Cineradiographic System Design

Abstract

The title of this paper suggests that cineradiographic and associated equipment should be designed to create a total system to meet a particular diagnostic need or to serve a specialized research purpose. For example , a recent study of the height of soft palate closure required a specific system in order to evaluate this velopharyngeal phenomenon (9). Fortunately, in that case, the demands of diagnostic rationale for cleft palate patients plus ongoing research projects in temporoman-dibular joint function and palatal dynamics had resulted in a cine-radiographic system which met the needs for that specific project (1, 2, 5) (Figures 1 and 2). A minor change in the system readout section was the only change necessary to accommodate the new project. Usually, however, one begins by drawing design specifications based on the basic research requirements. Instrumentation Design When considering instrumentation, professional investigators are aware that scientific advance is not based upon the Rube Goldberg concept of instrumentation, but rather upon the engineering approach oriented to the research thesis. This is an improvement over the plan where the in— vestigator must force his proposal to fit existing equipment design. For the project requiring special instrumentation, one might consider this primary rule: the underlying overall institutional program plus the individual research priori should be the dictum of system development. The burden of this approach to cineradiography is borne by the bio-medical engineer for the research team in the dental-medical environment. ' The importance of this design phase is emphasized by Littleton ('7) who states The total effectiveness of any given radiologist depends upon a multitude of factors, but there can be no doubt that a primary part is played by the