HELICAL/SPIRAL CT

The term"spiral or
helical" was
coined/created because
it is the apparent motion
of the
Spiral CTxray
hastube during
emerged as a
new andscan.
improved
diagnostic tool. It provides
improved imaging anatomy
comprised by respiratory
Helical scanning brought dramatic
improvement in scanning speed by
eliminating the interscan delay.
There are three basic things to
define a helical process:
1. A continually rotating xray tube
2. Constant xray output
3. Uninterrupted table movement
 Increasing the scan speed results in
improved image resolution owing to the
ability to obtain images with improved
iodinated contrast concentration,
decreased respiratory and cardiac motion
artifac, and superior multiplanar and
three-dimensional reformation
In addition to improved diagnostic
capabilities.
accuracy, the speed associated with
helical scanning is also beneficial in
regards to patient comfort and
SPIRAL CT SCAN PRINCIPLES
When the examination begins, the xray
tube is rotating continously without
reversing.
While the xray tube is rotating, the couch
moves the patient through the plane of the
rotating xray beam.
 SLIP RING
TECHNOLOGY
Slip rings are Electromagnetic devices that
conduct electricity and electrical signals
through rings and brushes across a rotating
surface into a fixed surface.
One surface will be smooth ring and the other,
a ring with brushes that sweep the smooth
ring.
Take note that conventional CT scanning is
performed with a pause between each
gantry rotation.
During the pause, the patient couch is
moved and the gantry may be rewound to a
starting
In Slip ring position.
gantry system, power and
electric signals are transmitted through a
stationary rings within the gantry that make
continous rotation possible and eliminating
the need for electrical cables.
SPIRAL CT SCANNERS HAVE TWO DESIGNS
OF SLIP RING
1. DISK DESIGN. 2. CYLINDER DESIGN. It
It incorporates has the conductive rings
concentric conductive lying parallel to the axis
rings in the plane of of rotation forming a
rotation. cylinder.
 SPIRAL SCAN PITCH
Because RATIO
the patient table moves during
the exposure, a method to measure and
reproduce this motion must be
established.
PITCH is the term that is used to define the
extension or contraction of the helix.
PITCH is simply the ratio of the distance the
table moves (feed) during one 360 degree
tube rotation to the total beam collimation.
Pitch is expressed as a ratio; 1:1 , 1:5 or
2:1 and a Pitch ratio of 1:1 will result in
the best image quality.
 Increasing Pitch above 1:1 increases the
volume of tissue that can be imaged in a
given time.
This ability to image a large volume of tissue
in a single breat-hold is the principal
advantage to Spiral Computed Tomography.
This is particularly helpful in CT
Angiography, Radiation Therapy treatment
planning and imaging uncooperative
 PARTS OF THE CT
SCAN
The gantry
GANTR is the ring-shaped of the CT scanner. It
houses many of the components necessary to
Y
produce and detect xrays.
Gantries vary in total size as well as inin diameter of
the opening or the aperture. The range of the size is
typically 70 to 90cm.
The CT gantry can be tilted either forward or
backward as needed to accomodate a variety of
patients and examination protocols. The degree
of tilt varies among system, but +/-15 to +/- 30
Control panels located
on either side of the
gantry opening allow
the technologist to
control the alignment
lights, gantry tilt, and
table movement. In
most scanners, these
functions may also be
controlled via
 A microphone is
embedded in the
gantry to allow
communication
between the patient
and the technologist
throughout the scan
procedure.
 XRAY
TUBE
A CT scan utilizes a
specialized rotating
anode xray tube which is
designed to produce a
continuous beam of Xray
while rotating around the
patient, allowing for the
capture of multiple
angles to create a 3D
 This tube is a key component of the CT
scanner's gantry and differs from standard
xray tubes due to its high heat capacity and
ability to generate a focused beam of
radiation.
ROTATING ANODE
Unlike in standard xray machines, the anode
in a CT tube is designed to rotate rapidly,
distributing heat across a larger surface area
to prevent overheating during continuous
exposure.
 SMALL FOCAL
SPOThigh image resolution, the CT
To achieve
tube typically has a very small focal spot,
which concentrates the Xray beam.
HIGH POWER
REQUIREMENTS
Due to the continuous radiation needed for
CT scans, Xray tube in a CT scanner
requires a high power supply to generate
the necessary xray intensity.
