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Introduction to Angiographic Equipment & SAFETY (Pt 1) &

Procedures (pt 2)

REFERENCES: RAD TECH 255 (Rev :2014)•BUSHONG Ch.27 Interventional Radiography, Ch. 26 Digital Fluoroscopy & Workbook•MERRILLS Vol. 3, Ch. 25 Circulatory System & Workbook•SAIA :Radiography Prep Ch.6, Sec. G & Review – Ch.2 Rad Procedures (ref:subspecality list)•EISENBURG- PATHOLOGY: Rad Pathology – Ch. 7 Cardiovascular

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ANGIOGRAPHYA general term to describe the radiologic examination of A general term to describe the radiologic examination of vascular structures within the body after the introduction vascular structures within the body after the introduction of an iodinated contrast medium.of an iodinated contrast medium.

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Special Procedures –Sterile Environment (like OR)

The Angio TEAM• Radiologist (Interventional)

• CIT/ CV (R. T.) “Angio Tech”

– Sometimes more than one

• Nurse (Radiology)

• Anesthesiologist (if needed)

• Other specialists (if needed)

4What does this demonstrate?

Name of the Exam ?

5Some history….

• The first angiogram was performed only months after Roentgen's discovery

• Which was when?• Two physicians injected chalk or

mercury salts into an amputated hand

• and created an image of the arteries

• Post-mortem injection of mercury compounds, January 1896

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Other Technologies/Modailitieswhich demonstrate the vasculature to a greater or less

degree

• CT• MRI (MRA)• Ultrasound (particularly Doppler)• Nuclear Medicine • are all used to image vessels and each has

its advantages and disadvantages• Vessel imaging is a constantly evolving area.

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Angiography Equipment:Now primarily uses:

DSA: Digital subtraction angiography

• This is still considered the gold standard of vessel imaging when other modalities are inconclusive

• Now common practice to be considered as an area needing advanced training for:

• Radiologist: Interventional• R. T. (CIT, CV) etc ANGIO tech

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Technical innovations

• image intensification• three-phase generators• rapid film changers• automatic pressure

injectors• advanced catheter

technology • all helped to establish

angiography as an essential diagnostic tool by the 1960s

9development of interventional techniques

An important offshoot of angiographic imaging

• have created a therapeutic technology• Embolization• intra-arterial drug therapy• transluminal angioplasty • are among the procedures that have

radically changed and broadened the scope of the diagnostic imaging department

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• Vascular studies usually require a room or suite of rooms

• specifically designed to accommodate the sophisticated and accessory equipment needed to perform angiography and interventional procedures

Angiographic Equipment

& RoomDesign

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• The procedure room should be large enough to accommodate all of the equipment as well as radiologic and ancillary staff

• Special procedures sometimes require a general anesthetic that necessitates extra equipment and staff.

• These procedures are also more hazardous to the patient and each room must be equipped to deal with emergencies that may occur

12Remote Control Center

• Remote computerized equipment should also be housed adjacent to the special room.

• Although there must be adequate protection for all operators and staff, there must at all times be clear access and view of the patient being examined

13EQUIPMENT Needed for Angio*

• Biplane C-arm digital imaging • Autoinjector• --syringes, a heating device, • a high-pressure mechanism • a control panel   • Image Intensifying screen •  Sliding table

Rapid film changer (NOW DIGITAL*)•   Cut film 6 & Cassette

changer /magazine

14EQUIPMENT

• Multiple Monitors• Remote Contol• Additional Shields

COST: $$$$$$$$$$$$$$

•Angiography equipment •& MRI scanners •are major investments•usually costing between •$750,000 and $1 million DOLLARS

15ANGIOGRAPHY EQUIPMENT

1. Puncture Needle      Stylet and  Cannula large cannula size

(1.6mm)2. Guide Wire    --Soft flexible wire with

the strength to pass through curved vessels

(.6 – 1.0)

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May have 2 C-arm this

Is called what? ________

Should be able to rotate

Around the patient

18Biplane angiography

List 3 advantanges of having 2 tubes simultaneously:

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Remote Control –

Floating table top to move

During the injection of contrast -

the table can move to follow the contrast

• are horizontal only

• but with moving or floating capabilities

• It is important that during a procedure, a patient can be moved without actually being repositioned, particularly with the catheter in situ.

