Final answer:
Xenon detectors are not commonly used in modern CT scanners, which often employ continuous rotation technology and multi-detector configurations for faster and more detailed imaging. Fourth-generation technology is also not typical in today's CT systems.
Step-by-step explanation:
The components commonly not used in today's commercially available CT scanners include xenon detectors. Xenon detectors were utilized in earlier generations of CT technology, but have largely been replaced by more modern detectors, such as solid-state detectors. Furthermore, fourth-generation CT technology, which includes a rotating X-ray source and a stationary ring of detectors, isn't typically used in modern CT systems. Today, the most commonly used system is the multi-detector CT (MDCT), offering faster scanning times and higher resolution images. Additionally, continuous rotation technology is a standard feature in contemporary CT scanners, allowing for quicker image processing and less radiation exposure to the patient.
CT or CAT scans, also called computed axial tomography scans, use X-ray radiation to create cross-sectional images of the body. A CT scanner includes an X-ray source and a detector array that are mechanically attached and rotate around the patient. This mechanism allows for the acquisition of multiple images from various angles, which a computer then processes to produce highly detailed cross-sectional images or three-dimensional reconstructions of tissues and organs.