Dr. Simone Baer-Lang

Most imaging devices need patient support, usually a table or sometimes a stool. For upright MRI- or PET-systems the patient support could be a stool. Portable devices like ultrasound and mobile X-ray devices typically don't need patient support. However, devices like CT, MRI, and interventional X-ray scanners have motorized tables that often use one or two power supplies. Several factors determine the power needed for patient support, including the maximum patient weight, the material and weight of the support platform, and the required speed and accuracy of movement. For example, in CT scans during an exam, the speed of the patient support differs significantly depending on the number of detector slices, the body part being examined and the examination itself, and whether contrast media is implemented [1, 2].

In any imaging system, the noise and ripple on the output of the high voltage supply are critical as they compromise the image quality. Any ripple present at the point of detection will degrade signal integrity and then become amplified before being analyzed and ultimately displayed. To achieve the best possible image quality, defining and managing this power source parameter is crucial to successfully implementing the system.

In November, Advanced Energy’s medical power supply team attended the MEDICA and COMPAMED trade fair in Düsseldorf, Germany. These annual events are top-tier in medical technology and healthcare sectors.

Ultrasound, being a non-invasive diagnostic method, is widely utilized in the field of medical imaging. According to research published in the Journal of Radiology Nursing [POCUS used widely in lung ultrasound applications | AuntMinnie] Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is being seen as a “global grassroots movement” and some of the top domains for POCUS are in acute care settings, such as emergency medicine, trauma or critical care. Especially in these care settings, it is even more necessary that these ultrasound units work reliably

Computed Tomography (CT) is a computerized imaging technique used in radiology. A rapidly rotating X-ray beam and detector are used to generate cross-sectional images – so-called slices – that form the volumetric and very detailed internal image of the body.