AUTOMATIC CASSETTE CHANGER

RAPID SERIAL FILM CHANGER

 Rapid Serial Film Changer
• An electromechanical device that can expose and
transport film quickly.
• Blood flow within the vessels is extremely fast.
Recording the arterial, capillary, and venous phases
of the circulatory system requires a rapid filming
sequence in which several radiographs are exposed
within one second. This is accomplished by the rapid
serial film changer.
• Used for conventional imaging technique.
 Parts of Film Changer
• Supply Magazine
– This is a light tight box that can be filled with film in the darkroom and then
attached to the film changer.
– This box can store a minimum of 12 unexposed films.
• Transport Mechanism
– This consists of a series of compression roller devices that moves the film from
the supply magazine to a pair of intensifying screens and then to the receiving
cassette.
• Compression Table
– The compression table contains a pair of intensifying screens.
– When the film is positioned between them, they compress the film and the
exposure is automatically triggered. When the exposure is complete, the
compression is released and the film is advanced to the receiving cassette.
• Receiving Cassette
– The receiving cassette is the magazine that holds the exposed film. When the
examination is complete, the cassette is removed from the changer and taken
to the darkroom to be unloaded. It is returned empty to the changer.
 Categories of Serial Film Changers
• It transports film in some form of cassette holder. The most
common type of serial film changer is a vacuum changer in
which the most popular brand is made by Picker-Amplatz.
• Advantage
– Good film-screen contact.
• Disadvantages
– The maximum exposure rate for cassette changers
is about four (4) films per second.
– The weight of the cassette may cause vibrations
during transport, thus causing blurring of an image
on the film.
 Cassetteless Serial Film Changer
• Cassetteless changers may transport films
individually (cut) or from a supply film spool
(roll). Both systems use stationary intensifying
screens. The screen separates during film
transportation and close during film exposure.
However, the continual opening and closing
of the screens trap air between screen and
film.
 Types of Cassetteless Film Changer
• Roll film changers
– The roll film changer operates on
the same principle as
photographic camera. The
unexposed film is rolled on a
spool and placed on one side of
the film changer. Film is threaded
through the machine past the
exposure area to another spool,
which stores the exposed film.
– Roll-films are usually supplied in
50-foot lengths. Most changers
expose a 14" x 14" area allowing
approximately 43 exposures per
roll.
Types of Cassetteless Film Changer
…continued

– Advantages
• The simplicity of the roll film changer's mechanical
drive results in easy film transportation and few film
jams.
• Uncut films are always in proper sequence and the loss
of a single film is impossible.
– Disadvantages
• Uncut film does not lend itself to easy viewing.
• Storage of roll film presents problems.
 Types of Cassetteless Film Changer
…continued

• Cut-film changers
– Cut film changer uses single or cut sheets of x-ray film for
each exposure. Cut-film changers have different features.
– Modern film changers may have the following:
• Has capability of displaying patient information and examination
data on edges of the film.
• The receiving magazine can be removed by moving on any
direction: to the right, left, or straight ahead. This versatility in
removing the magazine provides the user with alternate ways to
detach the magazine when the changer is positioned near items
that may be in the way of loading or unloading the changer.
• Allows real-time viewing which allows visualization of catheter
position and vessel filling during the examination and/or filming.
• Allows daylight insertion and removal of magazine and receiving
cassette.
• Available in two sizes of film: 14"x14" and 10"x12"
Types of Cassetteless Film Changer
…continued

– Two types of
supply magazine:
• Interweaving - each
film must be
positioned between
2 metals or plastic
dividers.
• S-stack loading
magazine - has no
dividers.
 Stand
• Types of Stand
– Mobile Floor Stand
• In this system the changer is mounted on a frame with locking
wheels. These stands are usually employed for the large film
changers such as the AOT-S or Picker vacuum cassette changer.
Although the changer can be wheeled around the room, its height
cannot be adjusted. Some companies have improved the mobile
stand to include hydraulics and an arm mount, which permit
vertical or horizontal positioning and height adjustment of the
changer.
– C-arm Mount
• The C-arm mount allows a variety of positions in which the
changer may be placed.
 Programming
• Most programmers are capable of regulating and sequencing
the injection, x-ray exposure, table movements, or film
changer commands.
• Punched Card Method
– In the punched card method, the angiographer programs the changer
by using a stylet to punch the desired holes in thin cardboard. Each
row of the punched card gives the film changer a different command.
Most cards contain a row, or rows, that must be punched to regulate
the filming rate (including the ability to change the rate and have a
pause between exposures), the injector operation, and the tabletop
movement for units having auxiliary settings for peripheral
angiography. The punched card is inserted in a program selector that
reads the card and performs the punched commands on the card.
• Panel Programmer
– The panel programmer is usually a wall mounted solid-state unit that
is often microprocessor based. The angiographer uses knobs and
switches on the panel to select the filming rate.
• Microprocessor Console
– These units operate by either pressing keys on the keyboard or
touching the screen.
 Single-plane And Biplane Filming
• Single-Plane Filming
– This employs one film changer and one
radiographic tube.
– It has the advantage of excellent film quality over
the biplane film changer.
– X-ray tube and the film changer needs to be
repositioned for the second view and that two
injections are required in an AP and Lat projections.
• Biplane Filming
– This uses two x-ray tubes in conjunction with two
film changers.
– Each unit should be independent of the other, and
should be easily placed at right angles to each
other.
– This arrangement allows a series of radiographs in
both the lateral position and anteroposterior
projection to be exposed with a single injection of
contrast medium.
– Requires a room large enough to accommodate
two film changers and two x-ray tubes.
• FIN