4. RF tables

Introduced in Germany in the 1900s, RF tables are so-called universal diagnostic tables, as they can be used for both radiographic and fluoroscopic modalities, hence their name: RF for Radiography and Fluoroscopy. Another special feature of these tables is that they can be tilted to place the patient head down ("Tiendelenburg" position), which is advantageous for certain examinations where gravitation plays an important role. X-rays have been dealt with above, but here we'll concentrate on diagnostic modalities using fluoroscopy and other modes.

These dynamic modes are performed with a very low dose per image; the aim is to follow the movement of a foreign body buried in human tissue, whether it's a catheter whose movement in blood vessels is controlled, a biopsy needle, or sometimes liquid or gaseous contrast media that spill into the vascular, urinary or digestive...