FAQs
Q: What is the minimum KV and MA for the DuoView Digital X-Ray detector?
A: The ideal system would be a 300ma generator capable of 125kVp high frequency. Within technique chart specifications the shorter the exposure the higher resolution the system is capable of. The minimum x-ray general specifications for the DuoView that have been tested are 80KVp and 20mAs systems. That doesn't mean you need to use all of that power but does mean it is available for denser body parts like shoulders and lateral hips and that you can't get moderately short exposure times to stop cardiac motion in thorax views.
Q: At what stage is the DuoView digital image marked with patient information?
A: The Dicom standard, which is the international standard for medical imaging in both human and veterinary medicine, requires that the image be labeled immediately. This standard is strictly adhered to throughout DuoView.
You may rest assured that we follow the DICOM standard fully and our images are legal for submission to the US OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals) and the UK's The BVA/KC Hip Dysplasia Scheme.
Q: Should I be worried about condensation?
A: Many sales people from other companies try to paint the tremendous advantages of a cooled system in a negative light. Them not understanding cooling does not mean we don't. Our systems have a patented process of cooling the detector where the entire detector is in an airtight chamber, purged of all atmospheric gases and filled with inert argon gas. It is impossible to form condensation in our system even if the system were being used in a veterinary clinic in a rain forest.
Q: Can DuoView x-ray exotic pets?
A: DuoView has the highest resolution of any system available. It is excellent for radiographing exotic pets.
Q: Where do I call for service?
A: Many perceived issues on DuoView are actually human interface (training) difficulties. DuoView is a very solid product. Should you need service please call 770-425-7102.
Q: My images are too dark. How can I fix this problem?
A: If it is just a single image or two you can use the window level feature to lighten the image. If they are consistently too dark and the technique chart is correct you may want to have the x-ray system calibrated.
DuoView is more sensitive than film in many respects. You can use higher kVp and lower mAs to accomplish your images.
Q: On the day my system is installed how long will I not be able to take x-rays?
A: Typical installation time is 4 hours. In any instance it will not exceed a single day.
Q: Should I still collimate my x-rays?
A: DuoView is a radiographic film replacement device. All things you would normally do to create a clinically acceptable radiograph you would continue to do. That includes technique selection, collimation and positioning.
Q: Can DuoView digital x-ray detectors only be used in vet practices and the veterinary industry?
A: Yes. We have worked very hard for many years to design DuoView to serve the unique needs of the veterinary doctor and surgeon. It has no human medicine corollary.
Q: When should I change resolution on my DuoView?
A: Resolution should be changed when the body part under examination is less than 7" x 7" (18cm x 18cm) In size. Using a full field 14" x17" (35cm x 43cm) to examine small parts provides no advantage and will not produce the incredibly rich image that the system is capable of on small parts.
Q: Can my existing x-ray table be adapted for use with Revo’s?
A: Our standard practice is to supply a table with DuoView. If you have a table you would like to keep please send us photos of the table so we can advise you if we can make the adaptation or not. Often the cost of adapting an existing table is equal to the costs of a new table so there would be no price difference.
We need a front on picture and end shot of the existing table.
Q: Can I see Revo Squared digital x-ray images on the web?
A: There are many ways to see DuoView images on the web. The simplest might be to navigate to the DuoView website at http://www.duoview.net/ then click on the "What do we do?" button and then click on any image to enlarge it.
Q: Does DuoView require a special type of power outlet?
A: No, A standard wall outlet is appropriate.
Q: What are the dimensions of the optional table that can be ordered from Revo2 with DuoView?
A: The table top measures 24" (61cm) front to back and 60"(152cm) long. The deck height is 32" (81cm). The back of the table must be 6"(15cm) from the wall.
Q: How do I protect my digital detector during the calibration on my x-ray system? What pre-cautions should I tell my x-ray service people to take to protect the DuoView when servicing my x-ray system?