 The anode cooling rate for a CT scan
typically ranges from 1 MHU/min to several
MHU/min depending on the specific CT
scanner model, with high-end machines
achieving cooling rates as high as 4.8
MHU/min; this essentially refers to the rate
at which the anode can dissipate heat after
an exposure, allowing for rapid subsequent
scans without overheating the tube.
"Anode cooling rate" refers to the speed at
which an anode in an X-ray tube loses heat.
 The heat capacity of a CT scan tube is
typically measured in Mega Heat Units (MHU)
and can range from several MHU to as high as
8 MHU, depending on the specific tube
design, with higher numbers indicating a
greater ability to store heat before
overheating; this high heat capacity is
necessary due to the high heat loading during
• Importance: A high heat capacity allows the
CT scan.
tube to handle prolonged exposure times
and high milliamperage (mA) settings
 A CT tube must be designed to handle such
stress. The way a tube dissipates the heat
that is created during xray production is
critical. All manufacturers list generator and
tube cooling capabilities in their product
specifications.
It is important to remember that these
values represent the upper limit of tube
performance.
 COLLIMATIO
N
Collimators restrict the xray
beam to a specific area,
thereby reducing scatter
radiation. Scatter radiation
reduces image quality and
increases the radiation dose
to the patient. By reducing
the scatter improves the
contrast resolution and
 Purpose of collimation in CT
Scanners:
1. Reduce patient dose by restricting the volume
of tissue irriadiated.
2. It enhances image quality by limiting the
volume of tissue available to generate scatter
radiation.
In Conventional radiography, there is only one
collimator in which it is mounted on the tube
housing, while in CT scanning, there are two
collimators.
 Pre-patient
collimator
Is mounted on the tube
housing or adjacent to it.
It has contoured aperture
for emitting a generally
rectangular shaped x-ray
fan beam.
It limits the area of the
patient that intercepts the
useful beam and thereby
determines the slice
thickness and patient
dose.
 Pre-patient
collimator
As its name implies, the Pre-patient
collimator is positioned between the xray
source and the patient.
For a Single slice CT, it is not only reduces
dose to the patient, it also defines the
slice thickness of the imaging plane.
For the Multislice CT, the slice thickness is
defined by the detector aperture/width
instead of the collimator.
 Post patient
collimator
-Also called Pre-
detector
This collimator restricts the xray field viewed
by the detector array.
It reduces the scatter radiation incident on
the detector, and when properly coupled with
the pre-patient collimator, it helps define the
slice thickness but it do not influence patient
dose.
 Two types of Post patient
collimator
In-plane collimation- is used by third
generation CT scanners to reject scattered
xray photons.
This type of collimator is made of many thin
and highly attenuating plates. These plates
are placed in front of the detector, focusing
on the xray source.
Since the path of the scattered radiation
generally deviates from the original xray
photon path, the plates block the photons
 Two types of Post patient
collimator
Cross-plane collimation- refers to the
thickness of the slice being scanned,
essentially the z-axis dimension, defining
how much tissue is captured in each slice
• Controls the slice thickness, defining how
much tissue is captured in each slice along the
z-axis.
• Primarily determined by the width of the
detector array in a multi-slice CT scanner.
• Can be adjusted to optimize image quality
FILTERS
The xray photons emitted from the xray
tube exhibit a wide spectrum; many soft
( low-energy) xrays are present.
The low energy xrays are most absorbed
by the patient and contributes little to the
detected signal. Therefore it is necessary
to remove these soft xrays to reduce the
dose to the patient.
 FILTERS
To achieve this objective, most CT
manufacturers employ additional xray
filtration to improve the quality of the beam.
The most commonly used filters are the flat
filter and bowtie filter.
The flat filter is typically made of copper or
aluminum and is placed between the xray source
and the patient.
The flat filters modifies the xray spectrum
FILTERS

Some manufacturers
employ a bow tie filter to
modify the intensity of
the xray beam inside the
field of view to further
reduce the patient dose.
DETECTOR ASSEMBLY
To create an image we must
collect infotmation regarding
the degree to which each
anatomic structure attenuated
the beam.
It is an electronic component of
CT scanner that measures
remnant radiation exiting the
patient and converting the
radiation to an analog signal
proportionate to the radiation
intensity measured.
 Must be capable of responding with
extreme speed to a signal witout lag,
must quickly discard the signal and
prepare for the next.
