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Show County hospital pioneers modern Il-rsay f eclinlques jl Uintah County Hospital is "ering the use of new X-ray ;iaues which limit the amount of (aW used and produce a superior lCt. v new X-ray facility at the hospital be cheaper in the long-run and er for both operators and patients.- Last month when we sent in the hation indicators (attached to each H toiogist), they couldn't trace any ation " said Dr. Ted Wickstrom, toiogist at the county hospital. He icaied that before the new facility, tation levels from the sensors were ch higher. be heart of the new facility is a rare tl screen developed by Kodak, ich amplifies radiation 1000 times to iile green light. The screen sand-is sand-is the X-ray film during use and exposes it with green light generated by the radiation. Because the screen amplifies the radiation about 1000 times, one-fourth the amount of radiation is needed, Dr. Wickstrom said. Regular exposure is 10-20 milliseconds compared to 500 milliseconds with the old facilities. "The problem we were having was to get the new equipment to emit a small enough amount of radiation," Dr. Wickstrom said. "Usually the problem is to get enough radiation." Dr. Wickstrom said that the X-ray facility is one of two like it in the state, and it produces X-rays superior to any in the state. The quality is increased because of shorter exposure time which eliminates movement; creating a sharper x-ray. Also, enlargements are facilitated with the new technique. The rare earth screens cost $400 apiece, and the hospital uses about 30 screens which last about 10 years. The cost is offset by not having to replace the x-ray tube when using the screens. The tube cost $100,000 each and under normal use lasts one to three years. Using low radiation levels with the rare earth screens, the life of the x-ray tube is extended to five to six years. Other equipment available, at the hospital is ultrasound. Ultrasound uses radar-type sound waves to form graphic pictures on an oscilator tube. Arteries, bones, muscles and tendons can be seen by sound with the equipment. equip-ment. Dr. Wickstron said that ultrasound is totally safe, and may be used to measure the width of a baby's head . prior to birth to determine its maturity. If. r 1 1 ; t n& "' 1- 'I i y 1 ! l i ;. j i .-o ' - t . i- ) ? i U ' -'J I ; ;. ! J "S 1 1 r . f 4 - :f - 1 ; 1 1 f , : y 1 1 ' 5 $ i '11 4 " if l 1 ; Ji, ' . v I J 5 - tj v , I ; X-RAY QUALITY at the Uintah County Hospital may be the best in the state due to its unique -facilities. Only two are like it in the state of Utah. Magnifications are facilitated by the new facilities. |