Mobile X-ray Machine: GE Definium AMX 700 Model - Essay Example

GE Definium AMX 700 Mobile X-ray Machine Definium AMX 700 Mobile X-ray Machine is a new portable digital X-ray system introducedby the GE healthcare company for the purpose of X-ray scanning. The machine has integrated digital technology to enhance the clarity of images viewed, while still ensuring that they are of a larger size. 1 The machine has reduced the time involved in X-ray scan to just a few seconds, making it possible for the radiographer to operate on many patients within just a little time span. The high resolution images produced by the machine ensures that the operator does not struggle to view the finer details of the images. 2 The machine is fitted with a flat panel digital detector, making it possible to scan the region of interest at a low radiation dosage level. This serves to ensure that patients’ health is not affected much by the process of their breast scan.9 Most interesting is the fact that the machine has been developed with a high level of portability. The machine is compacted in a structure that makes it easy to slide along and turn around in the hospital facility. This serves to make it possible to manipulate and adjust the machine variously to befit the patients scanning. Thus, the model of this mobile X-ray machine is meant not only to ensure that the patients are comfortable while being operated upon, but that also, the specialist operating the machine has an easy time adjusting it to the needs of breast scanning. The model has with it such features as a large field of view, which is 16 by 16 inches. It is fitted with a new digital touch screen display system and digital microprocessor controls, which ensures that the image portrayed is consistent and has a high level of clarity.7The machine is fitted with large wheels that serves to improve its mobility when required to be moved from one place to another. The flexible structure of the machine serve to ensure that it can be turned in all directions, making it possible to adjust it to fit the comfort position of the patient.8 The wheels also minimizes vibration and shock, whenever the machine is on the move. The technology incorporated within the machine ensures that it operates at a higher speed of up to 3 miles per hour. This ensures that the patient scanning needs are accomplished within the minimum time possible, reducing the period of their exposure to radiation rays.3 The machine has an inbuilt focal spot tube that helps to make the images acquired be of higher quality and clarity.2 The manufacturer of Definium AMX 700 Mobile X-ray Machine, GE Healthcare is a company specializing in the manufacture of medical diagnostic and patient monitoring systems. Through its application of advanced medical technologies, the company has assisted the medical field diagnose and treat cancer and heart diseases.6 it has its headquarters in the UK, with more than 43,000 employees working under the healthcare profession. The company has its branches in more than 100 other countries.9 GE Definium AMX 700 Mobile X-ray Machine has with it properties that enhances the protection of patients against Radiation. X-rays releases some forms of electromagnetic ionizing rays, which are harmful to the DNA component of the body. Exposure to high levels of X-ray radiation can also cause skin burns.7 Excessive exposure to X-ray radiation also increase the chances of a patient getting cancer. The more the number of times a patient undergoes X-ray scan, the higher the chances of their getting cancer.4 This is because, the radiation doses keep accumulating in the body, and gets higher with each X-ray scan. To avoid such dangers being posed to the patients, the machine has been developed in a manner to reduce X-ray radiation on the patients. The GE Definium AMX 700 Mobile X-ray Machine is fitted with a flat panel digital detector, which captures the images of the scanned region efficiently, thus reducing the dose levels of radiation utilized. This serves to lower the exposure of the patients to X-ray radiations and thus reduces the risks associated with excessive or prolonged exposure to X-ray radiation.2 The other aspect of the machine meant to safeguard against the risks of X-ray radiation is the large field of view that is 16 by 16 inches fitted on the machine. It serves to ensure that high resolution digital images are formed within a few seconds. Hence, the chances of repeat scans on the patients, which would expose them more to radiation rays are eliminated. 