3D C-arm CT, also known as mobile 3D C-arm X-ray machine, is an upgraded version of the traditional C-arm by combining 2D and 3D CT technologies. It uses the C-arm to rotate the X-ray tube and flat panel detector around the patient, gathering volumetric scan data through the rotating detector. This data is then processed by a computer to reconstruct images similar to those produced by CT scans.
The 3D C-arm CT employs cone-beam CT (CBCT) imaging technology, while regular CT uses either planar or helical CT scanning techniques. What’s the difference between them? Let’s explore the collection and imaging principles behind 3D C-arm CT and regular CT.
Traditional CT uses a fan-shaped X-ray beam to create cross-sectional images of the body, reconstructing data layer by layer to generate images of each slice. These fan-shaped beams have a certain thickness and can be viewed as a 2D stream.
In contrast, CBCT emits a three-dimensional, cone-shaped beam. The image below illustrates the difference.
Regular CT captures 2D images by rotating the X-ray tube and detector around the patient. Multiple layers are scanned repeatedly to obtain a 3D data set, essentially creating a 3D digital radiograph (DR).
However, CBCT captures a 3D projection in one rotation of the cone-shaped beam and uses algorithms to reconstruct 3D images. This means that CBCT does not require multiple layers of slices. Instead, it reconstructs 3D image data with a single rotation of the cone beam.
Although the quality of cross-sectional images captured by 3D C-arm CT may not match that of traditional CT, its advantages lie in its lower radiation dose and shorter scan time, leading to extensive clinical applications.
In recent years, miniaturization, low radiation, and intelligence have become important trends in the development of 3D C-arm CT. For example, in interventional treatments, reliance on digital subtraction angiography systems (large C-arms) is decreasing. Perlove Medical’s newly launched PLX C7600, a high-power mobile 3D C-arm, is equipped with advanced imaging components. It can generate 3D rotatable images during surgery, allowing doctors to view near-CT-quality images of the patient’s lesion in real time while still in the operating room. It offers faster scanning speeds, completing 190° 3D image acquisition in 30 seconds and 3D image reconstruction in just 8 seconds.
In traditional respiratory intervention surgery, CT guidance is usually done preoperatively in a separate CT room, and then the patient is transferred to the operating room for thoracoscopic surgery. This transfer process introduces risks such as pneumothorax, lung hemorrhage, and needle dislodgement. These risks add to the patient’s discomfort and complexity and bring additional challenges for the surgeon. However, the introduction of Perlove Medical’s 3D C-arm CT has brought a qualitative improvement to this process.
One of the standout features of Perlove Medical’s 3D C-arm CT is its ability to perform one-stop 3D lung image reconstruction within the operating room. This allows surgeons to pinpoint lung nodule locations with submillimeter precision under stable breathing conditions. This precision not only greatly improves the success rate of surgeries but also helps avoid important anatomical structures, such as blood vessels and airways, ensuring the safety and effectiveness of the puncture procedure.
