Respiratory System

Arthoscope

Bronchoscope

X - Ray

Apnea Monitor

CAT Scans

Stethoscope

Usage: The patient lies on a movable platform which is moved into a donut-shaped structure that contains the CAT scanner

Portable: No

Parts of Machine:

• X-ray tube – produces x-rays
• X-ray detector – detects x-rays reflected from the patient’s body
• Movable platform – on which the patient’s body is placed
• Processor - combines information from each scan to form a 3-dimensional image of the body
  

The CAT (Computerized axial tomography) scanner uses x-rays to scan inside the body. The main difference between it and the regular x-ray machine is that while the x-ray machine gives a 2-dimensional scan and that smaller structures can be blocked by larger structures, the 3-dimensional CAT scan shows all hidden structures.

The CAT machine has a shape like a donut. The patient lies down on a platform which moves through the machine. The X-ray tube is mounted on a movable ring around the machine, which also supports an array of X-ray detectors directly opposite the X-ray tube. The ring turns so that the X-ray tube and the X-ray detectors revolve around the body. Each full revolution scans a narrow part of the body. The platform is moved automatically further into the hole, so that another portion of the body can be scanned.

• Hidden structures are shown
• More detailed x-ray images are obtained

• The CAAT scanner is large, bulky, and expensive, and so can only be installed in a limited number of locations

• How Stuff Works Resources
• http://www.cchs.net/
• http://www.vss.org/