Cath Lab Or C-Arm? Which Is Right For You?

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Cath Lab Or C-Arm? Which Is Right For You?
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By Vikki Harmonay
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C-Arms and Cath Labs are both essential medical
imaging technologies used in the field of
interventional radiology and cardiology, but they
serve different purposes and have distinct
features.Cath vs C-arm If youre opening a
surgical center, youll need to decide which is
right for you Mobile C-Arms and Cath/Angio or
Interventional Labs. Each has different features
to consider.
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The primary purpose of a C-Arm is for real-time
fluoroscopy and X-ray imaging for a variety of
medical procedures. C-Arms are versatile and can
be used in a wide range of applications. These
include surgeries, pain management and vascular
procedures. The primary purpose of Cath Labs is
for diagnosing and treating cardiovascular
conditions. Equipped with advanced imaging
capabilities, a cath lab allows you to visualize
the blood vessels during procedures like
stenting, angioplasty and cardiac catherization
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Power When it comes to power, a Cath Lab wins
over a C-Arm. C-Arm generators have an output of
7.5kW to 25kW. Cath Labs have an output of up to
100kW. If you want to do longer or more advanced
studies with extended fluoro time, a cath lab
delivers the power. For pain management and basic
surgery, C-arm is the best choice.
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Features C-Arms arent as feature-rich as cath
labs. Cath systems have additional
post-processing options, multiple review stations
and table-side controls, to name a few. These
features help facilitate the longer and more
advanced work done in cath labs. However, if you
are performing more basic and lighter studies,
these features wont be essential to you.
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Logistics When it comes to costs, C-arms have
the advantage. They can plug into a standard 120v
outlet, theyre mobile and as a rule, they dont
require fixed lead shielding. In addition, you
can set one up in less than an hour. A Cath Lab
installation can often require significant
remodeling of your facility. Youll need to
consult with electricians, plumbers, HVAC,
general contractors and imaging engineers. Cath
labs have more stringent shielding requirements.
Your lab will need to be lined with leaded
drywall. As a rule, it takes at least two weeks
to install a cath lab.
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Price There are lots of factors to consider,
but either of these systems could be more
expensive, depending on factors like analog vs.
digital, model and system age. Most of the time,
the ongoing costs of cath labs are higher. They
have more components and moving parts. And should
a major part fail in a Cath lab, the cost for
replacement will be significantly higher. For
example, C-Arm tubes can cost between
6,000-10,000. And X-ray tube for a cath lab
costs 30,000-60,000.
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Radiation Dose C-Arms typically have lower
radiation doses compared to cath labs. However,
the dose can vary depending on the procedure and
the settings used. Cath labs use higher radiation
doses due to the need for detailed imaging of the
heart and blood vessels. Special care must be
taken to minimize radiation exposure to
healthcare providers and patients.
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Talk To An Expert Before you choose a C-arm or
a Cath Lab for your facility, it makes sense to
talk to an expert. Talk to Atlantis Worldwide,
who has been helping health care professionals
with their medical imaging needs for more than 30
years. To find out more, contact Atlantis
Worldwide Today!
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-systems-questions-to-answer
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