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.

Some of the most common questions we get from people looking for mobile equipment rentals are, "What kind of power does the system need?" and, "Where are the ethernet connections for internet and phone?" If you're about to embark on the search for your next mobile imaging solution and one (or both) of these questions crossed your mind, we've put together the short video below to get you the answer. Not every trailer is designed exactly the same, and the trailer in the video contains a CT scanner, but most trailers have a similar design to what you'll see here, regardless of manufacturer or which equipment modality is inside.

Click on the video below to see what kind of power connection a mobile trailer needs and where the ethernet connections on a mobile trailer are typically located. 

If you are about to jump into the market for your first PET/CT scanner, you are also about to step headlong into a veritable sea of options, accessories, and price points. Before you get started, there are a few questions you should have at least tentative answers to. We originally posted these PET/CT buying questions questions in 2015 and, in the time since, have continued to use them in guiding buyers to their best equipment fit.

If the search for your next PET/CT solution seems overwhelming, answering these three questions will get you started in the right direction.

Like any other piece of medical imaging equipment in your facility, you rely on your PET/CT scanner to serve the diagnostic needs of your patients. And just like any other piece of medical imaging equipment, your PET/CT is going to need periodic maintenance and repair to make sure it stays in service as much as possible. We'll be frank: quality service coverage isn't cheap, but there are ways to save on your service purchase- namely, working with an independent service organization (ISO).

Being an imaging equipment ISO ourselves, we've compiled below current average price ranges for one year of full PET/CT service coverage. Individual pricing will vary based on the make, model, and age of your system as well as the service options you choose, but these figures will give you a place to start planning. See more about the types of coverage we offer here.

If you own or operate a PET/CT, the moment you heard about NEMA standard XR-29 for CT scanners, your eyebrows, your ears, and the little hairs on the back of your neck probably all shot up in unison, and you thought: "Does that apply to my equipment too?" 

Since we originally published this article in 2014, current and prospective PET/CT users have continued to ask us this same question. Back then, there wasn't a lot of clarity to be had. Now, however, with XR-29 non-compliance penalties in full swing, the answers are in the open. Watch the brief clip below for an explanation of how NEMA XR-29 affects PET/CT equipment.