Two Practical Radiologic Suggestions

Abstract

Due to economic considerations, many institutions unfortunately find themselves unable to purchase special viewing boxes for operating room purposes; and since large windows are customarily an integral part of most operating rooms, the roentgenograms to be examined are usually fastened against the window pane, by means of adhesive plaster tabs, and thus illuminated by the transmitted daylight. This procedure is patently not applicable for viewing wet roentgenograms, which necessity not infrequently arises. The manifold disadvantages of the current method have been successfully eliminated since adopting the inexpensive contrivance to be described below. A coat-hanger appliance equipped with a rubber suction pad can be purchased for a small sum. This permits of secure fastening, by merely pressing the suction pad against the window pane; and contrariwise, can be readily removed or adjusted to any desired position. It is, therefore, adaptable for this special purpose, by bending the metal band of the appliance to the desired shape (Fig. 1). An additional band of brass is fastened firmly in place, by means of the removable hand nut, and the device then serves the dual purpose of holding both wet and dry roentgenograms in position (Fig. 2). It is an added convenience to employ a drip-pan (positioned beneath the wet roentgenogram), to collect the water from the wet roentgenogram and film hanger. This can readily be constructed from two similar suction pads and a narrow metal tray, hooked into position (Fig. 2). A convenient calibration graph (Fig. 3) is pasted upon the glass face of the prereading voltmeter. This is drafted from calibration readings. As shown, there is a milliamperage range from 5 to 100, and the various kilo volt peak factors are designated upon the ordinate and abscissa, respectively. The filament ammeter readings for the various milliamperage factors are likewise on view. The graph is then pasted upon the glass face, and protected by transparent celluloid film. This has proven a neat and practical time-saving device.