6 Finally, the machine is built with a pressure sensitive power steering, that allows it to attain a high scan speed of up to 3 miles per.8 This serves to significantly reduce the duration the scan takes and thus the time period the patient is exposed to the ionizing rays of the X-ray radiation. Electromechanical safety measures are well incorporated in the Definium AMX 700 Mobile X-ray Machine. The machine is fitted with collision brakes, to ensure that it can be stopped any time when the need to do so arises.6This measure is meant to eliminate the chances of the mobile machine losing control and causing harm to the operator moving the machine. By placing the collision brakes on the machine, it is ensured that it is always under control of the operator. The machine has also been fitted with manual override system. This property serve to allow the maneuvering of the machine in various areas, where the topography of the facility may hinder automatic movements. 9 Some structures such as swing doors requires that the control of the machine is done manually, so that it can be safely moved through, without causing any harm to the operator or the machine itself.5 By fitting the machine with large wheels, the vibration associated with a moving machine is highly reduced. Thus, the operator of the machine is shielded from the side effects associated with vibrations on the health of an individual. All the above aspects, serves to ensure that electromechanical safety measures for the GE Definium AMX 700 Mobile X-ray Machine are in place. There are measures associated with the equipment that are meant to maximize clinical utilization. The machine is developed in a compact design that allows the machine to be moved around the hospital facility.2 It is also developed in a way that it can be turned in various directions. These measures serves to enhance the efficient utilization of the machine by the operatyor.7 The machine is also fitted with touch screen displays, a fact that ensure that it is easier and quicker to operate the machine and obtain the desired results promptly. To improve the ease of the machine’s operability, a remote control and a hand held switch are provided for the machine. This makes it easy to view the region of interest on the scanners image displayed, through modifications done using this devices. They are applied to enlarge the size of the scan display through zooming, so as to view all the finer details of the images. 2The GE Definium AMX 700 Mobile X-ray Machine has with it a flexible positioning arm that can be rotated up to 270 degrees.4 This serves to allow the manipulation of the machine to fit the scanning needs of the patients, by guaranteeing them comfort. The machine is powered by a rechargeable battery.3 This ensures that it is not direct power dependent, and as such provides some flexibility in the working environment of the machine, since it can be operated from any desired location, whether with or without a power source. There are Quality Assurance (QA) tasks of this equipment that are meant to ensure that there is an accuracy of the information generated by the equipment. The GE Definium AMX 700 Mobile X-ray Machine training serves to ensure that X-ray technologists are instructed in practice and in theory on the operation of the GE system and patient procedures, mostly to beginners. 1 Another quality assurance task associated with the GE system is the presence of the Quality Control technologists who review the images formed by the system for their appropriate use to determine patient’s condition. 8Additionally, scheduling of patients should be prepared in a manner to suit each of the patients’ specialized medical needs, to ensure that all patients gets quality scanning and information pertaining to their health conditions. In conclusion, the key points of the safe operational details includes training the specialists involved in handling the GE Definium AMX 700 Mobile X-ray Machine, to ensure that quality scanning is undertaken on the patients and accurate feedback given to them. This goes a long way in helping address the health condition that the patients are facing, and thus save their lives. Furthermore, the ergonomics of the GE system are aligned to its clinical utilization needs, thus ensuring a smooth operation of the machine and the acquisition of the desired results. Incorporation of the measures to reduce radiation effects on patients is yet another key point of the safe operational details of the GE Definium AMX 700 Mobile X-ray Machine. Works Cited 1Alex McCain, Mammography: Introduction of GE Definium AMX 700 Mobile X-ray Machine, Oxford University Press, 2005. 2Butler P, American College of Radiology, Personal communication, 2004. 3Casey B, Breast center enlists radiographers for first look at mammograms, 2003. 4Cyrlak D, Induced costs of low-cost screening mammography, Radiology,1988. 5Fowler B, Variability in mammography screening legislation across the states, Women’s Health Gender-Based Med,2000. 6Jones, Patterson, Mammography screening in African American women: evaluating the research, Cancer, 2003. 7Kopans, D, Sonography should not be used for breast cancer screening until its efficacy has been proven scientifically, Roentgen. 2004. 8Burkhardt, J, Radiology groups' workload in relative value units and factors affecting it, Radiology, 2000. 9Zheng , Hardesty, Mammography with computer-aided detection: reproducibility assessment initial experience, Radiology. 2003 Read More