Ultrasound machines and other medical imaging equipment

Medical imaging equipment includes several technologies central to modern medicine: ultrasound, MRI, CAT scan, and X-ray machines. When buying medical imaging equipment for your practice or hospital, it's important to know exactly what to look for and how to choose a dealer.

First, you probably already know what type of medical imaging equipment is right for your current diagnostic needs, but here's a review of the main types:

Ultrasound machines

• Use high-frequency sound waves that are reflected differently by different types of tissue
• No radiation danger
• Work in real-time – useful for watching organs or joints in action
• Smallest and most portable machines: important for clinics or practices that want to share machines across multiple exam rooms

MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) machines

• Use magnetic fields and radio waves to create extremely detailed pictures
• Can focus on very small areas of the body and distinguish between various tissues
• Traditional closed (tube) designs can cause claustrophobia, but offer higher field/signal strengths for more detailed pictures. Manufacturers have introduced open designs that are less stressful and can accommodate extremely large patients

CT Scan machine

• Use X-rays to take multiple images – thin slices through the body
• Series of 2-D images that can be reconstructed into 3-D representations
• Higher radiation dose than X-rays
• Large, fixed location machines
• Single slice machines are slightly older; newer multi-slice machines are faster and offer more detail

X-Ray machine

• Uses x-ray radiation to create images – acceptable in small doses, but can build up over time
• Not as fine resolution between different types of tissues as MRI or CT
• Multiple form factors – dental, chest, portable

One of the primary transitions in medical imaging is occurring x-rays technology. X-ray equipment is being steadily converted away from a film-based process and towards computerized imaging.

The two new choices are digital radiography (DR) and computed radiography (CR). DR is equivalent to a digital camera: x-rays pass through the body and strike a digital sensor that translates the results into an image. DR is more expensive, but the fastest and most sensitive option.

CR replaces the film plate with a reusable imaging plate. The results of the x-ray are captured by a phosphorus plate, which is then placed into a reader that converts it into a digital image. It's less expensive than true DR, and can be retrofitted onto existing x-ray systems.

Either way, x-rays are available much faster – instantly, in some cases. Image quality improves because digital images are more easily adjusted if under- or over-exposed. And it eliminates ongoing costs for film development and storage.

Installation of medical imaging equipment
Installation and setup of any of these machines can be a significant challenge. Larger CT, MRI, and X-ray machines may require modification of your exam rooms just to have room to operate – the dealer you choose should help you evaluate your physical space to decide how best to approach the installation.

Be sure to ask about any special HVAC or shielding requirements, as well. Your own policies on patient safety may require heavier or shielded doors, warning lights, and other safety precautions.

Just getting the equipment set up is only part of the process. Once it’s in place, the installation techs will have to calibrate the machine for proper operation. Be sure the dealer you choose will provide a tech who will stay on site until everything is working properly.

Integration with your computer systems
If your office uses electronic medical records (EMR) or a picture archiving and communication system (PACS), choosing equipment that can communicate seamlessly with those systems is essential. Integration issues that pop up later in the process can seriously delay your project and increase your costs, so get detailed descriptions from each dealer of how exactly they will connect their hardware to your current system and what costs it will entail.

Buying used medical imaging equipment?
There is a fairly large market for used medical imaging equipment. The primary reason is that large, well-funded hospitals and private practices want to keep up with the latest technologies, and often decide to replace CT or MRI machines that are still in fine working order.

Buying a used machine can be an excellent way to save money, especially considering the tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars you could spend on a new machine. But you do need to be careful.

Make sure any used imaging equipment you're looking at has been thoroughly inspected and serviced: any of these machines, if miscalibrated or damaged, can cause serious injury to patients or staff.

In most cases, you'll be buying used equipment from well-established medical imaging dealers, who should be able to describe their refurbishing and testing process in detail. The machines should also come with a money back guarantee of at least 60 days.