Over the decades, the advancements in medical technology and diagnostics had seen a massive boom. There used to be a time when certain ailments would go untreated due to the limited access that medical practitioners had to proper diagnostic methods. As such, patients would suffer in agony, not knowing the cause of their pain!
Nowadays, most of these ailments are determined and diagnosed by a collective technology known as diagnostic imaging. Basically, it is made up of two main equipment—one is the Computerized Tomography scan or CT scan (also known as CAT scan in some areas), and the other is the Magnetic Resonance Imaging or MRI. These two medical marvels are hailed around the globe for their ability to determine illnesses that can’t otherwise be determined from the outside of your body.
“What are these two main equipment, and how do they work?”
Trying to explain the overall features of these equipment is going to take up a lot of time, but to give you a general idea, here are their most basic functions:
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The CT Scan
From the root words ‘computerized’ and ‘tomography,’ you may already have an idea of how this machine works. The word tomography means “imaging by sections.” Have you noticed that CT scans have a huge rotating part in them? This rotating part is its X-ray. By going through multiple cycles over the patient, sections of the patient’s inner body are captured and compiled into the computer screen.
These machines are sophisticated enough to acquire a thorough imaging of the patient’s head, shoulders, spine, heart, abdomen, knee, or chest, depending on the symptoms felt by the patient itself.
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The MRI
Unlike CT scans, MRIs use magnetic fields to their advantage. In doing so, they are able to interpret your overall anatomy and its processes into images, allowing you and the doctor to see if something’s wrong inside or not.
These machines utilize radio waves in order to get a detailed image of your tissues, much like how you’ll see them in your high-school Biology textbooks.
“Would these machines need proper maintenance as well?”
Of course! Any form of equipment, regardless of its size or make, would require proper maintenance and care. If you happen to own a car, a flat-screen TV, or even a lawnmower, you’d know that mechanical objects can be a pain to maintain, much more would these heavy-duty diagnostic machines.
On average, a CT scan needs to be checked by an engineer at least twice a year. MRIs, on the other hand, would need to be checked every six months. There are professionals who can maintain these diagnostic equipment, and the most trusted ones should be at the helm.
The patient’s accurate diagnostics are on the line, after all, and there shouldn’t be any margin for error. If worse comes to worst, spare parts can be bought for both the CT scan and MRI machines.
The Bottom Line
Diagnostic imaging definitely made its impact in the field of clinical analysis. Without it, countless illnesses would still be left undiagnosed. As with most equipment, all CT scans and MRIs should be well taken care of, so that they may continue to produce accurate results in the long run. Luckily, there are spare part providers and technicians who are knowledgeable about the ins and outs of these machines, extending their lifespan for when they are needed the most.
If you happen to be a long-time radiology technologist, chances are, you might have already witnessed a couple of errors in the machines that you’ve been operating. If that’s the case, get in touch with us at DirectMed Parts! We provide the highest quality of CT and MRI parts in the US. Connect with us today to find out more!