A: We encountered a situation with a DuoView installed hospital having x-ray service perform calibration on their x-ray system. While this had nothing to do directly with the DuoView System, the detector received significant damage. In acquiring numerous high dose x-ray exposures directed at the DuoView detector with a kVp meter in place, a latent image of the kVp meter was burned into the scintillator cesium screen. This is permanently damaged, and the scintillator cesium screen will have to be replaced.
The service engineer should protect the detector by placing lead aprons or lead clothing under the kVp meter to prevent penetration of the strong beam into the detector.
Q: Why does Revo cool its detectors?
A: One of the great benefits of DuoView is that we can run our detector at 20C below zero. The method we use consumes about as much electricity as a Christmas tree bulb. It is highly green! Cooling electronics makes them work more efficiently in nearly all manners. Most notable is the reduction of baseline noise. For this reason our detectors have a much deeper grayscale than virtually any other system used in veterinary medicine.
Q: What is animal induced motion artifact and how do I reduce it when taking x-rays?
A: Motion is any movement that occurs in the image field during an exposure. It is easy to recognize motion when it is a struggling pet. Lesser motion but just as significant is respiratory motion and pulsatile motion. A cats heart beats as often a 200 times a minute. A Bird as often as 600 times a minute. Therefore the bird beats about 10 times a second. An exposure of 1-second duration would have the blur caused by 10 heartbeats. Each artery in the body expands and contracts and most physically move with each heartbeat. This can cause blurring in the thorax near the heart. It can cause blurring in the abdomen near the kidneys since 25% of all blood goes through the kidneys with each beat of the heart.
The clearest images are made with the shortest exposures possible to penetrate the tissue under examination.
Q: Is there a difference in gray scale between digital and film?
A: There is a huge difference in the ability of a human to perceive gray scale differences in film vs. digital x-ray imaging. In theory film has infinite grayscale. In fact a human can only see about 256 of those shades. DuoView digital has 64,000 shades of gray and specialized software that allows you to see all of them. This software is typically called "window level" software. In effect it moves gray shades you can't perceive into areas of your vision that you can perceive.
This area of vision is referred to as the psychometric curve.
Q: What are the best exposure techniques for Digital x-rays?
A: This is a very broad question but in general you will use slightly higher kVp and slightly lower mAs than you are using with film.
It is best to refer to the chart supplied with your DuoView digital x-ray detector or revert to you APR control on your x-ray system. In all instances slight adjustments may be needed due to body part. Is it thorax, which absorbs the least dose? Abdomen or lumbar spine absorbs more dose. In each instance the technique will be different.
Q: Can I use anatomically programmed radiography (APR) x-ray machines with DuoView?
A: Yes, these systems make the conversion to digital quite easy. In most instances they will work straight away, however the techniques can be reprogrammed quite easily in most APR systems should they need to be.
Q: What KVp should I use?
A: It may be easiest to select from the chart supplied with your DuoView digital x-ray system. Find the projection, body part and cm of thickness and read the dose directly off the chart.
If you can't find your chart Santes' rule will get you close.
Santes' Rule: kVp= (2X thickness of body part in cm) + (the distance from the x-ray tube in inches) 40
X-ray units with APR (Anatomically Programmed Radiograph) controls make it very easy since they select kVp and mAs for you.
Q: What is the standard resolution of Duoview?
A: The standard resolution is 32,000 DPI but at the push of the button, Duoview can achieve a high resolution of 191,0000 DPI. This is the only dual resolution digital X-Ray system in the world providing exceptional imaging on very small pets to the very large without compromising on image quality.
Q: Why do my images seem to keep deteriorating?
A: Collimation may be the entire reason for the images deteriorating. There is nothing in the system that wears out with exposures. The system has been tested to 57,000 exposures with no degradation in image quality. If the detector is not centered under the tube then everything is being degraded by parallax. If the tube head is not secure it may also be moving during the exposure. That is like moving the source of light during a photographic exposure.
I suggest assuring that the detector is solidly secured under the tube. That the tower has no vibration in it after a patient moves on the table. That the tube cannot move after the tower or patient has come to rest.