Your Guide to Medical Imaging Equipment

If you own or operate an MRI scanner you understand how important it is to monitor your system's helium level and cooling performance. You may also know that even with regular checks, things that will drop your helium level dramatically and put you at risk for a magnet quench can still happen. Nights, weekends, even regular office hours between checkups are all times when a parts failure somewhere in your system can send the temperature up and the helium to a boil.

So, if you can't have someone watching your MRI 24 hours a day, what can you do to prevent incidents like this? The answer might be a device called a remote diagnostic unit (RDU). We'll tell you more about the RDU and how it works in the next few paragraphs.

In early 2012, GE reinvigorated their cath lab product line by replacing the long-running Innova X100 series (2100,3100,4100) with the new Innova IGS 5 (520,530,540) series. Later that same year, GE unveiled their new IGS 7 (730,740) series cath labs featuring the new Advanced Guided Vehicle, or AGV, positioner gantry.

While the IGS 5 and IGS 7 series have a lot in common when it comes to tubes, detectors, chillers, and computers, there are a couple of major differences that set the two apart from one another. Today, we're going to break those differences down.

Have you found yourself asking “How much is my MRI machine worth?” lately? In today’s secondary market imaging equipment in general, and MRI Machines specifically, can range widely in value. If you have a system for sale, or are considering upgrading in the next 3-6 months, you owe it to yourself to get a read on today’s market value.

This is a simple process and, if you have the right information at hand, there are equipment market valuation resources out there (Block Imaging is one) that can value your system quickly, accurately, and at no charge. The following are the pieces of information that drive the value of an MRI machine on the secondary market. Gather these details to maximize offers on your system.

To check out systems you might upgrade to, browse our inventory of MRI systems here.

GE has been a leader in radiation oncology and wide-bore CT scanners for some time. This is due largely to the popularity of the LightSpeed RT 16. Although somewhat niche, its large bore accommodates oncology and bariatric needs.

Following the path blazed by the LightSpeed RT 16, the GE Optima 580W is the next-generation GE wide-bore CT. If a system for radiation oncology is on your capital equipment list, the following points will guide you through some of the distinct features that make the Optima 580W noteworthy.

Searching for the perfect cath lab? It’s a lot more work than you thought, huh? Some people love the hunt, the chance to see what the imaging equipment jungle has to offer and to snare the system that best balances utility and economy for their site. Others: not so much. It can be incredibly difficult to hunt when you have no idea what prey you’re after.

Fortunately, we can help you narrow your search and get you stalking the best game for your imaging AND budgetary needs. We know you’ll have plenty of questions for us along the way, but the best place for cath lab hunters to start their journey is by answering the following questions for themselves.