The 7 most popular pain management c-arm table top shapes and sizes are:
- Integrated headrest with a patient facial cutout – sometimes called cervical shaped – 22 inches wide (#1)
- Integrated headrest with a patient facial cutout – sometimes called cervical shaped – 24 inches wide (#2)
- Rectangular top with a patient facial access cutout (#3)
- Rectangular top – sometimes called a square nose. (#4)
- Composite top – sometimes called an economy top (#5)
- Folding fluoroscopic tabletop – There are also some brands of pain management tables that offer the option of a C-arm compatible, radiolucent folding top for facilities with a limited amount of storage space. The most popular of these is the PMT 8000 C-arm table series
- Custom sized c-arm table tops are also available.*
The most popular radiolucent c-arm table top shape is:
The integrated headrest (sometimes called a cervical shaped fluoro top with a patient facial access cut out.) This style top will allow you to get closer to your patient so you can maintain a more comfortable position throughout the pain management procedure. Update: This was true in 2018, but in 2019 the favorite pain management tabletop shape changed and the most popular c-arm compatible, radiolucent, medical imaging table top is now #3. A rectangular carbon fiber top with a patient facial cutout.
The most popular pain management table top SIZES are:
You probably have already guessed this, but 22 inches or 24 inches wide, and 80 to 82 inches long. The 22-inch width is easier to work with and rotate around the patient, table, and any cannula or another device.
The pain management tables that have longer table tops than 82 inches typically take up a lot more floor space, but most add little if any additional metal free C-arm imaging area. These are usually the older table designs.
If the fluoroscopic table top is narrower than 22 inches;
pain management physicians may find that their larger pain patients may say that they feel like they are falling off of the c-arm table. The bigger MSK patients will often complain of feeling uncomfortable and feeling unsupported.
If the fluoroscopic table top is wider than 24 inches;
the x-ray technician may find it difficult to rotate the c-arm around the patient unless you have a c-arm similar to the OEC 9600, OEC 9800 or OEC 9900 super “C” C-arms.
The rectangular surgical imaging table tops without the facial cutout;
(sometimes called square nosed tops) are the original, more traditional c-arm tabletop choice. The rectangular carbon fiber tops support the patient’s arms when they’re placed above his or her head in a diving position and they are easier to use for non-prone, image-guided procedures. The rectangle shaped imaging table tops are also more useful if you are at a multi-specialty facility and expect to place the patient’s feet at the head end of the table for different types of procedures.
The composite imaging table tops are normally about $1000 – $1500 less than the carbon fiber imaging table tops.
The composite radiolucent table tops for c-arm tables have a thin metal edge that normally does not interfere with any useful APs, lateral or oblique views when imaging the spine. The fluoroscopic composite tops are not recommended for image guided procedures where the surgeon will be using the c-arm on the edge of the table. The economy focused composite surgical imaging tabletops also do not have the option for a patient facial access cut out and they only come in the rectangular shape, but you can get them in any length or width you desire.
C-arm table tops with a patient facial access cutout can be either the cervical or rectangular shaped table tops. The facial cutout which extends through the pad and table top allows for a more comfortable and stable patient position while prone. The patient facial cutout is beveled and produces little artifact during image-guided pain management procedures.
Custom sized fluoroscopic table tops;
are readily available. You can request a top to be longer or shorter, wider or more narrow. We have made several shorter tops for various Top Children’s Hospitals for pediatric vascular and orthopedic procedures. We have also made wider tops for various specialty facilities and departments where a lateral view is not used. We have also been asked to make various custom tops for medical training facilities as well as veterinary groups across the country
