Computing: inside patients

The patients are positioned inside a ring of about 50 to 100 scintillation detectors, and the ring is rotated and moved in a programmed maimer. As in SPET, the results are evaluated by computer software to give a three-dimensional picture of the distribution of the radionuclide in the organ of interest. The resolution is also of the order of 1 mm. 

Position the patient inside the scanner to the upper limit of the scan as designated by the physician. This position is marked by the computer control on the console. 

By the late 1980 s, fiber-optic technology was in use for such medical applications as the gastroscope, which allowed doctors to look inside a patient and see the image transmitted along the fibers. However, more work was still needed to allow effective and accurate transmission of electronic data for computer work. 

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