Information Regarding Mobile C Arm

By Jerry Thomas


The C arm fluoroscopic X ray device is used in diagnostic imagining and a number of minimally invasive surgeries. Most of the time, they are used in operating rooms (ORs) in a number of procedures where they aid in visualizing. For example, they are used in visualizing orthopedics, neurology procedures, kidney drainage, pain management, cardiac procedure, gastroenterology, percutaneous valve replacements, neuro stimulation and vascular surgery among many others.

In the C-arm market, the players available are few in the United States. Some of the players in this market are GE Healthcare, Siemens, Ziehm Imaging, and Philips. There are two classifications of mobile C arm sizes. These sizes are mini and standard size. The size of mini C-arms is smaller and they are used in sports medicine, podiatric, and orthopedic. Mini C-arms are mostly found in clinics and are used in applications that are lighter.

Outside the United States, there are also several producers of these machines. Examples of companies that lead in the market outside of the United States are Hitachi, Shimadzu, Ziehn, and Philips. Ziehm is a German-based company that is also a market leader in the whole of the European continent. It entered the US market a few years ago and continues to push its way in strongly.

The new versions of these machines are not like the old versions. The new machines have the capability to perform 3-D aids. The software for processing images is incorporated in them so that the quality of the image and system capabilities can be improved. A case where the cardiac and vascular models of the system use advanced processing algorithms, MTS, and motion tolerant subtractions is an example of image quality improvement. Real time subtraction without use of images that are masked is allowed for by this algorithm.

MTS helps the surgeon to perform a complete extremity run-off using only one imaging run and one contrast media injection. There are certain devices that are made to help reduce the dose a patient is exposed to during surgery. The modern versions of C-arms also contain features like procedure road-mapping, laser aiming guides, touch screen, digital subtraction angiography and laser aiming guides. These incorporations are used to ease the planning of vascular procedures with minimum amounts of contrast media and less fluoroscopy.

Most modern c-arms are designed to utilize image intensifiers. They also use CCD cameras where CCD stands for charge-coupled device. The introduction of flat-panel detector system was first introduced by Ziehm when it introduced its VFD flat-panel detector mobile c-arm. After Ziehm introduced this system, Philips followed later in 2009 by releasing its Veradius system.

Producers of these devices have mentioned some advantages that they have. First, compared to predecessors, flat-panel detectors are able to produce better and quality images. Secondly, the devices occupy a smaller space in the OR since they are of a smaller size. Therefore, more space can be left for other systems in the OR. In addition, the operation team is able to perform procedures and move freely.

Another advantage associated with flat-panel detectors is that they have a larger field of view. This field of view is never affected in any way by geometrical distortions. Magnetic distortion that often affects other systems does not affect flat-panel detectors. This makes it possible to have the system positioned freely.




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