edge, which was launched during Siemens Healthcare’s global initiative Agenda 2013, comes with a rotation speed of 0.28 seconds that enables faster scanning. For example, a normal thorax-abdomen scan of an adult can be performed in around two seconds or a whole body scan of an adult can be done in around eight seconds. This means that patients nearly don’t need to hold their breath during a scan, as needed in conventional CT scanners. Also with patients who cannot stay still for extended periods or with fast moving organs like heart, the shortest possible scanning time minimizes motion artifacts on the image thus generating high resolution images.

Specific measures will be implemented by the end of 2013, have been defined in four fields of action: innovation, competitiveness, regional footprint, and people development.

Sanjay David, business head - CT Scanners, Siemens Healthcare elaborates, said, “The innovative features introduced in the SOMATOM Definition Edge are first-of-its-kind to be witnessed in a single source CT scanner. For instance, in critical cases such as cardiovascular examinations or in emergency diagnostics, every additional visible micrometer can be significant. And this is being made possible with the excellent signal processing of Siemens’ Stellar Detector that comes with Definition Edge. Even in obese patients, superior quality images can be generated, which is otherwise difficult to achieve.”

Dr Vimalkumar Govindan, medical director, PSG Hospitals said, “We at PSG, always put patients first. Their safety and ethical high quality care are our guiding principles.”