EBCT uses an electron beam to produce a focused arc of x-rays to image very thin slices of your body. The beam is generated from below the scanner couch and travels up through your body to detectors on the scanner ring above. These x-ray beams produce thousands of cross-sectional images of your body which are then amalgamated by a computer to produce incredibly detailed, static or moving, three dimensional pictures that can be viewed from any angle.

EBCT records images in up to 1/20th of a second so that it is able to freeze the motion of the organs, especially the heart, to produce crisp, clear images in a single breath-hold. This speed is particularly important for heart scans as it enables us to see the heart without blurring and without the necessity for you to take drugs to slow a fast or irregular heart beat. It is the only technology approved by the American Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for heart scans because of this accuracy and sensitivity.

The benefits of EBCT over conventional CT scanners

• Lowest radiation dose of all CT scanners (16, 32 and 64 multi-slice CT)
• Scan speed is 5-10 times faster
• Images not affected by motion
• No medication needed before heart scans
• Open scanner reduces claustrophobia
• Scanner is very quiet
• American FDA approved for heart scans

MRI uses a strong magnetic field and radio waves to produce detailed pictures of the inside of your body. The human body is made up of a large number of water molecules that contain hydrogen atoms. The powerful magnet used in MRI draws these atoms to line up in the direction of the magnetic field. The scanner then sends radio waves into the body, which makes some of the hydrogen atoms change direction. Once the scanner is switched off, the atoms move back into place and send out tiny radio waves of their own. The scanner detects these and turns them into a picture. Different types of body tissue have different water content, and therefore contain different amounts of hydrogen atoms. This means that the strength of the radio signal given off by different types of body tissue will vary and enables the scanner to create a detailed image based on the strength and location of the radio signals that are picked up. Although MRI is commonly used to examine parts of the body that are surrounded by bone eg. brain, spinal cord abdomen and pelvis, it is also a very useful technique to investigate injuries to bones, joints and soft tissue.

During a scan you lie on a couch, and a small 'receiving device' is placed behind, or around, the part of your body being scanned. You are then moved into the scanner tube, either head-first or feet-first, depending on which part of your body is being scanned. The scanner is semi-open, which helps to minimise the feeling of claustrophobia. It is important to lie very still during the scan to avoid blurring the images. A typical scan lasts between 15-60 minutes, depending on the size of the area being scanned and how many 'pictures' are taken. MRI scanners make a loud knocking noise due to the small magnets in the machine being turned on and off. Headphones should make this more bearable.

Ultrasound scanning uses high frequency sound waves rather than x-rays to image the internal organs. Sound waves pass through the body and are reflected back by the tissues according to their density. Ultrasound is a useful, non-invasive complementary diagnostic tool to EBCT enabling us to obtain additional information about specific areas of concern. Ultrasound is completely safe and usually non-invasive making it appropriate for adults of any age. In some circumstances, such as examining the prostate gland or reproductive organs, it is the scanning method of choice.