Thursday 2 August 2018

Facts About C Arm X Ray

By Elizabeth Burns


C-arm is a name referring to a machine used in imaging, and it is based on x-ray technology. The basic principle behind it is that it intensifies scanned images and is flexibly used in health facilities in different surgical rooms. The term C-arm is a derivation from a C-shaped arm used as a connection of the detector to the X-ray source. In spite of the c arm x ray machine being capable of radiography, they are applied in intraoperative fluoroscopic imaging mostly.

These devices are usually used in surgical procedures, emergency care, orthopedic, cardiology and traumatology. There have been various improvements made on the device since it was first introduced in the field of medicine during the year of 1955. This device is used to give real-time X-ray images that are of high resolution. This makes it possible for surgeons to be able to oversee and make corrections straight away when needed during a surgical procedure.

Some models of these machines are permanently fixed in the place that they are installed. On the other hand, others are made so that they can be moved from one place to another. Those that can be moved are referred to a mobile of portable C-arms. Mobile C-arms are composed of a generator and a flat-panel detector. A flat-panel detector is also called an image intensifier.

The C-shaped connecting component of the machine usually allows a wide range of movements. For instance, it can move vertically, horizontally, and around the swivel axes. These movements make it possible for the machine to produce x-ray images of the patient from any angle the physician wants. The generator produces x-rays which are directed to the part of the body that needs to be x-rayed.

The x-rays first get into contact with the skin and pass through the body, to meet the detector which detects and converts the rays to visible images. A monitor is used to display the produced images. Physicians use the images to study anatomical details including bones. In addition, they can check the location of implants and surgical tools inside the body.

Nowadays, flat-panel detectors are being used commonly. Image intensifiers (II) were commonly used in the past as elements of detecting images in a fixed room system. Detectors have more advantages that include lower patient dose and increased image quality and for this reason they are becoming more popular. In addition, detectors produce images that are more durable.

Compared to image intensifiers, flat-panel detectors are more expensive. Flat-panel detectors are still preferred despite being pricey since they are small in size unlike image intensifiers. These detectors are easier to use due to their small size.

The market of C-arms is controlled by a few major manufacturers. These manufacturers include Siemens, Philips, Ziehm, and GE healthcare. Each manufacturer tries to improve on a certain aspect of the equipment to make their models better. Some of the aspects that manufacturers compete in include size, image quality, portability, price and x-ray doses among many others. As a result of the competition, the prices of these devices have continuously gone down.




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