The 256-slice Brilliance iCT scans the heart in two beats to aid in diagnosis and treatment of serious health conditions

 Geelong, Australia – Philips has unveiled its highly anticipated first Brilliance iCT 256-slice scanner in Australia at Geelong’s Barwon Medical Imaging.  The company’s flagship CT product, allows radiologists to produce high-quality images with exceptional acquisition speed, including complete coverage of the heart and brain. It is so powerful it can capture an image of the entire heart in just two beats, while incorporating Philips technology that has reduced radiation doses by up to 80 percent (1) .



“The Brilliance iCT has been installed at over 100 sites around the world, affirming Philips’ leadership standing in the super premium CT segment, CT scanners with 256-slices and above,” said Harry van Dyk, CEO Philips Electronics Australia.



The team at Barwon Medical Imaging is also excited to have the fastest CT machine in Australia.



"The Phillips Brilliance iCT provides better images than our 64 slice scanner for faster diagnosis with less dose. With improved coverage on CT Perfusion, we can better detect early evidence of a stroke," said Dr. David Lun, Senior Radiologist at Barwon Medical Imaging.



The Brilliance iCT features Philips Essence technology, consisting of new X-ray tubes, detectors and reconstruction design elements. This technology can provide detailed and clear 3D images of an entire organ, including the heart and brain, and can also show changes over time. All images also can be accessed on any computer in a hospital or by colleagues and researchers remotely, to make it easier for the whole team to share information.



The scanners deliver key clinical insights for a wide range of applications in the radiology and cardiology settings, while the enhanced visualizations will be valuable for doctors diagnosing and treating problems within the heart. The Brilliance iCT scanner is also designed to reduce patients’ exposure to X-rays. The scan is much quicker, as the machine’s X-ray emitting gantry – the giant ring-shaped part that surrounds the patient – can rotate four times in a single second, which is 22 percent faster than current systems.



 (1) In a retrospective study, the Wisconsin Heart Hospital found that it had achieved an 80-percent dose reduction using the Step & Shoot Cardiac feature compared to previous exams using helical CT angiography techniques.