• Base board (BB) - The BB is the foundation for attachment of all components. The BB remains with the table and is never to be moved between rooms.  It attaches to the top of any cath table with two 2" wide Velcro strips and can be removed for occasional cleaning.  Never use a Base Board that isn't secured to the table with Velcro.  The BB does not interfere with image quality.   

 

***Always remove all Cardio-TRAP components from the BB before loading the patient***

 

 • Sterile field/draping - The removable, non-sterile components of the Cardio-TRAP are installed after the patient is placed on the table.  Sterile sheets are then draped over the patient and the Cardio-TRAP.  The Cardio-TRAP can be safely wiped down with any sterilizing chemical used in the industry. 

 

 • Shielding - The Cardio-TRAP shield (the only radiation absorber) covers much of the scatter radiation source (the patient).  The shield attaches to the base board between the patient's trunk and right arm and contains a sheet of lead 1mm thick.  The shield's location is adjustable to allow for patient size and physician comfort during radial or femoral access.  Both the Standard or Femoral shield have been used by many physicians as an arm rest during femoral access.  The shields are 32 inches long and the Radial Shields are 10 1/2 inches

tall, measured from the top of the BB. In addition to providing superior radiation protection,

the shields also prevent femoral site contamination caused by patient groping.  A patient may become disoriented and confused during the procedure.  When this happens during a femoral access case the patient may try to reach for the femoral access site.  The shield blocks the patient's hand and stops the patient from contaminating the sterile field. 

         

        Shield options:

             a. Standard (radial) - This shield will work with any cath

table.  The lower right area is cut out to accomodate any style of

mattress.  [All of our radiation surveys and dosimeter

comparisons were completed using the Standard Radial Shield.]

             

             b. Femoral Shield - The Standard Femoral Shield is a

Standard Radial Shield cut out to put the physician's hands closer

to the femoral site, but povides about 20% less shielding than

the Standard Radial Shield. The Full Femoral Shield (shown) 

has more than 20% more shielding than the standard femoral

shield.             

             c. Full Shield - The Full Shield is available in either

Radial or Femoral style.  Many mattress pads do not interfere

with the shield, so the lower right area can add to the maximum

protection from scatter radiation. The Full Shield provides about

20% more protection than the Standard Shields.

 

 • Right Radial Base (RRB) - The RRB provides an extended, elevated work surface that is ideal for right radial access.  It is 45 inches long and 14 inches wide.  The extra space provides support for the staff and the instruments used in the procedure.  Scrub Technicians and Interventional Cardiologists highly value the extra space that the RRB provides. 

The RRB also holds the physician and scrub technician at a safer distance away from the scatter radiation source (the patient).  Consistent use of either Radial Shield (Standard or Full) with the RRB will result in an average dosimeter number reduction of at least 40-50%.  The RRB contains no lead and does not interfere with the x-ray image. 

The RRB work surface is elevated 2 inches above the level of the BB.  This feature allows:

  a. More comfort for the patient.

  b. An extended work surface that doesn't interfere with table controls.   

  c. Reduced exposure.  Depending on staff experience, radial procedures may cause more scatter radiation exposure than femoral procedures.  Because most radial cases are performed on a "board" that is slipped between the cath table and mattress, the scatter radiation source (the patient) is closer to the physician's head than in femoral cases.  By elevating the right radial access site 2 inches, the scatter radiation source is 2 inches further away from the physician's head and eyes.  

 

 • Left radial base (LRB) - Patients who have had bypass surgery

usually have their radial heart catheterizations performed via the

left wrist.  Very few cardiologists choose to perform a left radial

access procedure on the left side of the table, since they practice

mostly on the right side of the table.  Also, changing a procedure

from right side table operation to left side table operation requires

turning around the room set up.  All table controls, screens, and

wheeled lab equipment must be moved.  This can take two people

15 minutes.  During an urgent situation, turning the room around

becomes impractical.

 

Prior to the development of the Left Radial Base, it was common

practice to stuff pillows or towels under the patient's left arm to

support the arm, allowing access from the right side of the table. 

The LRB actually was developed after a stack of towels collapsed

during a procedure.  The patient's arm fell to the side of the table,

pulling a wire out as it slid across the patient's chest. 

​

 

 • Left arm board (LAB) - The Left arm board has two uses.  First,

for gaining left radial access on the left side of the table before the left arm is crossed over the patient's torso to work from the right.   Second, the LAB can be laid on the head end of the Right Radial Base, under the patient's arm, for those cardiologists that prefer to start or perform the procedure with the patient's right arm at some angle away from the torso. 

 

Attaching/Detaching removable components of the Cardio-TRAP:

                                                               (choose full screen) 

 

Installing the Base Board:

 

 

​