even when you magnify the image. Another FPD benefit: They don't
hinder the surgeon's access to the patient (surgeons typically must
move around a large, bulky image intensifier).
• Positioning. Horizontal, vertical, swivel movements — what is
the mini C capable of doing to image hard-to-reach areas? How intri-
cately can you adjust the C-arm's position? You can look at specs,
but your clinicians should get to know the C-arm's positioning capa-
bilities intimately during a demo or trial.
• Ease of use. This is vital. Will the machine facilitate better out-
comes and reduce surgical time? In other words, how will a partic-
ular mini C-arm fit into your workflow? That goes for everyone's
workflow — surgeons, nurses, techs, radiographers. You want a
system that's intuitive. How many button pushes does it take to do
something? On one device, it might take 10; on another, just 2. Get
feedback from your radiographer on how easy or difficult the
machine is to use during the trialing.
• Trialing. Most vendors will happily give you a week or more to try
out their mini C-arms. With this kind of product, consult your surgeons
and radiographers. How does it fit in their hands? How's the image
quality, the user interface? What did they think about the operation and
features? Be careful though, especially if you have rotating techs or
people who are not surgical specialists. Don't make a decision based
on what your techs or radiographers are comfortable with, because it's
evolving all the time. Often, when you ask a radiographer what they
want to use, they'll say, "What I've always used." A skilled radiographer
could master any mini C-arm in a couple days.
• Electrical issues. Here's something even some vendor reps forget
to consider: Is your OR's electrical system capable of accommodating
a mini C-arm? Does your OR meet the power requirements? But
there's another factor to think about: the "cleanliness" of your power.
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