EMI CT Brain Scanner

Patients would lie on this blue couch unit while the EMI brain scanner produced a computerised tomography (CT) scan of their brain. Developed in 1971 by EMI, detailed pictures of patients’ brains could be seen for the first time. Godfrey Hounsfield (1914-2004) invented the technique, which constructed a picture from measurements made by an X-ray source and detector rotating around the patient. Previously, X-rays could only image the brain after it had received hazardous injections of air or special liquids.

The EMI brain scanner was the first to be adopted in substantial numbers for medicine. Today, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) has taken over much of the work of CT scanning. This example was installed at Atkinson Morley's Hospital in Wimbledon, London, a specialist neuroscience hospital.

Images from the CT scanner are shown on a computer console (made by Data General) and can be printed and analysed by physicians and surgeons. Developed in 1971 by EMI, detailed pictures of patients’ brains could be seen for the first time. Images are made using a technique called computerised tomography (CT) where a picture is made from measurements made by an X-ray source and detector rotating around the patient. Godfrey Hounsfield (1914-2004) invented the technique in the early 1970s.

The EMI brain scanner was the first to be adopted in substantial numbers for medicine. Today, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) has taken over much of the work of CT scanning. This example was installed at Atkinson Morley’s Hospital in Wimbledon, London, a specialist neuroscience hospital.