Your Guide to Medical Imaging Equipment

From where to have lunch to when to retire, life is filled with decisions that require careful consideration. Not the least of these is how to protect your CT, MRI, X-ray, or other medical imaging equipment with service and maintenance coverage.

No two imaging facilities are exactly alike, and that's why there is some flexibility among the plans you'll find on the service market. To help reduce your legwork as you enter the service market, we'll cover here three common imaging equipment service plans offered by service providers.

It’s been several years since Philips declared their Forte nuclear camera end of life (EOL). Still, through the service and spare parts support of third party providers, many users have continued scanning patients with them. Now, however, this years-long arrangement may no longer be a viable one.

On September 19, Philips Sr. Manager of Post Market Surveillance issued an urgent field safety notice to all users of the Forte family to discontinue use until further notice. This applies to all Fortes, including the Powerpack, the Jetstream, or systems refurbished by Philips.

In the notice, Philips said “There is a possibility that a detector may fall unimpeded vertically to the end stops of its travel limit, due to mechanical failure, possibly making contact with a patient that could result in entrapment, serious injury, or death.” Essentially, anyone who keeps using the Forte runs the risk of hurting a patient, or worse, with a falling detector.

This news raises serious questions for facilities that have relied on the Philips Forte for their nuclear medicine studies. What's being done? How long will it take? What are our alternatives? Below, we'll address those questions with the information that's available now. Check back periodically to to see updates as they become available from Philips and the FDA.

If you are a fan of Philips nuclear cameras you have probably noticed that Philips is not offering a general purpose SPECT camera, and hasn’t for several years. The last model in that line was the Brightview in 2013. The Brightview was popular, but there has been a lack of support and continuity for users. For many, it may be time to consider alternatives. In the general purpose arena, two contenders stand out: GE's Infinia and Siemens' Symbia S.

When the time comes to upgrade your nuclear camera (or to purchase your first), it's not uncommon to experience a little "sticker shock" or to get several quotes for comparison's sake. While you're getting your quotes, we suggest getting at least one from a provider of used or refurbished systems. There are quality systems to be found and substantial savings to be had.

To get an idea of what those savings might look like, watch the video or read the list below to see cost information for nuclear cameras for all applications. 

Have a system in mind? Click here to request a nuclear camera quote.

Are you looking for a general purpose nuclear camera? One with modern software, reliable detectors, and ready parts availability? Do you have a standing relationship with a Philips-savvy service engineer? To that end, we submit the Philips Brightview for your consideration.

The factors we just mentioned are all good reasons for camera buyers to look into a Brightview, and they're not the only advantages you'll find on its spec sheet, but on top of that the model presents a solid value for Philips-heavy facilities because of the unique moment in which we find the camera market. Keep reading for more on both sides of the Philips Brightview.