Your Guide to Medical Imaging Equipment

The end of the year is always an exciting time in the medical imaging field, beginning with the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) in early December, where many manufacturers unveil their newest technologies. A notable example from 2019 in the CT modality is Siemens' Somatom X.cite.

Based on what we've learned so far of this very new, cutting-edge system (FDA-approved just one month ago), here are three ways we think Siemens is pushing the envelope in CT.

There’s a lot of talk about “patient volume” and “system throughput” in the CT scanner world, and rightfully so. After all, the kind of efficiency these terms refer to improves patient service, physician workflow, and the financial bottom line of a practice. But, most of the talk revolves around high-volume facilities. What if your patient schedule isn’t exactly bursting at the seams? What if you only plan to do a handful of scans a day? Which CT scanner is the best for low-volume facilities?

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.