Radiation-Emitting Products

Application of Compression

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900.12(b)(8)(i)(A)(B): (i) Application of compression. Effective October 28, 2002, each system shall provide:

(A) An initial power-driven compression activated by hands-free controls operable from both sides of the patient; and

(B) Fine adjustment compression controls operable from both sides of the patient.

  1. A facility's x-ray units have compression devices operated by a single foot control on each unit. Does the foot control meet both the "hands-free" requirement and the "operable from both sides" requirement, even if each unit only has one foot control? Must the facility purchase a second control for each in order to meet the "operable from either side" requirement?
  2. Must all mammography units have power driven compression?
  3. With machines such as the GE 500T and 600T, which do not have a separate mechanism for compression fine adjustment, can tapping the foot pedal for fine adjustment of compression force meet the year 2002 requirement?
  4. During clinical exams, how long must our mammography unit maintain the final compression force set by the radiologic technologist?
  5. When I perform the semiannual compression QC test, our unit's initial power drive provides an initial compression force of 37 pounds. However, it cannot maintain that force. The force decreases to less than 25 pounds in approximately 1 second. How long does the initial power drive have to maintain a force of at least 25 pounds?

Page Last Updated: 06/19/2014