Added: 02/02/2006 |
Micro Computer Tomographs, LithotriptersComputer tomography is the best way to diagnose the state of the internal organs to find out if a surgical operation is required. The first tomographs were invented in the seventies. Modern surgery is impossible without tools that help diagnose various diseases. Thirty years ago tomography scanners were very large and awkward. It took several hours to process the data and generate the images.
The next generation of tomographs used a very thin beam of X-rays with detectors. Every beam is directed to its detector and is responsible for a certain area of scanning. Such tomography scanners were moving with rotating X-ray generators and detectors. Scanning time was reduced significantly to five minutes. The following generation of tomographs generated fan-shape X-rays allowing to reduce scanning time.
Micro computer tomographs have appeared quite recently. With the development of faster and more compact computers a much faster acquisition of images was achieved. Computer-aided tomographs are now used in tomography successfully to diagnose a disease and to receive very important information on various tissues. Particularly computer tomographs are used in lithotripsy. Lithotripters are medical devices used to treat stones in kidneys, gallbladder and other internals.
The mechanism of lithotripters consists in destroying and removing stones by using ultrasound. The first lithotripters date back to 1983. During the next several years lithotripters (Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy, or ESWL for short) revolutionized the treatment of calculosis. More than two million patients are treated with lithotripters in the United States alone. The use of lithotripters is combined with micro computer tomographs - devices allowing information to be gathered on the kidney, gallbladder and liver stones.
Since lithotripsy means a non-invasive removal of stones it is necessary to reduce possible collateral damage that it may give to neighboring organs. The area of application of lithotripters has to be very precise. That is why micro computer tomographs are widely used to locate the areas as precisely as possible. Lithotripsy is quite a painful experience as the power of lithotripters is gradually getting increased in order to break stones more effectively.
Power degree depends on a pain threshold the patient can stand. Shock waves generated by lithotripters break stones very effectively, however if an area of application is located near bone tissue the patient can experience unpleasant sensations. Depending on a patient the process of lithotripsy can take from one hour. In some cases a patient can see the process of treatment.
Micro computer tomographs display images of stones on the screen and the patient can see the process of the stones dissolution from solid pieces to fuzzy fractions that can be excreted through the urethra. Not all non-invasive methods of treatment are deprived of complications and lithotripters are no exception. Too extensive of a use of lithotripters can lead to capillary rupture.
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