The Advantages of Cone-Beam CT Scanners

 

 

 

How Cone-Beam CT is Superior

Computed tomography imaging, also known as computed axial tomography scanning, involves the use of rotating x-ray equipment, combined with a digital computer, to acquire images of the body. Using CT imaging, cross sectional images of body organs and tissue can be produced. Though there are many other imaging techniques, CT imaging has the exceptional capability of offering clear images of different types of tissue. CT imaging can provide views of soft tissue, bone, muscle, and blood vessels, without giving up on precision and clarity. Other imaging techniques are much more limited in the types of images they can provide.

Cone-beam CT scanner is a compact, quicker and safer version of the regular CT. Through the use of a cone-shaped x-ray beam and a flat panel detector, the size of the scanner, radiation dosage and time needed for scanning are all spectacularly reduced. A typical cone-beam CT scanner can fit easily into any dental (or other medical) practice and is easily accessible by patients. The time needed for a full scan is minimal and the radiation dosage is up to a hundred times less than that of a standard CT scanner.

All About X-Rays and X-Ray Tubes

 

 

 

The History of X-Ray

X-rays are capable of penetrating some thickness of matter. Medical x-rays are produced by letting a stream of fast electrons come to a sudden stop at a metal plate. It is believed that X-rays emitted by the sun or stars also come from fast electrons.

The images produced by X-rays are due to the different absorption rates of different tissues. Calcium in bones absorbs X-rays the most, so bones look white on a film recording of the X-ray image, which is called a radiograph. Fat and other soft tissues absorb less, and look gray. Air absorbs the least, so lungs look black on a radiograph.

Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen discovered an image cast from his cathode ray generator, projected far beyond possible range of the cathode rays. Further investigation showed that the rays were generated at the point of contact of the cathode ray beam on the interior of the vacuum tube, that they were not deflected by magnetic fields, and they penetrated many kinds of matter.

A week after his discovery, in 1895, Rontgen took an X-ray photograph of his wife’s hand which clearly revealed her wedding ring and her bones. The photograph electrified the general public and aroused great scientific interest in the new form of radiation. Röntgen named the new form of radiation “X-radiation”, therefore the term X-rays.

How Digital Tomosynthesis is Used

 

 

What is Digital Tomosynthesis?

Digital tomosynthesis is a technique of generating images of slices through the body using a general radiographic X-ray system with a direct digital radiography detector. This is accomplished by obtaining a large, representative number of low-dose acquisitions across a range of projection angles of the X-ray tube. Currently, tomosynthesis is an optional add-on for suitable direct digital radiographic systems (flat panel detectors). The additional software controls the movement of the X-ray tube and the reconstruction of the images.

The primary interest in tomosynthesis is in breast imaging, as an extension to mammography, where it may offer better detection rates with little extra increase in radiation exposure.
Tomosynthesis can be also used in place of a number of other radiographic imaging techniques. Studies have been undertaken for a range of clinical examinations including chest, dental and orthopedic imaging and in localization of brachytherapy seeds.

Extracorporeal Shockwave Lithotripsy Defined

 

 

 

What Extracorporeal Shockwave Lithotripsy is Used For

Extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy is the most commonly prescribed treatment for kidney stones. The technique uses shockwaves to break up stones, so that they can easily pass through the urinary tract. Most people can resume normal activities within a few days. Complications of extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy include blood in the urine, bruising, and minor discomfort in the back or abdomen.

In extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy, shockwaves that are created outside the body travel through the skin and body tissues until they hit the denser kidney stones. After the stones have been hit, they will break down into sand-like particles that are easily passed through the urinary tract in the urine.

