DARK ROOM PLANNING, CONSTRUCTION & ACCESSORIES.pptx

DARKROOM PLANNING AND ACCESSORIES

1. DARK ROOM Girish H, MSc. MIT Radiological Technologist, NIMHANS

2. THE DARK ROOM The dark room is the place where x-ray films are processed in radiology department.

3. The dark room is very important place in radiology department of a hospital, nursing home or a private x-ray clinic. The term “ DARK ROOM ” overstates the case, since complete darkness is unnecessary. By using of safe light is provided to facilitate dark room procedures. Darkroom is also called as “PROCESSING ROOM” The following planning are necessary to construct to a dark room, they are;

4. DARKROOM DESIGN

5. LOCATION The dark room should be located very close to the radiographic room as it saves lot of time If there are two or more radiographic room should be situated in central position. Under no circumstances the dark room should be situated in a hot or damp basement

6. ENTRANCE The dark room entrance are many types, in this most common type is single door entrance which must be made light tight and should have an inside lock to prevent opening while films are being processed.

7. DARKROOM ENTRANCE: SINGLE DOOR

8. DARKROOM ENTRANCE: REVOLVING DOOR

9. DARKROOM ENTRANCE: DOUBLE DOOR

10. DARKROOM ENTRANCE: double ‘U’ shape

11. DARKROOM DIVIDING The film processing and the cassettes loading purpose the darkroom is dividing into two types. They are; The Dry side. The Wet side.

12. THE DRY SIDE The “dry side” of a darkroom are include some various components. They are; Loading bench. Compartments for cassettes. Film bin Storage for reserve films. Brackets for film hangers. Wastepaper receptacle.

13. The length of the loading bench depends upon the volume of work and the available space. The bench top covering should be linoleum or Formica. A slot be cut at the rear of the bench top through which waste-paper can be dropped into a receptacle under the bench. Separate compartment for every size of cassette are essential and they should be made no deeper than the width of the cassette.

14. As per cassettes, there is a separate compartment in the film bin for each size of film carton. Reserve films should be stored in a cupboard or case lined with led. Film hangers are best kept on brackets above the loading bench, each size of hangers having a separate pair of brackets.

15. Dry bench system

16. THE WET SIDE The processing chemicals are available as dry powder or as liquid solutions. These are made up to proper volume by the addition of water according to the instructions printed on the label. Two stirring paddlers are needed, one for the developer and one for fixer. A thermometer used to determine the temperature of the developing solutions and check the temperature of the water used to prepare the solutions.

17. The processing tanks comprise the major equipment of the ‘wet’ side of the darkroom. The simplest type consist of a three compartment tank, one end-compartment being used for developing and the opposite one for fixing. The middle compartment serve both to rinse and wash the films and should be supplied with running water. A more satisfactory arrangement consists of a large insulated stainless, compartment of master tank.

18. The stainless steel insert tanks are placed in one of the compartment. The first insert being the developing tank. The other insert being the fixing tank. Water between insert tanks in the compartment serves both to rinse the film and to control the temperature of the solutions. The fixing tank should be twice than the developing tank because the films are taking time for fix twice than the developing.

19. Master tank

20. LIST OF DARKROOM ACCESSORIES The number of individual accessories depends on the number of X-ray plants and number of radiographs done per day each darkroom. For a darkroom catering to 2 X-ray rooms the list of accessories needed are as follows, they are;

21. Sl. Sizes of the cassettes No. of X-ray cassettes Films No. of hangers 1 15 * 12 8 100 16 2 12 * 12 4 50 8 3 12 * 10 10 100 20 4 10 * 8 10 100 20 5 8 * 6 10 100 20

22. Processing tanks - 3nos 9liters/13.5liters CAPACITY. (for developer, rinsing, and fixer) Square or round safe light if green or red filter glass-2nos. Wooden bench of the size 4’ * 2’ area and 3’ height- 1 no. (dry bench) Master tank with water supply and drainage-1 no.(wet bench) Wash basin with water supply-1nos.

23. Steel almirah for storage of films and accessories. Black or Dark blue curtain for doors and windows-2nos. Stools or chairs for resting- 2 no. Tube light bulb or white light fixture- 1 no. Ceiling fan-1 no.

24. Exhaust fan fixture with light proof protection-1 no. Chest stand- 1 no. Lead letters with numbers “L and R” markers-2 sets. X-ray viewing boxes-2 nos. Chemicals (developer and fixer)-2 nos.

