Transmission titles for X-ray mattresses

Considerable attention has been given to the introduction of carbon fibre components such as table tops in the implementation of a patient dose reduction programme. There appears to have been much less interest in the attenuating properties of the mattresses used. With the assistance of Medical Technical Officers we have surveyed a range of tables and mattresses used in our hospital. The results were disturbing Figure 1 shows the distribution of table and mattress transmission values.