Angiographic table

20Angiographic Equipment

Single or biplane image intensification

• A C-arm or U-arm device is preferable • the equipment can be rotated rather than the

patient when visualization of the catheter is critical

• simultaneous biplane visualization exposures are needed to reduce the number of injections of contrast required

21EQUIPMENT

• Must be able to pivot 180 degrees

• Intensifiers are 12 and 16 inches (larger)

• Needs constant potiental – 1500 mA

• FOCAL SPOTS– LARGE: 0.6 & 1.2

– SMALL 0.2 & 0.3

22 Angiographic Equipment

Generator:

• This must be a three-phase or high-frequency 12-pulse machine and at least 1000 mA to accommodate the rapid, short, and high exposure values required in angiography

23 Angiographic Equipment Tube Ratings

X-ray tube: • High-speed rotating anode tubes. The object of an

angiogram is to produce the highest quality radiographs in the shortest time possible

• a 0.3 mm small focal spot will produce the best detail

• tube rating can be exceeded because of the rapid succession of exposures needed

• usual to have a 0.6-mm focal spot tube

24HEAT UNITS

• Cerebral Study

• 1 image / 3 sec for 5 min

• 1 image/20 sec for 10 min

• HF Generator used (like which phase?)

• What is the formula?

• What are the heat units for this one study?

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automatic film changer

• Because of the high pressure of arterial blood flow, the CONTRAST will dissipate through the patient's system quickly, so images must be taken in rapid succession.

• An automatic film changer is used because the manual changing of x-ray film can eat up valuable time

• Now DSA done digitally

27Film changers –

NOW OBSOLETE• the ability to move film in rapid succession,• allowing for a number of exposures to be registered

each on its own film• There are a number of makes, the most common at

present being the Puck system (Siemens) which uses cut film. PUCK-U

• Programmable - allowing the operator to vary the speed and the number of films passing through the changer

• Speeds vary from 3 to 12 films per second, • These changers can also be single or biplane, allowing

for simultaneous exposures.

28MedCon: G. Puck film changer

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Film Changer Features (5)

Supply magazine. This is a light-tight box that can be filled with film in the darkroom and then attached to the film changer.

Transport mechanism. This consists of a series of compression roller devices that moves the film from the supply magazine to a pair of intensifying screens and then to the receiving cassette.

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Film Changer Features (5)

Compression table. This contains a pair of screens. As soon as the film is positioned between them, they compress the film and the exposure is automatically triggered. As soon as the exposure is complete, the compression is released and the film advanced to the receiving cassette.

Receiving cassette. This is the magazine that holds the exposed film. When the examination is complete, the cassette is removed from the changer and taken to the darkroom to be unloaded. It is returned empty to the changer.

32Film Changer Features (5)

Program selector: • This allows the operator to set speeds and film

quantity• to suit the exam being undertaken.

Programs can be designed• To fit standard requirements of various

procedures.

33Film Changer Features (5)

• Supply magazine • Transport mechanism • Compression table • Receiving cassette • Program selector 

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35Equipment

• Cine radiography. • Fluoroscopy unit with TV monitor: • Single or biplane fluoroscopy units are available. • Video equipment – DIGITAL RECORDING• Other image recording devices: Images can be

acquired and stored in a digital format (postprocessing). This is the fundamental principle of DSA.

36CINE – 35 MM roll film

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38Pressure Injectors

• In most angiographic studies• contrast must be administered at a

consistent speed • either faster• as in abdominal angiography • or slower as in lymphangiography

SAFETY MEASURES: P 638LIGHT / ALARM /

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40Pressure Injectors

• Warms contrast – improve viscosity

• Piston – motor driven plunger

• SAFETY MEASURES (p.638)

• Flashing light – audible tone – message

• OPERATIONAL ERROR – OMISSION

• PREVENTS EXESSIVE PRESSURE

FLOW RATE CONTROLLED

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Pressure injectors are motor driven and have the following major components

• Control panel where parameters for injections are set.

• Motor drive mechanism is the electromechanical device that drives the plunger into the syringe at a specific pressure

• Syringes are always removable for sterilization purposes or are disposable.

• Heating system maintains the contrast at near body temperature to reduce shock and lower the viscosity of certain contrast media.

43 Radiation SAFETY

44 What are the CARDINAL RULES OF PROTECTION?

45LIH - stays on screen

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Digital Fluoroscopy

• Fluoroscopy is a common technique used by clinical physicians to obtain real time images of moving body parts and internal structures of a patient compared to static radiographic examinations.

55Digital Fluoro – Continued next lecture

Pt 1 Equipment: