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This artifact is an X-ray image taken by Wilhelm Röntgen in 1895. This artifact shows the first documented use of electromagnetic radiation to view internal structures. The discovery of X-rays changed medicine entirely because it allowed doctors to see inside the human body without the need for invasive surgery. Early X-ray technology had limitations, though, such as poor image resolution and difficulty distinguishing soft tissues. This laid the groundwork for the search for more advanced imaging techniques, eventually leading to the development of computed tomography.

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Information and image - https://www.sciencelearn.org.nz/resources/1024-dr-wilhelm-roentgen

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The Evolution of Early Tomographic Techniques

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The Evolution of Early Tomographic Techniques

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This artifact is an orthopantomograph, which uses focal plane tomography. In the early 1930s, focal plane tomography was developed by Dr. Bernard George Ziedses des Plantes. The development of focal plane tomography was a key precursor to modern computed tomography. This imaging technique was developed to enhance visualization by focusing on a specific plane within the body while blurring out the surrounding parts of the body such as the lungs and kidneys. This method greatly improved the ability to diagnose and laid the groundwork for CT technology by demonstrating the advantages of reconstructing sectional images.

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Information and image - https://graphsearch.epfl.ch/en/concept/53857595

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The Philips Polytome and Advancements in Rotational X-Ray Imaging

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The Philips Polytome and Advancements in Rotational X-Ray Imaging

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This artifact is a Philips Polytome, a pioneering rotational X-ray machine developed in the 1950s. The Philips Polytome was designed to improve medical imaging by utilizing focal plane tomography, a technique that allowed radiologists to focus on specific anatomical layers while blurring out surrounding structures. This advancement significantly enhanced diagnostic capabilities, particularly in the visualization of complex bone structures and soft tissues. The Polytome's ability to generate clearer sectional images directly influenced the development of computed tomography, as it demonstrated the value of rotational imaging techniques in producing cross-sectional views of the body.

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Information and image - https://www.researchgate.net/figure/a-The-Philips-polytome-1952-capable-of-linear-circular-and-spiral-relative-movement_fig6_316827574

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Allan Cormack's Theoretical Contributions to CT Scanning

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Allan Cormack's Theoretical Contributions to CT Scanning

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This artifact is an image of equations from Cormack’s 1963 paper establishing the ability to describe an object as a function of its line integrals. In this paper, Cormack outlined the mathematical principles that would later enable CT imaging. Cormack, a South African physicist, developed the theoretical framework for reconstructing cross-sectional images from X-ray data. His work introduced the concept of using complex mathematical algorithms to process X-ray projections, which became the basis for computed tomography.

Source:

Information and image - https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10644676/

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This artifact is an image of the prototype of the first CT scanner. This prototype was designed by Godfrey Hounsfield, who based it on Allan Cormack's theoretical work as well as what was described by a colleague as a "crazy idea" which Hounsfield described was wanting to depict the inside of objects in individual layers, “like putting the object through a bacon slicer.” This device used X-ray beams and computer algorithms to generate high-resolution images, marking a transformative moment in medical imaging.

Source:

Information and image - https://www.medmuseum.siemens-healthineers.com/en/stories-from-the-museum/history-of-ct

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The First CT Brain Scan in Medical History

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The First CT Brain Scan in Medical History

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This artifact is the first-ever CT scan image, taken in 1971 from a patient with a suspected brain tumor. The scan provided an unprecedented level of detail, allowing doctors to pinpoint abnormalities with remarkable accuracy. This groundbreaking application demonstrated the medical potential of CT scanning, leading to widespread use in hospitals around the world.

Source:

Information and image - https://theconversation.com/50-years-ago-the-first-ct-scan-let-doctors-see-inside-a-living-skull-thanks-to-an-eccentric-engineer-at-the-beatles-record-company-149907

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This artifact is a photograph of the manufacturing floor at Varian Instruments in the 1970s, one of the key companies involved in the production of CT scanning technology. During the late 20th century, Varian played a big part in improving functionality of CT scanners. The manufacturing advancements at Varian ensured that CT technology became more widely accessible, improving imaging resolution and reducing scanning times. These production improvements helped transition CT scanning from an experimental medical breakthrough to a mainstream tool used in hospitals everywhere.

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Information and image - https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8555965/

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The Introduction of Contrast Agents in CT Scanning

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The Introduction of Contrast Agents in CT Scanning

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This artifact is an image of a CT scan before and after using contrast. Contrast-enhanced CT scans were introduced in the late 1970s, marking a significant improvement in diagnostic imaging. While CT technology had already shown how significant it is for the field of medicine, the introduction of contrast agents allowed for better visualization of blood vessels, tumors, and internal organ structures. By injecting iodine-based contrast dyes, radiologists could now distinguish between different tissue densities, improving the accuracy of diagnoses.

Source:

Information and image - https://medium.com/towards-data-science/the-basics-of-contrast-enhanced-ct-eba2ab7f3c78

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This artifact is an early 1990s spiral CT scan, which introduced continuous patient movement during imaging, vastly improving scanning efficiency. Unlike earlier CT methods that captured individual slice images with pauses between each, spiral (or helical) CT scanning allowed for uninterrupted image acquisition. This resulted in shorter scan times, reduced patient exposure to radiation, and improved image clarity. The introduction of spiral CT transformed the ability of radiologists to diagnose conditions more quickly and accurately, particularly in detecting tumors and vascular abnormalities.

Source:

Information and image - https://www.researchgate.net/figure/From-1990-spiral-volumetric-CT-scans-of-a-solitary-nodule-arrows-in-a-45-year-old-man_fig11_267731585

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This artifact is a graph from 2010 of CT imaging units per million people, demonstrating how computed tomography has become one of the most widely used medical imaging tools worldwide. These numbers are a demonstration of how CT scanning has been implemented in nearly every major hospital, assisting in the diagnosis of countless diseases, from strokes and cancers to trauma-related injuries. The continued refinement of CT technology has resulted in reduced scan times, lower radiation doses, and improved image clarity.

Source:

Image and information - https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/availability-of-computed-tomography-ct-imaging?tab=chart&time=earliest

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Contemporary Entry: AI and Machine Learning in CT Image Analysis

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Contemporary Entry: AI and Machine Learning in CT Image Analysis

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This artifact is an image of an AI-powered CT image analysis system. Recent advancements in artificial intelligence and machine learning have significantly improved the accuracy of CT scan interpretation. AI tools help radiologists by detecting abnormalities, predicting disease progression, and reducing diagnostic errors. This innovation represents the next development in medical imaging, building on Cormack’s foundational work to further enhance patient care.

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Information and image - https://healthimaging.com/topics/medical-imaging/computed-tomography-ct/new-ai-enabled-ct-scanner-officially-available-north-america

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Allan MacLeod Cormack: The Physicist Behind CT Scanning

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Allan MacLeod Cormack: The Physicist Behind CT Scanning

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This artifact is an image of Allan MacLeod Cormack, the Nobel Prize-winning physicist who laid the theoretical foundation for computed tomography. Born in South Africa in 1924, Cormack pursued physics and mathematics, later applying his expertise to medical imaging. His groundbreaking research in the 1960s provided the mathematical framework necessary for reconstructing CT images. Though initially overlooked, his work gained recognition when CT scanners became a reality in the 1970s.

Source:

Information and image - https://www.britannica.com/biography/Allan-MacLeod-Cormack