Medical Equipment Leasing & Financing Solutions

Purchasing Medical Equipment
The process of purchasing medical equipment is important and should be carefully evaluated. The first step is to identify your precise needs, and then calculate what your medical practice can afford. Then choose the manufacturer and model that best suits those needs, find several models on MedWOW, contact the vendors selling it and compare offers. The next step is usually assessing your medical equipment financing options.
Is Buying New Medical Equipment Cost Effective?
Equipment vendors can be an excellent source when evaluating how much revenue a new, used or refurbished medical equipment system will generate. Based on your patient demographics, they can assist you in evaluating how many of your patients will use the medical equipment on a monthly average. It is important to make note of how many referrals for specific tests are made to other medical facilities, that could be taken care of if you buy new medical equipment. How long will it take you to break even? How long will it take before you make a profit and realistically, how many tests can you perform on a daily basis. These kinds of calculations can make all the difference in your long-term projections.
Review Costs and Benefits Before Purchasing Medical Equipment
Be sure to examine all potential costs and benefits associated with buying new or refurbished medical equipment. Some benefits are obvious, while there are many advantages clinic administrators may not have thought of, such as recruiting physicians straight out of residency who have been trained on and prefer to work with the latest medical equipment. Many are very technologically savvy and can make good use out of the latest, cutting-edge medical equipment technologies.
Medical Equipment as a Marketing Tool
Upgraded medical equipment can also work as an effective marketing tool for your practice or hospital department. Targeting your patient population and what medical equipment would most benefit their specific needs and basing your medical equipment purchase based on that is a solid way to attract new patients. It is important to be as creative as possible when looking at how new medical equipment can augment your medical facility in as many ways as possible.

News About PACS Workstations

 

 

What is a PACS Workstation?

The radiological workstation is the most important part of the Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS), since staff radiologists work with it almost all day long.

The picture archiving and communication system is designed to store, retrieve and transfer digital medical images. A PACS integrates image data from system to system, allowing for transfers within and between healthcare settings. This facilitates the availability of both images and image-related data at the point of care, as and when required. Most PACS handle images from various medical imaging instruments, including: ultrasound, magnetic resonance, positron emission tomography, computed tomography, endoscopy, mammograms, digital radiography, computed radiography, ophthalmology, etc. Additional types of image formats are always being added. Clinical areas beyond radiology: cardiology, oncology, gastroenterology and even the laboratory are creating medical images that can be incorporated into PACS.

What is a PACS Used For?

The main uses of PACS are:

• Hard copy replacement: PACS replaces hard-copy based means of managing medical images, such as film archives. With the decreasing price of digital storage, PACS provide a growing cost and space advantage over film archives in addition to the instant access to prior images at the same institution. Digital copies are referred to as soft-copy.
• Remote access: PACs expands on the possibilities of conventional systems by providing capabilities of off-site viewing and reporting (distance education, telediagnosis). It enables practitioners in different physical locations to access the same information simultaneously for teleradiology.
• Electronic image integration platform: PACS provides the electronic platform for radiology images interfacing with other medical automation systems such as: Hospital Information System (HIS), Electronic Medical Record, Practice Management Software and Radiology Information System (RIS).
• Radiology Workflow Management : PACS is used by radiology personnel to manage the workflow of patient exams.

Forced-Air Warming Systems Explained

How Can Hypothermia be Prevented in Medical Settings?

Unplanned hypothermia (a core temperature of less than 36 degrees C) can negatively impact patients in many ways. Even mild hypothermia may contribute to complications such as: surgical site infection, altered drug metabolism, impaired blood clotting, cardiovascular ischemia, prolonged recovery following surgery and shivering.

It is maintained by many professionals in the field that active patient warming is associated with normalizing patient temperature. The literature supports the use of forced air warming devices for normalizing patient temperature and reducing shivering. In addition, the literature suggests that forced-air warming is associated with reduced time in recovery. Also, it is agreed that both the perioperative maintenance of normothermia and the use of forced-air warming reduce shivering and improve patient comfort and satisfaction. It is recommended that normothermia should be a goal during emergence and recovery, and that when available, forced-air warming systems should be used for treating hypothermia.

Inadvertent perioperative hypothermia is a common and preventable complication of surgery. Inadvertent perioperative hypothermia is defined when the core body temperature is drops below 36⁰C and is associated with poor outcomes for patients.