CHICAGO, Nov. 25—Billed as the newest system able to scan the heart in two beats, Philips Medical Systems today debuted the 256-slice Brilliance iCT scanner at the 93rd annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) in Chicago. Brilliance iCT can capture an image of the entire heart in just two beats as well as reduce radiation dose for patients by 80 percent, the company said. Scan time is much quicker as well, as the gantry rotates four times in a single second—22 percent faster than current systems.

Brilliance iCT and a new 64-channel system both feature 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, Philips said. To date, more than 30 CT systems with Essence technology have been shipped.