R313-35-110. Veterinary X-Ray Systems

(1) Equipment. X-ray systems shall meet the following standards to be used for veterinary radiographic examinations.

(a) The leakage radiation from the diagnostic source assembly measured at a distance of one meter shall not exceed 25.8 uC/kg (100 milliroentgens) in one hour when the x-ray tube is operated at its leakage technique factors.

(b) Diaphragms, cones, or a stepless adjustable collimator shall be provided for collimating the useful beam to the area of clinical interest and shall provide the same degree of protection as is required of the diagnostic source housing.

(c) A device shall be provided to terminate the exposure after a preset time or exposure.

(d) A "dead-man type" exposure switch shall be provided, together with an electrical cord of sufficient length, so that the operator may stand out of the useful beam and at least six feet from the animal during x-ray exposures.

(e) For stationary or mobile x-ray systems, a method shall be provided for visually defining the perimeter of the x-ray field. The total misalignment of the edges of the visually defined field with the respective edges of the x-ray field along either the length or width of the visually defined field shall not exceed six percent of the distance from the source to the center of the visually defined field when the surface upon which it appears is perpendicular to the axis of the x-ray beam.

(f) For portable x-ray systems, a method shall be provided to align the center of the x-ray field with respect to the center of the image receptor to within six percent of the source to image receptor distance, and to indicate the source to image receptor distance to within six percent.

(2) Structural shielding. For stationary x-ray systems, the wall, ceiling, and floor areas shall provide enough shielding to meet the requirements of R313-15-301.

(3) Operating procedures.

(a) Where feasible, the operator shall stand well away from the useful beam and the animal during radiographic exposures.

(b) In applications in which the operator is not located beyond a protective barrier, clothing consisting of a protective apron having a lead equivalent of not less than 0.5 millimeters shall be worn by the operator and other individuals in the room during exposures.

(c) An individual other than the operator shall not be in the x-ray room while exposures are being made unless the individual's assistance is required.

(d) If the animal must be held by an individual, that individual shall be protected with appropriate shielding devices, for example, protective gloves and apron. The individual shall be so positioned that no unshielded part of that individual's body will be struck by the useful beam.