by
Lauren Dubinsky, Senior Reporter | November 13, 2015
From the November 2015 issue of HealthCare Business News magazine
The system also features specialized pediatric software that helps the staff track techniques and exposures. It automatically displays the previous technique to ensure image consistency, which helps physicians detect any changes in the patients.
Retrofitting
The one downside of DR is that it’s much more expensive than CR. Because of that, some facilities are opting to purchase retrofit kits to convert their CR systems into DR systems.
Carestream’s DRX-Mobile Retrofit Kits are compatible with GE, Siemens and Shimadzu imaging systems and allow images to be shared with PACS and other systems. Konica Minolta’s Aero DR wireless digital flat panel detector system has a built-in roaming feature that allows it to be shared between portables and in other general radiography rooms.
Carestream recently launched its Carestream Motion Mobile, which is an analog system that can easily be converted to DR. Carestream decided it would be a better fit for emerging markets instead of the U.S., since most facilities in the U.S. are purchasing fully integrated DR systems.
Carestream believes that it’s a good option for customers that don’t want to purchase a DR system yet, but don’t want their investment to be obsolete in a few years. Motion Mobile began shipping to emerging markets in late October.
Lithium-ion batteries
Portable X-rays traditionally use lead acid batteries, but the industry is now moving toward lithium-ion batteries. Tesla, Toyota, Nissan and the rest of the major automakers were the first to push the use of lithium-ion batteries with their hybrid and electric vehicles.
“Typically the industry has used lead acid because it’s good at those things, but because of hybrid vehicles, lithium-ion is starting to get into that performance area,” says Hill. “It has its own advantages, but we’re starting to see some of the differences between it and lead acid erased.”
Hill adds that the industry used to think of lithium-ion batteries as light, portable, expensive batteries with a high cycle duty, and lead acid batteries as having heavy duty cycles, deep discharge, repeated usage and high power density, but that is starting to change. In addition, as more vehicles use lithium ion batteries, the cost is going to drop, says Hill. “That is a big deal, too, because it becomes more cost competitive, and as it becomes more power-density and discharge cycle competitive, it’s a much easier equation for us to rationalize going to lithium-ion batteries,” he adds.
