Radial Cardiac Catheterization Board

A medical apparatus for use in supporting a patient lying in a supine position during a radial cardiac catheterization procedure, comprising:

• an operating table suitable for supporting a patient lying in the supine position;
• and
• an arm board secured to the operating table of the medical apparatus and having a support surface on which the patient's arm can be suitably stabilized during a catheterization procedure,
• wherein the arm board comprises a radioopaque portion and a radiolucent portion.

A method for radial cardiac catheterization of a patient, comprising:

• supporting the arm of a patient lying in a supine position on an operating table, wherein the arm is supported by an arm board which extends from the operating table, has a substantially horizontal and planar support surface on which the arm is stabilized,
• introducing one or more medical instruments through a catheter in the stabilized arm of the patient;
• and
• using x-ray imaging to visualize the position of the one or more medical instruments introduced into the patient through the catheter,
• wherein the arm board comprises a radiolucent portion positioned in the arm board to permit said x-ray imaging and a radiopaque portion surrounding at least part of the radiolucent portion.