Radiography & Radiology Blog

X-ray machine with lower radiation

DOHA: The Hamad Medical Corporation, as part of its efforts to increase safety standard at hospitals, has introduced a new fluoroscopy C-arm machine which emits lesser radiation. The machine is a part of HMC’s upgradation to a digitalised system.

The machine helps to obtain images of the internal structures of a patient through the use of a fluoroscope. “This kind of fully digitalised radiation detection technology is the first of its kind at HMC,” said Dr Ahmed Omar, Assistant Chairman, Radiology Department, HMC”The technology used in the fluoroscope is different from conventional machines. All the machines here, which perform similar diagnostic procedures, use the conventional X-ray tubes. The flat-panel detectors have replacements of the image intensifier in fluoroscope design. Flat panel detectors offer increased sensitivity to X-rays, and therefore have the potential to reduce patient radiation dose. Temporal resolution is also improved over image intensifiers, reducing motion blurring,” he said.

One of the major revolutions at HMC will be the introduction of PACS (picture archiving and communication systems) later this year. “HMC is in the process of buying the PACS which is like networking systems were we can share images between hospitals. The new digital technology is ready to connect to the PAC system,” he told The Peninsula.

“The concept will change the way we look at things here and we do things here. Every thing will be digitalised so making the system paperless. The system should have been implemented in March but was put off due to some difficulties. This will be in practice by the end of this year or early next year. The system will be introduced in a phased manner at various HMCH hospitals. You need to have the specific equipments which use a compatible computer language. All the equipment is bought ensuring the functionality and ability to connect to the network.”

Any kind of diagnostic procedures which use radiation exposes the patient or the expert operating the machine to a small dose of radiation. Even a simple X-ray also exposes the patient to certain very low radiation.

“All X-ray machines produce radiation. As technologies develop, the manufacturers try minimise the radiation dose. This machine has several ways to reduce radiation dose. It is not tubes it is solid state flat panel detectors. The flat panel detectors have allowed for increased image quality while minimising the radiation dose to the patient,” he said

Unlike the conventional fluoroscopes, the radiation is emitted as a pulse in the new machine during diagnostic procedures. “The conventional machines emit continuous radiation. In the new machine, the radiation is pulsating. The X-ray tube itself is different, which reduces radiation. Thus the machine allows 30 to 40 percent less radiation vis-a-vis conventional machines.” The quality of images is better with post processing capabilities. “The image quality is excellent. Once the image is taken, it can be manipulated using computer workstation because of its digitalised format. In conventional way we depend on hard copies of films. The new technology helps us to handle images on computers and work stations,” said Nasser Al Mutawa. Chief Technologist, HMC.

The digitalization of images can help in many ways. “These images can be manipulated and we can do reconstruction, 3D imaging, remove tissues and concentrate on only a specific region; all with built in functionality of the workstation. This depends mainly on the software with the machine. In this machine we have many soft wares or clinical application. We can do 3D processing look at it in any direction in any plane,” he said.

BY Huda NV

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