25. DARK ROOM SIZE The dark room should be 100 square feet floor space and 11 feet of ceiling height. It must be large enough to accommodate all the necessary equipment without overcrowding. This equipments includes the loading bench and the processing tanks, each with requisite accessories. It is essential for dry and wet work to be carried out at a safe distance from each other.

26. In dark room the loading bench and processing tanks are arranged opposite to each other, they are referred as “dry” and “wet” sides. The preparation of the processing solution must be take place outside of processing room. The material needed for the processing purpose stored outside also.

27. PROTECTION AGAINST RADIATION It is necessary for the darkroom to well protected against radiation from radiographic room. The lead equivalence of the wall adjoining the radiographic room should be efficient to prevent the films from fogging. The wall should be lined with led sheet or led equivalent substance. The concrete walls of “6 to 9” brick thick wall or which is equivalent to 1.5mm thickness of led is sufficient.

28. FLOOR The dark room floor should be comfortable with all necessary equipment and easy to clean. Ceramic tiles of porcelain or natural clay are the most satisfactory. Ordinary linoleum and concrete are unsuitable because they are readily attacked by the processing solution.

29. WALL COVERING The wall of the dark room do not have to be dark. The colour chosen should be first judged under the safe-light illumination, it is important that there should be maximum reflection of safe-light. The wall should be covered with chemical-resistant material such as special paint, varnish, concrete or ceramic tiles.

30. VENTILATION Windows should be avoided because they are difficult to render lightproof. Air condition is the ideal solution for the dark room but it is not possible to install. The darkroom should have proper air circulation, for this purpose a ceiling fan and an exhaust fan should be provided. A wooden or metal enclosure on outer wall, where the exhaust fan projects, because it prevents the light entering into the dark room.

31. TEMPERATURE The darkroom temperature should be 20-24ºc This temperature is necessary for film storage– to slow down the aging process of the film.

32. COLOUR OF THE MAZE DARK -- NOT TO REFLECT WITH LIGHT INTO THE DARKROOM

33. ILLUMINATION The darkroom should have three types of illumination . Safe light illumination. General illumination. Radiographic illumination.

34. SAFE LIGHT ILLUMINATION The darkroom should have a light source which will not fog films. Safe light serve this purpose; they should have filters of the proper colour. The working distance from the safelight to the film should not be less than 1.2 meter. The bulb wattage should be less then 15 watts with specified lamp housing.

35. SAFELIGHT USED FOR: DURING FILM PROCESSING

36. FILM TRAY 7.5 W SAFE LIGHT SHOULD BE AT LEAST 3 FEET FROM THE FILM TRAY

37. 15 W SAFE LIGHT SHOULD BE AT LEAST 4 FEET FROM THE FILM TRAY FILM TRAY

38. GENERAL ILLUMINATION A source of overhead lighting is needed for general purposes such as cleaning, changing solution and other purposes. White light

39. RADIOGRAPHIC ILLUMINATION A fluorescent illuminator for viewing wet radiographies should be mounted over the washing compartment to avoid contamination of processing solutions.

40. ELECTRIC WIRING The darkroom is a place where electric shock can be dangerous. Because of the presence of electric wiring in the proximity of aqueous solutions, water pipes, damp floor and wet fingers. It essential to earth all exposed non-current carrying metallic object.

41. PASS BOX The most suitable location for the pass box is near to the loading bench. The typical pass box has two light tight and x-ray proof doors. These are so interlocked that both cannot be opened at the same time. The pass box is divided into two compartments, one for exposed and other for unexposed films.

42. PASS-BOX IS NEEDED TO PASS FILMS DIRECTLY FROM THE X-RAY ROOM TO DARKROOM

43. FILM BIN It is necessary to store different size of films in darkroom.

44. FILM BIN ANATOMY CONTAINS INDIVIDUAL SLOTS THAT HOLD FILMS OF DIFFERENT SIZES

45. FILM BIN AUDIO ALARM

46. TYPICAL DARKROOM FILM BIN 14 x 17 FRONT 11 x 14 10 x 12 8 x 10 OTHER FILMS

47. WOULD YOU STORE FILMS LIKE THIS??? This is the wrong way to store films…

48. STORE YOUR FILMS STANDING ON THE EDGE TO AVOID PRESSURE MARKS. USE FILM STORAGE CARTS OR SHELVES.

49. WATER SUPPLY Continuous Water supply is necessary in the dark room. This ensures clean water for washing processed films. At least two water tap points are necessary.

50. LAYOUT OF TYPICAL DARKROOM

51. THANK YOU