The Nomad handheld x-ray device has been approved for use by dentists and veterinarians in the state of Maryland, Aribex announced.
The Maryland Department of the Environment's Radiological Health Program has approved the operation of handheld x-ray devices in nursing homes, hospitals, and home healthcare situations, as well as with special needs patients or sedated patients, effective April 1, 2009.
Following a short period of evaluation by the Radiological Health Program Radiation Machines Division, the department concluded that there were "no definitive public health concerns regarding operation of handheld dental x-ray devices."
As with all radiological devices, the state of Maryland has asked that certain specific protocols be followed as conditions for registering each device with the state. Handheld x-ray units are prohibited in conventional dental offices or for school screenings. Permanent, mounted nonremovable shields must be affixed to devices, preventing operator exposure to scatter radiation. Also, only those persons licensed with the state of Maryland are allowed to operate the devices.
Maryland marks the 40th state to approve the Nomad for dental, veterinarian, and forensic use, according to Aribex.
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