The optimal characterisitcs of a
detector are as follows:
1. High detector effeciency
2. Low/no after glow
3. High scatter suppresion
4. High stability
They must also respond consistently and be
small in size. They are usually placed with a
source-to-image receptor distance of 44
inches (110cm).
Three parameters to measure "Detectore
Dose Efficiency".
1. Capture Efficiency
2. Absorption
Efficiency
 1. Capture Efficiency- is how well the
detectors recieve photons from the
patient and is controlled primarily by the
detector size an distance between
2. Absorptiondetectors.
Efficiency- is how well the
detectors convert incoming x-ray photons and is
determined primarily by the materials used.
3. Conversion Efficiency- is determined by how
well the detector converts the absorbed
photon information to a digital signal for the
 OTHER CHARACTERISTIC OF
STABILITY-DETECTOR:
is controlled by how often the
detectors must be recalibrated to meet
quality controls standard.
RESPONSE TIME- is the time required for the
signal from the detector to return zero after
stimulation of the detector so that it is ready
to detect another xray event.
DYNAMIC RANGE- is the ratio of the largest
signal can be measured to the smallest.
 TWO CLASSIFICATION OF CT
DETECTORS
SOLID STATE DETECTOR
-also calle scintillation
detector
-made of semiconductor
materials like silicon or
germanium. They interact
with X-rays to produce
signals that help create CT
images.
 How they work:
• When X-ray photons hit
the solid-state
detector, they cause
scintillation light to be
produced.
• A pulse of current
develops across the
junction in the detector
when ionizing radiation
 Benefits of solid-state detectors
• Solid-state detectors are more efficient than
gas-filled detectors because they are
denser.
• They require less ionization energy to
generate a single ionization event
Although Solid State/Scintillation detector
crystal are nearly 100% efficient
 Afterglow in a CT scanner's detector
significantly degrades image quality by
causing "ghosting" or "memory effects"
where signals from previous exposures
linger, leading to blurred details, streak
artifacts, and reduced contrast, particularly
in high-speed scans with rapid gantry
rotations, impacting the overall accuracy of
the image interpretation; essentially, the
lingering signal from a previous exposure
 • Afterglow occurs when the scintillator
material in the detector continues to
emit light for a short period even after
the X-ray exposure has stopped, causing
a delayed signal that interferes with the
current acquisition.
However, this has been greatly reduced or
eliminated in modern CT detectors.
Note: Solid-state detectors are more sensitive
to fluctuation in temperature and moisture
that the other variety.
 The earliest scanners
used a Sodium Iodide
Crystal which is quickly
replaced by Bismuth
Germanate.
The current crystal of
choice being used today
are the "Cesium Iodide and
Cadmium Tungstate"
 XENON GAS
A "pressurized xenon gas
DETECTORS
detector" in CT refers to a type
of detector used in computed
tomography (CT) scanners that
utilizes a chamber filled with
pressurized xenon gas to absorb
X-ray photons, converting them
into electrical signals that are
then used to create the CT
image; essentially, the high
pressure allows the xenon gas to
efficiently capture a large
percentage of the X-ray radiation
• Advantages:
⚬ High efficiency: Xenon has a high atomic
number, which allows it to absorb a
significant amount of X-rays, even at
relatively low pressures.
⚬ Stability under pressure: Xenon gas remains
stable under high pressure, making it suitable
for use in a pressurized detector
environment.
⚬ Cost-effective: Compared to other detector
technologies like solid-state crystal
Limitations:
Lower absorption compared to solid-state detectors:
While efficient, xenon gas detectors may not absorb
as many X-rays as solid-state detectors, potentially
impacting image quality in certain situations.
Xenon gas detecor absorbs approximately 60-87%
of the photons that reach them.
Another disadvantage of xenon gas is that it must be kept
under pressure in an aluminum casing. Loss of xray
photons in the casing window and the space taken by the
plates are the major factor hampering the detector
effeciency.
 TWO BASIC DESIGNS OF RADIATION
DETECTORS USED IN TODAY'S CT
SCANNER:
1. Detectors rotate in conjunction with
the xray tube.
2. The Tube rotates within a stationary
array of detectors.
 HIGH VOLTAGE
GENERATOR
A CT scan generator
is a high-voltage
power supply that
produces electricity
for an X-ray tube in a
CT scanner. The
generator's power
capacity determines
the range of exposure
 Generator types
High-frequency generators
• These generators are small, compact, and
more efficient than conventional
generators. They are located inside the CT
gantry.

