Introduction to Clinical Radiography

1
Introduction to Clinical Radiography

• R103 -- SSII 2003
• Unit VIII -- Mobile Equipment Exams

2
Mobile Equipment

• Terminology
• "portable" -- capable of being carried
• "mobile" -- moveable
• Types of equipment
• classified by power source
• conventional outlet
• capacitor
• battery

3
Conventional Power Units

• uses power from wall socket
• many problems
• inadequate power lines
• line voltage fluctuations
• restricted techniques
• bulky, heavy, hard to move

4
Capacitor Discharge Units

• uses temporarily stored electric charge
• wall socket power used to charge capacitors
• stored charge used in exposure
• problems
• limited amount of storage
• limited mAs
• advantages
• small, easy to move
• low

5
Battery Operated Unit

• uses rechargeable batteries
• problems
• weight (power assist to move)
• time for charging
• advantages
• range of kVp mAs
• can be used in power outage

6
Mobile Fluoroscopy

• C-arm units
• Two component parts
• x-ray tube, controls, generator II
• viewing monitor(s)

7
Mobile Radiography

• Patient types
• critically ill patient
• post-op, ICU, CCU, isolation, etc.
• in surgery
• ortho, localization, GB, etc,
• in traction

8
Mobile Exam Types

• chest
• AP projection, erect position
• seated in bed
• IP or cassette propped behind patient
• CR to film in MS plane at T7
• no grid
• beware of lines tubes in patient

9

• abdomen
• AP projection, supine position
• must use stationary grid
• (beware--soft beds tip grid)
• CR alignment as usual
• miscellaneous
• lat decubitus chest or abdomen
• ortho

10
Problems Doing Mobile Exams

• physical set-up of equipment
• room size furniture
• inability to get desired SID
• variable set-up
• more errors in selecting exposure factors
• more motion problems

11

• positioning
• patient condition
• available help
• special precautions
• isolation patients
• usually needs 2 radiographers
• cleaning equipment
• surgery
• sterile fields

12

• radiation protection
• less shielding --- more people
• allow non essential personnel to leave area
• use distance
• 6 extension cord on exposure activating switch
  to allow operator to move away
• wear apron