Who Makes the Best 3D C-Arm?
We tend to throw the word “best” around rather lightly; the best pizza in town, the best movie ever, the best car. Unfortunately, these proclamations of what’s “best” are often based on incomplete data or contrived first impressions. So without further ado, we present to you an unbiased, facts-only perspective on the best 3D c-arm.
Offerings
OEC- Coming soon
Siemens- Arcadis Orbic 3D
Philips- Pulsera 3D
Ziehm- Vario 3D
Isocentricity
Simply put, isocentric c-arms move in a perfect circle around the subject while other models rotate in an egg shape.
For a c-arm to be considered “isocentric”, the central x-ray beam must remain in the isocenter of the subject regardless of the position of the c-arm. The distance of the x-ray tube and the image intensifier from the subject does not change, allowing consistent image size throughout a scan.
An orbital rotation far beyond that of a standard c-arm is required to maintain isocentricity and perform 3D imaging with orbital movement. This eliminates patient repositioning during procedures which, in turn, reduces radiation dose and saves time.
Among the current 3D c-arm models on the market, the Siemens Arcadis Orbic is the only system that is truly isocentric. Its 190° orbital rotation makes it the only model that offers exact anatomy imaging. The Philips Pulsera 3D and Ziehm Vario 3D compensate for this with software applications, but their 3D modeling is based on formulas as opposed to actual anatomical images.
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Siemens Arcadis Orbic Orbital Rotation
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Standard C-Arm Orbital Rotation
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Experience
Siemens released their first 3D c-arms to the marketplace in the early 2000s. Philips and Ziehm followed suit more recently, but neither has had as much development time in this arena as Siemens. This edge has provided for Siemens to develop precise image fusion and real-time data as well as advantages in working with image guidance systems.
Congratulations to the Siemens Arcadis Orbic for winning the “best” 3D c-arm award based its true isocentricity, increased real-time accuracy, decreased patient repositioning, and corresponding dose.
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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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