NOMAD is a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 510(k) approved hand-held x-ray unit that has demonstrated substantial equivalence to a portable intraoral x-ray system designed for field use. The patients scheduled for routine intraoral radiographs at the College of Dentistry will continue to be imaged using fixed wall-mounted or mobile X-ray machines. The radiology division will provide training for the safe use of NOMAD to the staff, faculty, and students. Dental and hygiene students will be introduced to the fundamentals of using the NOMAD X-ray device during the pre-clinical radiology courses. Training sessions will be offered periodically for the staff and faculty. Daily, attending clinical faculty or the clinic dispensary staff should be familiar with safe handling of the hand-held. Help and training should be sought from Radiology as needed.
Below is a summary of guidelines for NOMAD (hand-held X-ray generator):
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The NOMAD must be checked out by the operator from the clinic dispensary or staff office.
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Students using the NOMAD will be under the supervision of the attending faculty. Standard radiation protection procedures must be followed; the only exception is that the operator of the NOMAD is physically present in the operatory with the patient during the x-ray procedure.
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The NOMAD’s circular protective shield must always be in place, at the recommended position (on the outer edge of BID towards the patient).
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Operator must try to stay behind the Nomad during exposure and try to hold it as close to the patient’s face / target as possible.
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Image receptor holding devices (XCP or tabs) should be used with the Nomad.
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Shorter XCP rods are available in clinics for using with NOMAD.
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Operator must use both hands to hold the Nomad unit to ensure steady support during the procedure.
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Nomad must be returned to dispensary personnel upon completion of the x-ray procedures.
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According to the recommendation by the medical physicist, the operator must use a protective body apron during the imaging.
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Operator must make sure that the Nomad and the patient will not move during the procedure.
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Operators must keep all others at least 6 feet away from the primary source of radiation.
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Nomad can only be used in approved locations. For example, general waiting areas are not approved locations.
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To prevent the spread of infections, the Nomad should be disinfected after every patient using wipe-discard-wipe technique with approved wipes.
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Persons (students, staff, and faculty) using the Nomad machine will be responsible for controlling the immediate area in which the device is used.
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In situations such as research studies, where one operator may be taking extreme numbers of images, a radiation-monitoring device may be required.
