Your Guide to Medical Imaging Equipment

We recently received a call from a PET/CT buyer, concerned that we had proposed a 2007 Philips Gemini TF 16 as a replacement for his 2002 Siemens Biograph Duo. Someone in his personal network had warned him that Philips scanners were inferior and he wasn't keen on taking on more risk in his practice.

Knowing what we know about the PET/CT market, his concern is understandable, and so is the claim from whomever warned him. However, some things have changed and they're worth noting. Here’s what we shared with him to help with the decision.

As with all modalities of imaging equipment, PET scanning is gradually moving in the direction of greater and greater diagnostic accuracy. For PET in particular, the biggest step in that direction of the last decade has been the development and proliferation of time of flight technology.

For those who may be using PET systems older than ten years, or newer systems without the time of flight option enabled, there are benefits via time of flight you'll want to explore as the time to upgrade your equipment draws nearer. For those who may be only just entering the PET arena, there are a number of reasons why a time of flight-equipped system shold be at the top of your list of considerations. Wherever you may fall on the PET user spectrum, we'll share below more details about what time of flight features actually do and what they mean for PET users and patients alike.

Starting this summer, all Joint Commission-accredited organizations that provide services in CT, nuclear medicine, PET, and MRI will be subject to new standards. The first of these standards will go into effect on July 1st and others will roll out gradually throughout the remainder of the year and on into 2015.