Your Guide to Medical Imaging Equipment

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 to 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 should 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.

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.

As you and your provider plan out your mobile PET/CT rental, we hope site readiness is a big part of the conversation. Getting a mobile system operational at a new facility isn't exactly "plug-and-play". There are several items that need to be in place before the equipment is delivered.

There are some technological advances that are really nice to have. They make things quicker, they reduce our effort or increase our comfort, and some of them simply make work or home better. I don't have Bluetooth in my car, for example, and I still get where I need to go- but when I drive a rental that does have it, you can bet I'm using it constantly.

The technology we're discussing today, Time of Flight (TOF), is significantly more consequential in the scan room than Bluetooth is in your car, but the question still remains: Do you really need it? If you're on the fence, the following are a few factors that might help you arrive at a more clear answer.