Your Guide to Medical Imaging Equipment

People frequently ask us what, if any, requirements have been set for X-ray shielding in rooms where C-arms are in use. Unfortunately, there is no straightforward answer to the question.

Regulations for shielding during C-arm use vary across a number of factors, including site location, location of the C-arm within the site, and the type of usage the C-arm will see. Some states don't require any shielding at all, but have other requirements that must be met. Take Texas, for instance: a C-arm doesn't need to be shielded, but its dose must be monitored for a year after installation. Other states, like Ohio, require a physicist to visit your site and advise specific shielding measures for your individual building.

Because there are no across-the-board regulations for C-arm shielding, we put together a few "rule of thumb" recommendations for new C-arm owners in the example below and the short video that follows.

For the last several years, people have been looking for ways to continue using and even improve upon the ever-popular OEC 9800. We’ve blogged about 9800 monitor upgrades before, but the technology continues to evolve. If you've been considering upgrades to your OEC 9800 display, keep reading to learn more about what's out there now, what you can expect on the horizon, and how to choose the best option for you.

If you're exploring the option of renting a C-arm, you probably have questions about how your system will be supported during your rental term. These are important considerations since, for some, your rental may stretch out over many months. In this post we'll offer some clarity on the questions: Do C-arm rentals include service? And what does service look like during a C-arm rental?

While it's always important to have the right tools for serving patients, sometimes budgeting for those tools can get complicated. This is especially true of imaging equipment like C-arms, where the up-front cost of an outright purchase can be daunting. Fortunately, there are other options available to the facility that needs to get work done now, but might not have surplus cash until later.

Keep reading to learn a few scenarios where you'll be better off buying a C-arm, as well as a few where you may want to put that purchase on the back burner and rent, at least for a while...