A Conversation with ... Michael Czop

Trends in patient positioning

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Michael Czop, CFI Medical Solutions

RT Image: CFI Medical has just received a patent for a dimensionally stabilized foam. Can you explain what this means for the patient positioning?

Michael Czop: Applying a vinyl coating or urethane coating over the surface of a foam pad is a common solution for patient positioning needs in diagnostic imaging applications.

A coated surface is attractive, durable and easily cleaned. In some instances, it's essential that precise tolerances are maintained, ensuring exact positioning of the patient or other accessories throughout the imaging procedure.

Traditional coated foam solutions continue curing over time. As this happens, the product can shrink considerably. In situations where the foam pad must interface with another component – for example, an MRI coil – this shrink factor can impede the ability to effectively position the patient or accessories for the scan.

Components that change in size can create interference points between the positioning aid and other accessories. If the patient is forced to rest awkwardly against a hard edge or a mismatched surface, the patient may shift or move during the scan.

This is why dimensionally stabilized foam is an important construction alternative for use with patient positioning aids – it reduces the need to potentially re-image patients, thus saving time and money, while also increasing patient comfort.

RT: How did you develop the Position Perfect line of imaging pads for radiology?

Czop: The Position Perfect line was developed, and continues evolving, by listening to the needs of the practitioners – radiologists, technologists, nurses, clinical application specialists and, of course, the experience of patients.

Our broad range of engineering and manufacturing capabilities allows us to convert this valuable feedback into products benefiting numerous diagnostic imaging applications.

RT: What about infants and children? Do you make any positioning aids that are appropriate for them?

Czop: Absolutely. Pediatric positioning is an expanding component of our product line. Our Hugger™ CT Hugger™ and Infantainer™ are immobilization devices that are very successful in X-ray and CT imaging applications. Several great enhancements to our Hugger line are in the developmental stages and we expect these upgrades to be ready for market in December of this year.

Additionally, CFI is the exclusive U.S. distributor of the Infant Medvac™ system. This is a patented product that allows MRI imaging of infants without the use of sedation.

Two neonatologists, Dr. Amit Mathur of Washington University in St. Louis and Dr. Susan Hintz of Stanford University, recently completed a study showing that use of the Infant Medvac can completely eliminate the need for infant sedation during scanning procedures.

This reduces the risk of harm to the infant and, of course, greatly increases the comfort level of the parents. Nearly 30 hospitals across the country are using the Infant Medvac™ right now, and we expect that number to increase to 100 by the end of this year.

The study can be seen in last month's issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

RT: Is there anything our readers should know about positioning and patient comfort?

Czop: Obviously, the more comfortable a patient is during the scan, the less likely the patient is to move during imaging. CFI has a number of ways to effectively position patients for motion reduction, including modifying the foam from soft to firm to achieve the desired position, and varying the surface finish to enhance the performance of the positioning aid.

CFI offers a variety of finishes, including coatings, fabrics, vinyls and urethanes. Substrates and finishes can be modified to achieve the desired degree of fluid resistance and breathability to minimize perspiration and stress on the skin.

This ability to provide custom solutions satisfies exacting customer needs in a variety of configurations and price ranges. If the practitioner has a feel for what the patient needs to make their imaging process more comfortable, we have the ability to accommodate them.

Material compatibility with the intended modality is another important factor of an effective positioning aid. All of our positioning aids are appropriately qualified to meet the various requirements of the modality that they serve.

Radiolucent materials for X-ray, CT and nuclear applications, and "noise" free materials for MRI are specifically selected for our products.

Geometry plays a role in image quality. Our engineers take this into account during the product design phase, maximizing the effectiveness of the design to reduce the risk of artifacts.

RT: CFI Medical is a company on the rise, with average sales growth of more than 17 percent per year since 2003. What do you credit for being the catalyst for this growth?

Czop: It is difficult to achieve success without a solid core of success-oriented people around you. CFI's talented workforce blends diverse backgrounds of engineering, manufacturing and clinical expertise.

Further, we have a core of clinical partners, who recognize our capabilities and our desire to make quality products, and who willingly contribute ideas for new products. We listen to the needs of the marketplace and succeed at providing exacting solutions.

This approach helps us expand our positioning line well beyond diagnostic imaging and into surgery and radiation therapy.

In many instances, customer needs lead us to acquire new capabilities or expand existing ones.

Recently, we've added a composites (carbon fiber) manufacturing operation and increased the capacity of our machine shop with new, high-speed [computer numerical control] equipment. These two investments allow us to support customer needs for rigid, radiolucent accessories and continue our expansion into new modalities.

Growing demand for our Performance Plus line of infection control/contamination control products is another component of our growth. This product line consists of equipment covers and drapes that are utilized in interventional radiology applications and other surgical settings where sterile barriers are required or where equipment is at risk for fluid contamination.

RT: What are CFI's plans for the future?

Czop: Expansion of our key product lines, Position Perfect and Performance Plus, is essential for sustained future growth. Our patient positioning developments are centering on pressure reduction and surface finishing methods to maximize patient comfort – all of which are necessary for maximizing the effectiveness of the patient scan, treatment or surgery.

New and enhanced capabilities are being brought to market, as well. Our composites and machining capabilities are being refined and optimized as we move forward. A new compression forming operation is also being finalized. This capability provides molded foam alternatives, offering yet another option for effective patient positioning.

While product development and capability enhancement are vital to growth, cost control must be maintained during the expansion effort.

CFI continues emphasizing new engineering and manufacturing technology, as well as effective sourcing to maintain cost competitiveness. It is essential that we maintain control of our cost structure moving forward, and we're doing that.

RT: Any other comments?

Czop: CFI Medical Solutions is a small, veteran-owned company with a vast array of capabilities geared for medical product needs. It is difficult to capture the full breadth of our product and capability offering in a few words.

I encourage readers to visit our Web site, www.cfimedical.com, where they can learn more about the products and capabilities we offer. If we don't have the patient positioning aid you're looking for shown on our site, we can customize a product to your exact needs.

—Jane Kollmer