Three-phase generators
• These generators were previously used in
CT scanners. They were stand-alone units
 Generator output
• The generator usually produces high kV
(120-140 kV) to increase the beam intensity
and reduce patient dose.

Generator power capacity

• The power capacity of the generator is
listed in kilowatts or kW.
 PATIENT
COUCH
It supports the
patient comfortably
and must be
constructed of a low
atomic number
material so that it
does not interfere
with xray beam
transmission and
patient imaging and
to reduce
The CT table may be either
flat or curved. It is made of
carbon graphite fiber to
decrease beam
attenuation.
Because the top must
extend beyond the table
to move the patient into
the gantry aperture, it
The weight capacity of a CT
must be capable of
scan couch is usually 450 lbs
supporting the patient's (204 kg). However, the weight
weight without sagging capacity can vary depending
when fully extended. on the model of the CT
 Section intervals may be
controlled automatically by a
program initiated at the
control console.
The table must also be
capable of vertical
movement, both for
positioning within the
aperture and the ease of
patient transfer.
 PATIENT RESTRAINT
A "patientDEVICES
restraint device" used
during a CT scan is a specialized
tool designed to hold a patient
securely in place during the scan,
typically used when a patient is
unable to remain still due to
medical conditions, anxiety, or age,
ensuring clear and accurate
imaging by minimizing movement
artifacts; examples include
immobilization boards, vacuum
mattresses, head holders, and
 PATIENT RESTRAINT
DEVICES
Considerations:
• Patient comfort: Restraints should be
chosen to minimize discomfort and
potential injury.
• Radiation dose: Some restraint devices
might slightly increase radiation dose
due to additional material in the scan
field.
• Clinical need: Restraints should only be
 COMPUTER
LargeSYSTEM
capacity computer
is required in order that
depending on image
format, as many as 30,000
equations must best
solved simultaneously.
Most computers require a
special and controlled
environment. Consequently,
many CT scan facilities must
An adjacent
have room dedicated to the
computer.
 So most computers are installed in a room
separation from other functions. The reason
for this separation is that, air conditioning
and power requirements for a computer are
critical and must be optimized.
In a computer room, humidity must be
maintained at less than 30% relative and
temperatures must be maintained below 20
degrees celsius. Higher temperature and
humidity can contribute to computer failure.
 At the heart of the computer used in CT are
the Microprocessor and Primary memory.
Microprocessor function:
The microprocessor interprets
and executes instructions,
performs calculations, and
controls the flow of data within
the computer.
Primary memory function:
Primary memory stores data and
instructions that the
microprocessor needs to access Relationship:
• The microprocessor interacts directly with primary
quickly during active processing.
memory to retrieve and store data needed for
immediate operations.
This two determine the time between the end
of the scan and the appearance of an image
called Reconstruction Time.
In a CT scan, "reconstruction time" refers to the
amount of time it takes for the computer to process
the raw data collected during the scan and generate a
visible image, essentially converting the X-ray
projections into a cross-sectional view of the patient's
anatomy through a mathematical calculation process
called image reconstruction; this is a crucial part of
the CT scan procedure, and faster reconstruction
times allow for quicker diagnosis and treatment
Many CT scanners use an"Array Processor"
instead of microprocessor or image
reconstruction.
An array processor is a specialized computer
that performs calculations on CT scan data to
create images. It's a key component of a CT
scanner.
Why is an array processor used in CT scans?
• Speeds up the process of computing images from
raw data
• Enhances the processing power of computer
systems
 OPERATORS
CONSOLE
A CT scanner's
operator console is
the master control
center that allows the
operator to control
the imaging system.
The console may have
multiple stations for
the technologist,
post-processing
Operator functions:
• Select imaging parameters: Choose factors like
slice thickness, table index, and reconstruction
algorithm
• Control gantry and couch: Move the gantry and
patient couch
• Use computer commands: Initiate image
reconstruction and transfer
• Enter patient information: Enter patient data
like name, age, and gender
• Store and archive images: Save images for
future viewing
 A CT scan typically has three consoles - one for the
technologist to operate the imaging system, one for
post-processing images, and another for the physician
to view the images.
Key points about CT scan consoles:
• Operator console: Used by the technologist to control
scan parameters, gantry movement, and patient
couch positioning.
• Post-processing console: Used to manipulate images,
add annotations like patient data, and prepare
images for physician review.
• Physician console: Used by the doctor to view and
analyze the reconstructed CT image