Block Imaging has long been known for refurbished imaging equipment, but did you know that we provide MEDICAL EQUIPMENT SERVICE and MEDICAL EQUIPMENT PARTS as well?

Two of the most famous C-Arm machines of all time square off! In one corner we have the C-Arm model that helped start it all... the high powered, workhorse OEC 9400 C-Arm. In the other corner we have the successor and big brother... the OEC 9600 C-Arm.

What a way to start the day.  As I got ready to take my daughter to preschool, I zipped out to grab a gallon of milk before my son woke up.  As I hum in my head and throw the car in reverse, I back out into the street and... crash!  Really?  Good morning and happy Friday. 

“It doesn’t take that long to install Cath Lab equipment, right?” My answer to this question would be that it probably takes longer than you think. Of all the modalities that Block Imaging works with, Interventional Lab installations are the most involved.

My 15 year-old wants an iPhone.  Don’t bother asking “why”.  He just needs it - bad.  Never mind that I haven’t received an actual phone call from him in the past year.  Never mind that I’d never pay for (and he can’t afford) a data plan.  And never mind that 95% of the funtionality he would use is already on the iPod he already owns. 

On the one hand, C-Arm machines seem to be very durable and are built to last. They get banged around in operating rooms and down hospital hallways and they still keep trucking.

When comparing 4 Slice CT scanners the first question often asked is, "What's the difference between the LightSpeed QX/i and LightSpeed Plus?" In reality, the question being asking is, "What's the difference between an H1 Gantry and an H2 Gantry?"

H1 Gantry vs H2 Gantry

As you can see in the photo, the H1 Gantry (LightSpeed QX/i) is the less modern "Box" style, the same style that goes back as far as the HiSpeed Advantage series. The H2 Gantry (LightSpeed Plus) has the newer "Curved" style, which is now the same design used all the way up through the 16 and even 64 Slice LightSpeed series. However, when the description is a LightSpeed "QX/i" or LightSpeed "Plus" it is referring to a 4 slice scanner unless otherwise noted.

A Few Things in Common

Let's start by discussing what the LS QX/i and LS Plus have in common.

Anyone selling used medical imaging equipment needs to be proactive about maintaining HIPAA compliance and taking all necessary steps to protect patient data.

Let’s pretend. You scan your badge to enter the radiology department or unlock the doors to your imaging center, flip on the lights and... All of your equipment is gone! 

A permanent magnet MRI machine has many advantages, including low maintenance costs, no reliance on helium, and minimal electricity requirements... but it also has a powerful magnetic field that cannot be “turned off”.

Before I reveal how to make a Siemens Biograph 16 into a Mobile PET/CT, let me first explain why everyone else will tell you, "It just can’t be done."

Just in case you were wondering, "Does it matter what contractor I choose for the build out of my medical facility?"... The short answer is, YES! Building out a medical imaging suite is far more involved than a typical office construction project.

The answer to the question everyone has been asking – “When will Bracco resume shipments of their Rubidium generators?" – is closer than ever.

If you are wondering, "What is an R/F room exactly?" you should check out the following video where I explain in less than 1 minute what an R/F room is (radiography/fluoroscopy) and the advantages it offers for capturing images in both horizontal and vertical formats.

“What kind of car should I buy?”  “Did this movie get good reviews?”  “Which investment will produce the highest yield?”

One of the most common questions I hear daily is, “Can you tell me the difference between an OEC 9800 C-Arm and OEC 9600 C-Arm”... so I thought it was about time to highlight a few of the major differences for you here. Let me emphasize this is a general and condensed list. My goal here is not to talk about every specific board, screw size, bolt etc. So as always, if you have additional questions please don’t hesitate to ask!
 

First Glance: The Cosmetics

Both c-arms are built on nearly identical frames. The weight and dimensions are the same, monitor size is the same, and the footprint is the same.  At 50 yards, even the most experienced C-Arm engineers will need a few seconds to tell them apart. When you get up close, you will find a few more distinctions such as the 9600 track pad and keyboard.

