Questions to Ask BEFORE You Buy a Cath Lab
Searching for the perfect Cath Lab? It’s a lot more work than you thought, huh? Some people love the hunt, the chance to see what the imaging equipment jungle has to offer and to snare the system that best balances utility and economy for their site. Others: not so much. It can be incredibly difficult to hunt when you have no idea what prey you’re after.
Fortunately, we can help you narrow your search and get you stalking the best game for your imaging AND budgetary needs. We know you’ll have plenty of questions for us along the way, but the best place for Cath Lab hunters to start the safari is by answering the following questions...
How to Determine Your Ideal Cath Lab Target
- Do you currently have a cath lab in operation?
- Who currently services your cath lab equipment?
- Do you plan to expand or add more labs in the future?
- Do you perform/ intend to perform run-off procedures?
- Are you looking for a single-plane or bi-plane system? A single-plane is most common, but if you currently have a biplane it will open up some options, particularly for things like neurovascular work.
- What type of archival devices are you currently using? Are you connected to a PACS system?
- Are you using cine cameras and film or do you have a single DICOM workstation?
- What size Image intensifier do you currently use? What size would you prefer? 9" intensifiers are mainly used for cardiac work. 12” and bigger intensifiers are more commonly associated with peripheral vascular, angio, EP, or combination work.
- Do you perform any procedures, such as implants, that require reverse configuration for the physician and monitors? Convertible monitor suspension systems are available.
- Do you plan to replace your hemodynamics system (cath lab monitoring system)? What type of monitoring system do you currently have?
- Do you need a new contrast media injector?
- Is the lab on-grade (floor-level with no basement), or above-grade with an accessible floor underneath? What floor is the system on?
- Is this an outpatient facility or is it located in a major hospital?
- What is your budget?
- What is your time frame for purchase and installation?
By answering these questions according to the needs of your site, you can determine which type of Cath Lab equipment you’ll want to devote your time to pursuing. A lot of valuable energy can be wasted focusing on units that won’t even meet your needs and a lot of money can be wasted on advanced features that a more basic practitioner will never use.
If the answers to these questions aren’t quite enough to hone your hunt, feel free to ask for more information from our expert Cath hunters. When you’re finally ready to pull the trigger on a Cath Lab purchase, make sure your sights are trained on the right one!
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Chris Sharrock is the Fluoroscopy Product Manager at Block Imaging. Sometimes referred to as the “The C-Arm Guy”, Chris has a passion for music, fitness and genuinely enjoys helping others make decisions about c-arms and fluoroscopy equipment. You can download Chris’ very popular “C-Arm Buyer’s Guide” or connect with him here.
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Co-authored by Jordan Batterbee
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