What are c arms?

An imaging scanner intensifier, so named because of its configuration. C-arms have radiographic capabilities, though they are used primarily for fluoroscopic imaging during surgical, orthopedic, critical care, and emergency care procedures.

    C-arms are one of the driving technological forces behind the advancement of minimally invasive surgeries. These mobile fluoroscopic imaging systems are precise and accurate devices that allow for less patient discomfort in a variety of surgical and nonsurgical procedures. The minimal invasiveness with the use of C-arms has helped lead to the increase of more cost-effective outpatient care. C-arms provide patients with minimally invasive, pain-reduced procedures.

   Initially used in general surgery or orthopedic applications, C-arms are now described by both manufacturers and users as highly versatile, thanks to the technological advancements made since the original designs. In fact, C-arm usage recently has expanded to include minimally invasive, spinal, general, and orthopedic surgeries; pain management; and cardiac, urology, vascular, and neurovascular applications.

     An X-ray image intensifier (XRII), sometimes called a C-Arm, refers to a special image intensifier device used in medical imaging involving x rays. It consists of an input window, input phosphor, photocathode, vacuum and electron optics, output phosphor and output window. It allows for lower x-ray doses to be used on patients by magnifying the intensity produced in the output image, enabling the viewer to easily see the structure of the object being imaged. C-Arms were introduced by Philips in 1955.

   C-arm fluoroscopes seem to have increased in popularity over the past few years. Is personnel monitoring necessary when C-arms are used?

    Yes. Many C-arms users are unaware of the potential for high exposures from using this equipment. In general, the ways in which the construction and use of C-arms affect exposure levels have not been fully appreciated. Many users are not being properly monitored; without adequate personnel monitors, exposure from daily use of equipment cannot be accurately evaluated.