Your Guide to Medical Imaging Equipment

Have you ever had someone try selling you refurbished X-Ray or CT tubes? Do you know what the phrase “refurbished tube” means? Your guess is as good as mine, because the idea of “refurbishing” a tube doesn't make a whole lot of sense. A CT tube (or X-ray tube) that is not brand new can only fall into one of three categories: used, reprocessed, or reloaded. Depending on the work done (if any), each category has its own trade-off of cost for projected lifespan.

In the video below, we'll break down those three categories to help you understand the processes that are really applied to used X-ray and CT tubes and what they mean for tube longevity. A text version is included as well for your convenience.

For the GE XRD (or any X-ray room, for that matter), proper collimator function is important not just for optimum image quality, but also for controlling radiation dose for patients and practitioners alike. Collimators generally last a long while, but degradation and eventual failure are still possibilities that any facility using X-ray equipment needs to be prepared to respond to.

Whether your XRD collimator is on the fritz right now or you simply like to stay informed and think ahead, the following information will help you build your cost expectations, know what problems to look for, and help ensure that the installation of a replacement collimator goes smoothly.

Need XRD parts now? Click here to request.

When it comes to service and maintenance for a CT scanner, the most important item to keep tabs on is the tube. On any CT, the tube is a part that will need to be replaced periodically .Coincidentally, it's also one of the most expensive to replace.

If you're scanning with a Siemens Sensation 64, you're using Siemens' proprietary Straton Z tube. Below, we'll share with you the average lifespan, average replacement cost, and part number of the Straton Z CT tube.

Need a Straton Z now? Click here for price and availability.

The X-ray handswitch and footswitch on your OEC 9800 are subject to a lot of wear and tear: being dropped, getting stomped on, having their cables run over. There's a pretty good chance that, over the lifetime of your C-arm, you'll have a malfunction from one or the other at least once.

Some of these problems can be diagnosed and repaired. Others, might simply require a total replacement. The video below will give you a brief overview of what proper functionality looks like, what some common problems with hand/footswitches are, and where you should look to find the causes of these problems.

Need an OEC 9800 hand or footswitch now? Grab your part number below and click here to order!

If you use a Siemens Mammomat Novation, there's a P40 MOW-100G tube inside it producing your X-rays and, like any X-ray tube, that P40 will require replacement periodically over the course of your system's life. If you've been in the field even a few years, this is a fact you're probably already be aware of.

As you continue to serve patients with your Novation, it'll be helpful for you to know how long you can expect your X-ray tube to last and what cost you can expect when the time comes to replace it. To that end, we'll share the details below based on the experiences of our engineering team and service customers, as well as current parts market pricing.

Need to order a tube or other mammo parts now? Click here for a quote in minutes.