Intraoperative Imaging Fundamentals and Radiation Safety

This course prepares service-technician students to explain how fluoroscopy and cone-beam CT produce images and how the Medtronic O-arm supports intraoperative imaging workflows. Topics include X-ray generation, tissue interactions, image formation, reconstruction fundamentals, and the relationship between image quality and radiation exposure. Students distinguish dose quantities and equipment-reported dose indicators while examining time, distance, shielding, scatter control, and personnel monitoring. Operating room safety instruction addresses controlled access, sterile boundaries, equipment movement, and coordination with clinical staff and radiation safety personnel. Hands-on activities use simulations, de-energized equipment, or approved training environments; any radiation-producing activity requires appropriate authorization, qualified supervision, and adherence to facility policies and the manufacturer's documentation. Anode Technical Institute is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or authorized by Medtronic or Philips, and this independent course uses publicly available general engineering knowledge rather than factory training.

InstructorJacob Calhoun

Course outline

Lectures, virtual labs, and graded assignments — completed in your browser.

01Lesson 1: Intraoperative Imaging and the O-arm's Role in Surgerylecture

02Lesson 2: X-ray Generation, Beam Characteristics, and Tissue Interactionslecture

03Lesson 3: Fluoroscopy Principles, Image Formation, and Image Qualitylecture

04Lesson 4: Hands-on Lab: Mapping Imaging Components and OR Safety Zoneslab

05Lesson 5: Cone-Beam CT Acquisition, Reconstruction, and Artifactslecture

06Lesson 6: Radiation Dose Quantities, Dose Indicators, and Biological Effectslecture

07Lesson 7: Radiation Protection Through Time, Distance, and Shieldinglecture

08Lesson 8: Hands-on Lab: Simulated Scatter and Shielding Assessment & Midterm Reviewlab

09Lesson 9: OR Workflow, Sterile Boundaries, and Equipment Movementlecture

10Lesson 10: Controlled Access, Personnel Monitoring, and Radiation Safety Responsibilitieslecture

11Lesson 11: Hands-on Lab: Simulated Pre-Imaging Safety Checks and Team Communicationlab

12Lesson 12: Image Quality and Dose Tradeoffs in Fluoroscopy and Cone-Beam CTlecture

13Lesson 13: Technician Safety Boundaries, Documentation, and Escalationlecture

14Lesson 14: Capstone Project: Develop an Intraoperative Imaging Radiation Safety Planassignment

Syllabus

["Week 1: Lesson 1: Intraoperative Imaging and the O-arm's Role in Surgery", "Week 2: Lesson 2: X-ray Generation, Beam Characteristics, and Tissue Interactions", "Week 3: Lesson 3: Fluoroscopy Principles, Image Formation, and Image Quality", "Week 4: Lesson 4: Hands-on Lab: Mapping Imaging Components and OR Safety Zones", "Week 5: Lesson 5: Cone-Beam CT Acquisition, Reconstruction, and Artifacts", "Week 6: Lesson 6: Radiation Dose Quantities, Dose Indicators, and Biological Effects", "Week 7: Lesson 7: Radiation Protection Through Time, Distance, and Shielding", "Week 8: Lesson 8: Hands-on Lab: Simulated Scatter and Shielding Assessment & Midterm Review", "Week 9: Lesson 9: OR Workflow, Sterile Boundaries, and Equipment Movement", "Week 10: Lesson 10: Controlled Access, Personnel Monitoring, and Radiation Safety Responsibilities", "Week 11: Lesson 11: Hands-on Lab: Simulated Pre-Imaging Safety Checks and Team Communication", "Week 12: Lesson 12: Image Quality and Dose Tradeoffs in Fluoroscopy and Cone-Beam CT", "Week 13: Lesson 13: Technician Safety Boundaries, Documentation, and Escalation", "Week 14: Lesson 14: Capstone Project: Develop an Intraoperative Imaging Radiation Safety Plan"]