It seems like we have crossed the healthcare frontier and the only thing left to conquer is analog or film based x-ray systems. Mri's, Ct's, Ultrasound, Pet, Bone Densitometry, Mammography and most diagnostic imaging systems yield digital data, that is except for Radiography and Fluoroscopy. Most existing systems are still analog and put out whether x-ray film and/or analog video.
Although most movable C-arms are now being produced with digital yield capability, most existing C-arms, X-ray systems and R/F systems have not yet been upgraded. When you consider that today there are more x-ray studies done than any other modality study, we should concede, we are way overdue in sharp to electronic Rad and Fluoro. These upgrades should probably be initiated before all others at healing facilities today. The sooner digital conversion takes place the sooner cost savings will be realized and productivity will be enhanced. So when we ask the quiz, "When should we convert to digital X-ray"? The talk should be "now" or "as soon as possible".
There are many reasons why the conversion should take place, but first and foremost, as always, is cost savings. The cost to purchase, process, duplicate, archive and passage film is enormous. Although the actual cost of film is relatively inexpensive, the cost of a film processor, its maintenance, replacement, chemicals and dark room facilities is not cheap. Then, the cost of filing and storing film, retrieving and/or duplicating, film added compounds the cost. Now, add in the time it takes to process and possibly re-shoot, because of poor quality, and the time it takes to vehicle the film study to the doctor or technician and you probably can cost account for the buy of a digital explication in less than two years. The last factor is the amount of time saved while the course itself, thereby increasing the amount of patients able to be x-rayed in a given time period. Actual throughput for a particular principles can probably for real adapt 8-10 studies per hour, probably an growth of 30% over a film based system.
The bigger quiz, is how do you make this conversion? If you have not had much time to look into digital conversion, you will find there are quite a few options. Although the technology was developed some years ago, it continues to evolve and price continues to convert as well. The least costly and most favorite explication is Computer Radiography (Cr). These systems consists of cassettes/phosphorous plates, a reader/converter and a computer workstation. The cassettes/plates are inserted into the table or the chest bucky, similar to inserting a film cassette.
The plate is exposed to x-ray, the cassette is removed and inserted into the reader/converter, which reads the exposed plate and produces a digital image. The plate is then erased and ready to be used again in the same process. The image is available at the computer workstation for viewing, exchange to a radiologist and/or exchange to a photograph Archiving and Communications principles (Pacs). Cr systems range in price from low execution systems (one plate processed every 60 seconds) at K- K to high execution systems (multiple plates processed in 30 seconds) at K-0K.
Although Cr is less expensive, the time to load and vehicle cassettes around, combined with 30-60 second processing times ensue in lost productivity and throughput when comparing it to Direct Radiography (Dr). These systems generally use flat panel detectors that are permanently fixed into the table and/or chest bucky. They also come with a computer workstation and acquisition/viewing/manipulation software. The Dr process is very fast and simple. The x-ray exposure is shot and the detector converts it immediately to a electronic image available within 5-15 seconds for viewing at the computer workstation.
However you must pay the price for speed and simplicity. A particular panel Dr principles can costs 0k-0K. If you have a table and chest stand and you want two detectors, you will need to add someone else K, resulting in a Dr principles costing 2 or 3 times more than a new x-ray system, which might cost K for a high execution and major brand. Dr Fluoro/Spot systems are also available to retrofit R/F and Angio systems. These systems are deployed by adding a Ccd camera at the image intensifier, a computer workstation, acquisition/viewing/manipulation software and digital R/F principles monitor. These systems cost K-K.
Although all of the solutions discussed are relatively expensive, there are opportunities to sell out costs. We offer a Ccd flat panel Dr detector principles for under K. We have sold many refurbished Cr systems under K and refurbished Dr Fluoro/Spot systems under K. We have also supplanted older X-ray and R/F systems with late model high frequency systems (suggested when upgrading to digital) at half the price of a new system.
