C-ARM X-RAY IMAGE ORIENTATION INTRO

 

C-ARM IMAGE ORIENTATION

INDEX FOR COMMON IMAGE ADJUSTMENT SETTINGS

A – ADJUST IMAGE CLOCKWISE OR COUNTER CLOCKWISE

B – INCREASES MAGNIFICATION OF IMAGE

C – ADJUST COLLIMATION CLOCKWISE OR COUNTER CLOCKWISE

D, E, F – MANUALLY SETS TECHNIQUE (AUTOMATIC RECOMMENDED)

G - FIVE MINUTES OF FLUORO TIME ALARM SHUT OFF

I – LOW DOSE MODE

H, M - AUTOMATIC INDICATOR (RECOMMENDED)

O, N – COLLIMATION

R – SAVE IMAGE TO DIRECTORY

S - (R,R) INDICATORS

Q – SWAP IMAGE TO SECOND SCREEN

(EX. AP VIEW ON 1^ST SCREEN, LATERAL VIEW ON 2^ND SCREEN)

EXAMPLE 1

• PATIENT POSITION SUPINE

• C-ARM PLACED ON THE PATIENTS LEFT SIDE

• RR SETTING OFF = NO LIGHTS ON

• IMAGE APPEARS RIGHT SIDE UP (NOT UPSIDE DOWN) AND CAN BE ADJUSTED CLOCKWISE OR COUNTERCLOCKWISE.

• 

   

ORIENTATION INDICATOR LIGHTS OFF

EXAMPLE 2

• PATIENT PRONE POSITION

• C-ARM PLACED ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE BED

• RR SETTING 1 LIGHT PRESSED (RIGHT RR LIGHT INDICATOR)

• COMMON EXAMPLE IS THE ERCP PROCEDURE

RIGHT RR INDICATOR

        C-ARM PLACED RT SIDE OF BED                                       

                            

                     PRONE POSITION

EXAMPLE 3

• PATIENT SUPINE POSITION

• C-ARM ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE BED (PATIENTS RIGHT)

• RR SETTING 2 LIGHTS ON (BOTH RR INDICATORS PRESSED)
  
   ORIENTATION (RR) BOTH LIGHT INDICATORS PRESSED 

            

                                                                                  PATIENT IN SUPINE POSITION

 C-ARM PLACED ON THE PATIENTS RIGHT SIDE         

CONCLUSION

$$$ EACH BRAND, MAKE AND MODEL OF C-ARM FLUOROSCOPY MACHINES MAY VARY IN DISPLAY FEATURES, AND THE LAYOUT OF THEIR CONTROL PANELS OR TOUCH SCREENS. TODAYS TIPS ARE JUST SOMETHING TO PASS ALONG FOR STUDENTS, NEW TECHS, OR ANYONE STRUGGLING TO HANG THE IMAGES PROPERLY DURING CERTAIN CASES. UNFORTUNATELY, THE C-ARM MAY BE SOMETHING THAT MANY STUDENTS GET THE LEAST TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE USING DURING CLINIC ROTATIONS DEPENDING ON THE STUDENT AND PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS. MANY RAD TECHS, MYSELF INCLUDED, LEARN THE C-ARM AND SURGICAL CASES ON THE JOB. I HAD TO FIGURE IT OUT ON MY OWN OR BY MISTAKES AND HELP FROM SURGEONS. I HEARD A LOT OF TALK ABOUT SMILEY FACE PLACEMENT ON THE GE OEC C-ARMS AND IT NEVER QUITE MADE SENSE TO ME. I HAD SEVERAL TECHS TRY TO EXPLAIN IMAGE ORIENTATION TO ME BUT COULD NEVER QUITE GRASP IT UNTIL I STARTED WORKING AT A SURGERY CENTER AFTER COLLEGE AND FINALLY GOT IT SORTED OUT. THANK GOODNESS. I HOPE MY EXPERIENCE HELPS SOME FOLKS ALONG THE WAY TOO. THANKS FOR YOUR INTEREST AND BEST WISHES ALWAYS.