Laser modification to an x-ray collimator: an aid in positioning patients for neurosurgical and radiographic procedures.
In high-ambient-light levels such as are found in operating rooms, and at long target-to-patient distances, the cross lines and light field projected from conventional x-ray collimators are not easily visible and proper patient positioning is difficult. The collimators on two mutually perpendicular x-ray units have been modified by replacing the incandescent bulbs with lasers and adjusting the lasers to be coaxial with the x-ray beams. These modifications have been coupled with a third wall-mounted laser to facilitate patient positioning for stereotaxic thermal hypophysectomy. The use of the laser-modified collimators has resulted in considerable saving of time for the operating team and has markedly reduced patient anesthesia time. The laser-modified collimator has also been found useful in positioning patients for other radiographic procedures in the operating room and has virtually eliminated retakes due to malpositioning.
D006801:Humans; D007016:Hypophysectomy / Q000295:instrumentation*; D007834:Lasers; D011859:Radiography / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D014965:X-Rays