Steering and Mobility

The answer to this question depends on the vintage of 9600 you have and whether or not that unit has new or old style steering. The old style 9600 steering is very different but the new style 9600 steering is identical to the 9800. Check out this video that explains OEC 9600 New Style Steering vs Old Style Steering.

Touchscreen User Interface

All of the navigation on the 9800 takes place through the touch screen monitors. From the touchscreens, you can input patient information, navigate menus, and manipulate images. The 9600s do not have touchscreens and require the use of a keyboard and trackpad to input information and navigate through the system.

Image Quality

The OEC 9800 has a 1k x 1k pixel resolution imaging chain. The OEC 9600 has a 512 x512 pixel resolution imaging chain. This results in a 9800 being able to “see” much finer detail.

DICOM

The OEC 9800s have the capability to have native DICOM on the system by way of an onboard Ethernet board. The OEC 9600s always require an external conversion box to send a DICOM signal.

Hardware Configurations

Both models come in 9” Image Intensifier, 12” Image Intensifier and the 9” Super C option. The 9800 has one additional configuration known as the MD (motor driven) system, which has the ability to electronically control the movements of the “C” via a joystick.

Software Configurations

• 9600 - Surgery Package (SP), General Surgical Package (GSP), Expanded Surgical Package (ESP), VASC 4/8/15, Neurovascular, Cardiac

The CMS MEMO: Advanced Diagnostic Imaging (ADI) Accreditation Policy: PROVISIONAL ACCREDITATION STATUS creates a grace period clause for new purchases that the 2008 MIPPA Act (scheduled to go into effect January 1, 2012) did not.

I am regularly asked, "Why does a GE CT scanner cost so much more than the other manufacturers?" We regularly see GE single slice CTs going for the same price as a Philips or Siemens 2 or 4 slice and this is similarly true for higher end equipment. Why? Well, I’m glad you asked.

The 4th quarter of the calendar year is here and I think we can pretty much agree that medical imaging equipment purchases must be placed, for the most part, by November 15th in order to insure installation by year-end. This means that you only have 30-45 days to take advantage of the 2011 Section 179 tax deduction for medical equipment expenses!

Wondering what the basic differences are between Mini C-Arm, Full Size C-Arm and Compact C-Arm systems? 

(PET/CT Scanner cost updates for 2012/2013 now available here)

Not a week goes by where I don’t get the question, "How much does a PET/CT cost?" We are involved with the buying, selling and installing of refurbished PET/CT scanners on a daily basis. So, while the answer depends on a number of factors, the single most determinative factor is the number of slices the CT has. 

The old adage, “you get what you pay for” is very true in the realm of PET/CT. The more slices, the more money you will pay. 

Here is the punchline (the joke will come later):

Recently I have been getting more and more calls from customers with panicked voices saying, “My physicist is here and he is looking for some form that I am supposed to have… some kind of FDA Form?” Does this sound familiar to you?  

Before I talk about the intricacies of C-Arm service agreements, I have a question for you...

Buying medical imaging equipment on the secondary market can be easy if you take these 5 things into consideration. Watch as David McAndrews, Your Imaging Solutions Coach, breaks it down for you... 

When it comes to radiology equipment projects, you are probably wondering what "turnkey solution" means exactly... what it includes and, more importantly, what it might not include.

“It's kind of like buying a car” goes the cliché… and in so many ways, that’s true when buying pre-owned medical imaging equipment, even when you’re dealing with something like a 1.5T MRI scanner.

We get calls every day from doctors, like you, trying to determine if they need lead lined walls in their Rad Rooms, R/F Rooms, C-Arm procedure areas, etc.  Whether or not you need lead lining really depends on a few factors...

State Laws Vary

Although many of us wish the laws were consistent state to state (it would simplify the process), the fact remains, each state has unique laws.  Some states require no lead lining at all, while other states require varying thickness based on the system.