Friday, February 26, 2010

Medical scan makers to install radiation controls - latimes.com

Medical scan makers to install radiation controls - latimes.com

A medical imaging trade group said Thursday that manufacturers of CT scanners would begin installing safety controls to prevent patients from receiving excessive radiation.

The dosing checks, which will begin rolling out before the end of the year, will alert operators whenever the machine's settings exceed recommended levels. Hospitals and clinics also will be able to set maximum dosing levels for their machines.
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Last year three California hospitals reported hundreds of acute radiation overdoses from CT scanners, with many patients reporting lost hair and skin redness.

The average American's total radiation exposure has nearly doubled in the last three decades, largely because of next-generation imaging tests, the FDA said.

When the agency announced its crackdown it also targeted other types of scanners, including nuclear imaging machines. The trade group said it was still working to implement changes with the manufacturers of those machines. ...

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