Your Guide to Medical Imaging Equipment

There’s a simple, but annoying truth that every Hologic Fluoroscan Mini-C owner knows all too well: the world is full of dust, and at some point, it will get into your C-arm’s CCD camera. The scenario is one we at Block Imaging hear often: Things were going swell. The C-arm was taking images problem-free, but suddenly, the crisp, clear anatomical images you once enjoyed are being orbited by an annoying galaxy of particles and fibers. But: if dust got in, there has to be a way to get it out, right? (Dramatic pause for suspense) Of course! Keep reading to find the quick and simple method for cleaning your camera and restoring your image quality.

One of the first questions we’re asked when we propose a used or refurbished C-arm to a customer is, “What year was it made?” This is a logical question to ask; a question one asks almost any time they buy something used. In the case of used C-arms, there are several reasons this information seems important, but simply knowing the date of manufacture (DOM) of a system can be deceiving.

The following are a few better ways to find out what you really want to know about used and refurbished C-arms.

At the heart of every CT scanner is its X-ray tube. More so than any other component, keeping careful tabs on the functioning of the CT tube can mitigate the cost of owning and operating a CT system. Unfortunately, some people only start thinking about the remaining lifespan of their X-ray tube after the system has been installed and in use for several years. This can mean that some damage has already been done.

On the bright side, there are early warning signs that CT users can watch out for to identify when CT tube help is needed. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

Almost daily, someone asks us: "Do I need to put lead-lined walls around my imaging system?"

We're asked about rad rooms, R/F rooms, C-arms- any modality that produces X-rays. The answer isn't as clear as most of us would prefer and depends heavily on three main factors. We'll share those factors below as well as a helpful tool to help you learn more.