|
Clinical Report
General Purpose Radiographic System
Linda V. Erickson, R.T(R)
St. Mary’s Medical Center
Racine, Wisconsin, USA
Linda V. Erickson, R.T(R), is Clinical Instructor for the All Saints School of Radiologic Technology and a radiographer at St. Mary’s Medical Center, a 250-bed facility in the All Saints Healthcare System.
|
|
|
Overview
|
The Proteus XR/a general purpose radiographic system was engineered to make it easy to achieve consistently excellent results over a full range of table, wall-stand, wheelchair and stretcher exams.
Did its designers succeed? To find out, we asked Linda V. Erickson, R.T(R).
The Proteus system was installed at this clinical test site in October 1999; Erickson was designated its chief user.
|
Interview with Linda V. Erickson, R.T(R)
Q: You’ve been working with the Proteus for a year now. How would you evaluate its overall performance?
A: Excellent! The Proteus room has definitely become one of the most popular in our medical imaging department.
There are a number of reasons for that. But its greatest advantage may be the fact that kVp, mAs and SID are all displayed on the face of the tube, and can be selected right there at tableside. This visual reference makes patient positioning fast and efficient. And it allows the technologist to stay with the patient until you’re ready to make the exposure; it eliminates the need for standing behind the panel for several extra seconds to adjust your technique.
|
Q: Have you found that the Proteus streamlines positioning?
A: Absolutely. Its red laser positioning light makes centering very precise, for instance. The upright bucky extends to a centering height of about 79 inches and to a low of 18 inches, without extensions; this makes it ideal for cervical spine and standing knee exams. And the overhead-tube swivel’s 12-station lock provides a solid lock-in every 30 degrees.
|
Q: What about patient transfers?
A: The Proteus makes this easy, too. For example, it has table-control pedals on both sides, which means there’s no need to lock and unlock adjacent carts when you’re preparing to transfer patients.
|
Q: Do you like the user interface?
A: It’s very appealing. The console, which is the size of a laptop, offers "touch button" technique selection that’s simple to understand, and very non-threatening even to a new user. In fact, it’s because of this simplicity – along with its overall durability - that we utilize this equipment whenever possible for our students’ positioning laboratories. They quickly become familiar with the machine. And it’s also an instructional advantage to be able to refer to the technique selection as the student is learning to position the patient.
|
Q: What other features would your colleagues find convenient?
A: I know that we appreciate the fail-safe measures the Proteus provides. Just to give you one example, the "exposure hold" light comes on and an easy-to-interpret code is displayed whenever appropriate – when the door to the radiographic room is opened, for instance, or when the tube isn’t centered to the selected bucky. Also, when there is film in both bucky trays at the same time, or if there is no film at all, the "exposure hold" is displayed.
|
Q: How’s the image quality?
A: Exceptional! The AEC is very reliable. In fact, using the 50-kW generator, we’ve been able to produce high quality radiographs even on patients weighing up to 400 pounds.
|
Q: What’s your overall impression of the Proteus?
A: It’s obvious that GE has listened to technologists’ suggestions when engineering this system. In my 20 years as a radiologic technologist, I’ve never before worked with equipment that is as durable, reliable and state-of-the-art – and yet as user friendly – as the Proteus.
“In my 20 years as a radiologic technologist, I’ve never before worked with equipment
that is as durable, reliable and state-of-the-art and yet as user friendly as the Proteus.”
Linda V. Erickson, R.T(R)
St. Mary’s Medical Center
Racine, Wisconsin, USA
|
|
|