“The IQon filters out all the ‘noise’, as it were, thereby providing a really good insight into the bone structure and how it is built up,” explained Anne Schulp. “It's basically making the step from black and white movies to color. In this way, we are able to add depth to Trix’s medical records: we make the invisible visible. It's just really hard to describe the sensation of finding something, seeing something that no one else has ever seen.”

These scans are just the first images. Further investigations will provide even more insights to build up Trix’s medical record. Over the next few months, on-going research with medical experts will aim to reveal more details about Trix’s life.
Philips colors T. Rex Trix’s tail using its Spectral CT technology


“What the IQon is doing is acquiring two different X-ray energy levels in a single acquisition. It’s fantastic to see how a detailed three-dimensional image is built up,” said Julien Milles, Clinical Scientist CT Health Systems, Philips Benelux. “With Trix, we were able to identify and color-highlight bone structure, even with ‘remineralized’ versions of the original bones. So in one picture it is just one white blob. And then all of a sudden, at the click of a mouse, there is the next one where all the details in the bone pop up. And that with a 66 million year old lady!”

This isn’t the first time Philips’ imaging technology has been leveraged for unearthing secrets of the past. In 2015, Philips’ CT scanners were used to study bones of the bodies of people who died in Pompeii, giving archeologists a view into the daily lives, health and habits of the citizens of Pompeii.

For more information on the Philips IQon Spectral CT, visit www.philips.com/iqon.

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