Radiology C-arm, New Technology

SWMC implemented another imaging improvement with the addition of the OEC 9800 Plus Mobile C-arm. The portable device will be used primarily for surgery procedures. However there is a speech therapy application available for Rehabilitation Services. In the case of surgery, a physician can perform minimally invasive surgery without the line-of-sight restrictions. This is a fancy way of saying that the C-arm acts as a third eye where the doctor can see extremely detailed real-time images throughout the surgery. As far as speech therapy goes, the C-arm is used to analyze the structure and function of swallowing. The clear benefit of the Carm is improved image quality and faster procedure times.

The Radiology Department tested many models over a period of months before deciding on this device. The OEC 9800 Plus features a tungsten collimator and online preview display that allows the user to preview the image before the next exposure, thereby lowering the X-ray dose emitted during a procedure. Because the equipment is a digital system and features a CD burner, images can be copied and sent to a computer at the physician's office. Patients and physicians can then discuss findings of the procedure in a relaxed office setting.