Mobile radiographic units are used for radiographic imaging of patients who cannot be moved to the radiology department and who are in areas — such as intensive and critical care units or operating and emergency rooms — that lack standard, fixed radiographic equipment. Mobile units, which are manually or motor driven to the patient, are designed for use only when patient transport is contraindicated; the radiology department offers a more controlled, optimal setting for radiographic imaging. During a radiographic procedure, an x-ray beam is passed through the body. A portion of the x-rays are absorbed or scattered by the internal structure and the remaining x-ray pattern is transmitted to a detector so that an image may be recorded for later evaluation. The recording of the pattern may occ