The DSR: A High-Speed Three-Dimensional X-Ray Computed Tomography System for Dynamic Spatial Reconstruction of the Heart and Circulation
High temporal resolution, full three-dimensional imaging of the heart and circulation is required for accurate basic physiological studies of the structural-to-functional relationships of these organ systems, and for improved diagnostic evaluation and treatment of patients with cardiovascular disorders. A new generation, fully electronic and very rapid whole-body computed tomography system called the Dynamic Spatial Reconstructor (DSR) will provide stop-action (0.01 sec), rapidly sequential (60-per-second), synchronous volume (240 simultaneous transaxial sections) reconstructions and display of the full anatomic extent of the heart throughout successive cardiac cycles, and will permit visualization of the three-dimensional vascular anatomy and circulatory functions in all regions of the body of patients with cardiovascular and other pathological disabilities. The feasibility and potential of a DSR system has been demonstrated by studies using a currently operational single source prototype assembly, the SSDSR, from which full three-dimensional dynamic reconstructions of the thorax and its contents have been obtained.