How much is the clinical impact of dynamic flat-panel DR?

A dynamic flat-panel DR has a direct impact on clinical use in two aspects, one is hardware, the other is software. Generally speaking, software refers to the image workstation and its post-processing technology, which can optimize the digital image; hardware mainly refers to the detector, sphere tube, high voltage, frame which constitute four of the five core components of dynamic flat DR. Its quality and performance directly affect the clinical operation and image effect. When we talk about hardware, we always think of mechanical structure first, because the performance of mechanical structure has a decisive impact on the manipulation of technicians, the convenience of placement, and the comfort of patients for examination. Evaluating the mechanical structure of a bed-type dynamic flat DR mainly depends on two indicators, one is the kinematic ability of the ball tube and the column, the other is the kinematic ability of the bed. From these two subdivisions, there are many kinematic parameters, such as the swing angle of the ball tube, the rotating angle of the bed, the range of motion of the bed, and so on. These kinematic parameters are single or multiple phases. The degree of coordination affects the use of equipment, and the height of the bed is an important element. The dynamic photographic bed of dynamic flat DR is the carrier to support patients to carry out various types of examinations. During routine chest photography, the patient stood on the foot pedal along the bottom edge of the upright bed. During gastrointestinal radiography, the patient was lying on a dynamic photographic bed. Therefore, whether the patient can lie on the photographic bed conveniently and quickly is an important action in the process of examination, and the height of the dynamic photographic bed directly affects the convenience and comfort of the patient. Although in practice, bed height has a strong impact on the examination of patients, it is often an element that is easily overlooked.

In the actual examination process, if the bed is too high, it is difficult for the patients to climb the camera bed, especially for the children, the elderly and the group with mobility inconvenience. Even with the help of a nurse, too high a bed can cause trouble. So, how much bed height is suitable for the general public?

Take perineal height (the data of perineal height is the vertical distance between the lowest point of the left and right sciatic tubercles and the intersection point of the median sagittal plane to the ground) as the criterion to judge whether a person can sit directly and quickly on the bed without any effort. Because of the flexibility of human hip joint, it is reasonable to have a fluctuation of 5 cm, that is, the perineum height + 5 cm, and the bed height, which means that the inspected person can sit on the bed directly without external force. According to official data, on June 30, 2015, the State Council issued a new national average height of 167.1 cm and 155.8 cm for adult males and females aged 18 years and over. The ratio of perineal height to height (perineal height/height) x100: Asian males averaged 45.70 and Asian females averaged 44.90. Therefore, it can be roughly estimated that the perineal height of adult males and females in China was 76cm and 70cm, respectively. In addition, the adjustment space of about 5cm due to joint flexibility is about 5 cm. For Chinese adult males, the average perineal height of adult males and females is 45.70 cm and 44.90 cm respectively. The bed height below 81 cm is suitable for DR examination. For Chinese adult females, the bed height below 75 cm is suitable for DR examination.

At present, some enterprises in the market have also noticed the problem of bed height, among which some enterprises have manufactured electric beds with lower fixed bed height to cooperate with other components. There are also some enterprises that use liftable electric beds. From the practical application effect, these two approaches can meet the clinical needs at present. Medical devices are always for patients and clinical services. Although bed height is only an indicator of a fine DR device, the appropriate height can bring infinite care and help to patients. There is nothing trivial in the medical equipment. Therefore, for R&D personnel of manufacturers, only with the concept of starting from patients and taking clinic as the criterion, close to the medical front line and listening to the medical front line, can we create good products that really create value for end users.