Your Guide to Medical Imaging Equipment

When you think of CT scanners, you usually think of the GE Lightspeed, the Philips Brilliance, the Siemens Sensation, or the Toshiba Aquilion. You think 4-slice, 16-slice, or 64-slice. You think of large machines taking up an entire room and scanning patients from head to toe as they lie on a table.

Now, however, CT is much more than that. We're going to break down the differences in technology and applications between the CT scanners you generally think of and the more specialized cone beam CT (CBCT).

Looking for a quote on a cone beam CT? Click here to tell us your preferences and get pricing.

GE is nothing if not consistent when it comes to naming conventions. First it was Hispeeds and Lightspeeds, then Discoveries, and now: Optimas. There are Optima X-ray rooms, Optima MRI scanners, and Optima CTs. I'm not even sure what else, but my kitchen is due for an upgrade and an Optima refrigerator sounds pretty cutting edge. Other Optima modalities aside though, this article is intended to clarify the various types of Optima CT.

Below, we'll share a brief overview of the four members of the GE Optima CT scanner family, including slice count, tube type, ASIR availability, and special features.

Technology has afforded us more ways to sell our stuff than ever. From Ebay, to Facebook, to Craigslist, it's never been easier to clear our spaces of tchotchkes and bric-a-brac. When it comes to selling off larger assets like radiology equipment, there are also more ways to sell. But more doesn’t always mean better.

As a company that buys used equipment we've seen sellers choose many different methods of liquidating their systems, to various effects. The following are the four most popular ways to sell imaging equipment, along with benefits and caveats for each.

The demand for imaging in the veterinary field has increased over the years, causing many practices to stop referring and begin scanning in house. However, because vets can't count on reimbursements the way doctors serving human patients can, being cost effective is a MUST. 

While the bulk of our business as a CT equipment provider is in equipment used on humans, we have had an increasing number of opportunities to work with vets. In helping them arrive at equipment selections that compliment both their needs and their budgets, we've found some key areas that vets have more flexibility in and, thereby, more opportunities to reduce costs. Keep reading to find out four ways a vet can save when they purchase a CT scanner.

Thanks for stopping by to learn about XR-29. Click here to determine if your CT is XR-29 compliant: Is My CT Scanner Compliant?

You might be surprised to hear that XR-29 is NOT about low dose. Click here to read more: Do I Need Iterative Reconstruction?

Are you asking yourself if you should buy an after-market add-on to make your CT compliant? Click here to find out why the answer is probably no: NEMA Whitepaper Clarifies Aftermarket Add-ons, RDSR, and More

Remember also that XR-29 only Affects Medicare Outpatients in Hospitals and Clinics and Does not Apply to PET/CT

Last, but not least, here is A Guide to Checking Your System for XR-29 Compliance.

Keep reading here for an analysis of the law itself.

On April 1, 2014, President Obama signed into law the Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014 (HR 4302). Per the act, beginning in 2016, Medicare paid less for certain diagnostic CT scans performed on CT equipment that does not meet the XR-29 CT standard (MITA Smart Dose) .  

What does this mean for you? For some, not a lot. Many CT scanners already meet the requirements. For others, the legislation meant replacing their system altogether or facing the applicable reimbursement cuts. To help you get a better idea of how XR-29 might affect your next CT equipment decision, we've taken a closer look at the law and the penalties below.