Administrative Rules of Montana › Department 37 - PUBLIC HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES › Chapter 37.14 - RADIATION CONTROL › Subchapter 37.14.10 - X-Rays in the Healing Arts › Rule 37.14.1012 - RADIOGRAPHIC INSTALLATIONS OTHER THAN DENTAL AND VETERINARY MEDICINE

Current through Register Vol. 13, July 5, 2024
(1) The equipment used in radiographic
				installations in other than dental and veterinary medicine shall be as follows:
(a) The tube housing will be of diagnostic
				type.
(b) Suitable devices
				(diaphragms, cones, adjustable collimators), capable of restricting the useful
				beam to the area of clinical interest shall be provided to define the beam and
				shall provide the same degree of attenuation as that required of the tube
				housing. Such devices shall be calibrated in terms of the size of the projected
				useful beam at specified source-film distances. For chest photofluorographic
				equipment, the collimator shall restrict the beam to dimensions no greater than
				those of the fluorographic screen and shall confine the beam to the
				screen.
(c) Radiographic equipment,
				including multipurpose machines sold in Montana after July 1, 1969, shall be
				equipped with adjustable rectangular collimators containing light localizers
				that define the entire field. Equipment installed prior to March 28, 1980,
				utilizing circular collimators which have met or will meet established
				standards will be acceptable. The field size indication on adjustable
				collimators shall be accurate with a tolerance not exceeding 1 inch for a
				source-film distance of 72 inches, the light field shall align with the x-ray
				field with the same degree of accuracy.
(d) The size of the x-ray beam projected by
				fixed aperture cones and collimators, except those used for stereo-radiography,
				should not exceed the minimum dimensions of the x-ray film by more than 2
				inches (1 inch border) for a source-film distance of 72 inches or 1 inch (1/2
				inch border) for a source-film distance of 36 inches.
(e) Except when contraindicated for a
				particular radiographic purpose, the aluminum equivalent of the total
				filtration in the primary beam shall not be less than 0.5 millimeters aluminum
				for machines capable of operating not over 50 kVp, 1.5 millimeters for those
				capable of operating between 50-70 kVp and 2.5 millimeters for those capable of
				operating above 70 kVp.
(f) A
				device shall be provided which terminates the exposure at a preset time
				interval or exposure. The operator shall be able to terminate the exposure at
				any time.
(g) A type of dead-man
				switch for an exposure switch, except for those used in conjunction with
				"spot-film", shall be required and so arranged that it cannot be operated
				outside a shielded area.
(h) The
				control panel shall include a device such as a milliammeter or equivalent to
				give positive indication of the production of x-rays whenever the x-ray tube is
				energized.
(i) The control panel
				shall include devices, (labeled control settings and/or meters) indicating the
				physical factors (such as kVp, mA, exposure time, or whether timing is
				automatic) used for the exposure.
(j) Machines equipped with beryllium window
				x-ray tubes shall contain keyed filter interlock switches in the tube housing
				and suitable indication on the control panel of the added filter in the useful
				beam if the total filtration permanently in the useful beam is less than 0.5 mm
				aluminum equivalent. The total filtration permanently in the useful beam shall
				be clearly indicated on the tube housing.
(k) Beryllium window x-ray tubes shall not be
				used on multipurpose radiographic equipment.
(l) Gonadal shielding shall be used for the
				patient when appropriate.
(m) When
				a patient must be held in position for radiography, mechanical supporting or
				restraining devices shall be used whenever possible. If the patient must be
				held by an individual, that individual shall be protected with appropriate
				shielding devices such as protective gloves and apron and he shall be so
				positioned that no part of his body will be struck by the useful beam and that
				his body is as far as possible from the edge of the useful beam.
(n) Only persons whose presence is necessary
				shall be in the radiographic room during exposure. All such persons shall be
				protected.