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'SA scanner on US TV show'

A scanning device designed, built, and distributed in South Africa was showcased on United States TV show Grey's Anatomy.

The cast of Grey's Anatomy gathered around the machine, built by Lodox, and looked on in awe as it did an entire body x-ray of an injured person in 13 seconds -- a procedure that would take around 20 minutes with conventional x-rays.

According to the report the Lodox device was the first and only full-body, high-speed digital x-ray scanner.

It was originally developed for security screening on South Africa's diamond mines, but Lodox Systems developed the technology for medical use.

Lodox chief executive Pieter de Beer was swelling with pride over the x-ray from his company being shown on one of the US's top shows.

"Grey's is only TV, but in real life, doctors in South Africa and international hospitals are saving lives with Lodox and using our technology for the most effective trauma management," De Beer was quoted as saying.

He said he got a phone call that the show intended to use the device and was amazed.

Locally, the scanner could be found at 13 public hospitals and one private one, as well as in two mortuaries where it helped determine cause of death.

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