Which Digital Xray Processor?

Re: Which Digital Xray Processor?

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Fri, 20 Jul 2012 19:03:37 GMT

Oh dear oh dear. Remember the last line of "Some Like It Hot".

Re: Which Digital Xray Processor?

Bob Russell — Fri, 20 Jul 2012 17:52:32 GMT

'Blush' smiley officially requested!!

Re: Which Digital Xray Processor?

Mike Nikolaou — Fri, 20 Jul 2012 15:56:03 GMT

(Blush!!!)

Does not being a native speaker count as an excuse????

Re: Which Digital Xray Processor?

Michael Woodhouse — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 16:18:22 GMT

[quote user="Mike Nikolaou"]Evelyn has seen with hers...[/quote]

Evelyn is a man. You are not the first to make that mistake.

Maybe Arlo needs a gender icon to add.

Re: Which Digital Xray Processor?

Bob Russell — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 15:01:32 GMT

[quote user="rjhvet"]

Hi ,

We have Konica system , superb quality images , however we do have generator that produces great results. We did not like the AGFA, images were grainy, there was some talk of a software problem which needed resolving but Konica was superior in our hands.

ps purchased via Photon sytems , great .

[/quote]

Photon have always given us sound advice!

Re: Which Digital Xray Processor?

rjhvet — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 14:59:42 GMT

Hi ,

ps purchased via Photon sytems , great .

Re: Which Digital Xray Processor?

Bob Russell — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 11:38:00 GMT

[quote user="robloxley"]

[quote user="PATRICK MARSHALL"]You can take the image sensor out of the cassette with the latest CRX[/quote]

Ah I see now; can you do that with any other systems?

[/quote]

Our Fuji CR allows you to take the sensor out of the plate. We put it in a clear grip-lock bag to keep it clean and dry. Works a treat in those situations where a normal plate cannot go!

I was looking at a separate dental system as our dental machine uses developer, fixer and running water! A real pain.

Re: Which Digital Xray Processor?

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Mon, 16 Jul 2012 21:39:45 GMT

[quote user="Mike Nikolaou"] apparently there is new software out there but I'm not sure to what extent it improves the problems that Evelyn has seen with hers...[/quote]

Insist on a trial.( Not a demonstration). If you get on well with it, that's all that matters.

Re: Which Digital Xray Processor?

Rob Loxley — Mon, 16 Jul 2012 21:35:05 GMT

[quote user="Mike Nikolaou"]One of the reps is also suggesting the Konica machine but as it's fairly new to the game I cannot find a lot of information on it...[/quote]

We have one of these (http://www5.konicaminolta.eu/healthcare/products/computed-radiography/regius-sigma/features.html) on demo at the moment.

Re: Which Digital Xray Processor?

Mike Nikolaou — Mon, 16 Jul 2012 16:43:31 GMT

Thanks to everyone for their input, the Agfa sounds like an attractive option, apparently there is new software out there but I'm not sure to what extent it improves the problems that Evelyn has seen with hers...

One of the reps is also suggesting the Konica machine but as it's fairly new to the game I cannot find a lot of information on it...

Re: Which Digital Xray Processor?

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Sun, 15 Jul 2012 19:01:16 GMT

[quote user="robloxley"]

[quote user="PATRICK MARSHALL"]You can take the image sensor out of the cassette with the latest CRX[/quote]

Ah I see now; can you do that with any other systems?

[/quote]

As far as I can see, the cassette just protects the sensor and keeps it flat. So unless it's some fancy system where only the machine can open the cassette.....................

Re: Which Digital Xray Processor?

Rob Loxley — Sun, 15 Jul 2012 17:34:13 GMT

[quote user="PATRICK MARSHALL"]You can take the image sensor out of the cassette with the latest CRX[/quote]

Ah I see now; can you do that with any other systems?

Re: Which Digital Xray Processor?

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Sun, 15 Jul 2012 16:44:52 GMT

[quote user="PATRICK MARSHALL"]You can take the image sensor out of the cassette with the latest CRX - wrap it up in a bag- use it as an intra-oral plate - put it back in the cassette and develop it as normal[/quote]

Indeed you can. Just remember the sensor is expensive and quite easily damaged!

Re: Which Digital Xray Processor?

PATRICK MARSHALL — Sun, 15 Jul 2012 08:05:54 GMT

You can take the image sensor out of the cassette with the latest CRX - wrap it up in a bag- use it as an intra-oral plate - put it back in the cassette and develop it as normal

Re: Which Digital Xray Processor?

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Sat, 14 Jul 2012 18:25:44 GMT

[quote user="robloxley"]

[quote user="Evelyn Barbour-Hill"] you are severely limiting yourself if you don't have the facility to take intra-oral views[/quote]

yes, what's the solution with this if one goes for a CR solution?

[/quote]

Get a CR30, it takes no.4 and no. 1 sensors; also the 24x30 sensors are in exactly the same cassettes as films are so in all but the small dog you get excellent intra-oral views of the nasal chambers with those. No.4 sensors are jolly useful for rabbits' skulls too.

If you've already limited yourself, you'll either have to get a CR30 for dental use or get a dedicated dental DR (which also has limitations since the sensors are no bigger than no.2 size).

Re: Which Digital Xray Processor?

Rob Loxley — Sat, 14 Jul 2012 18:16:38 GMT

[quote user="Evelyn Barbour-Hill"] you are severely limiting yourself if you don't have the facility to take intra-oral views[/quote]

yes, what's the solution with this if one goes for a CR solution?

Re: Which Digital Xray Processor?

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Sat, 14 Jul 2012 17:36:42 GMT

Other companies sneer at the CR30: I've heard it referred to as the Mickey Mouse machine. Maybe it is, who cares? It's robust, it works, it's reliable, it's come way down in price and above all it's versatile. If you are in small animal practice, you are severely limiting yourself if you don't have the facility to take intra-oral views and to use dental-size sensors. Obviously in GP small animal practice you may not want to also fork out for a separate DR dental system, so....................

The software that came with mine (5 years ago) is fairly OK in the image manipulation, but really clunky in the general archiving department. Things have probably improved now. I don't know why it's not possible to buy the machine from one source and the software from another. Anyway, shop around between suppliers as one may offer better software than another.

The service engineer of, er, the company that supplied mine was I am sure very expert at IT but knew sweet FA about radiography. We had very disappointing and frustrating results with certain views at first and the company were not very helpful – I had to work out for myself where we needed to change our technique.

Beware of expensive (and possibly unnecessary) annual services and software "upgrades".

Re: Which Digital Xray Processor?

PATRICK MARSHALL — Sat, 14 Jul 2012 07:56:41 GMT

Have recently purchased 2 Crx 30's - one for SA, one for mobile Equine.

There is no significant advantage in DR over CR at present other than cost (greater)and speed of processing (faster). Having said that we are able to take a full set of vetting x-rays (24 plates) in about 60 minutes - the limiting factor being the 2 minutes or so that it takes to process the image and let you put another plate in.

With the CRx30 you can view other images whilst one is processing - not always the case with other systems - eg BCF system - although I believe that has been improved since we trialled it

CRX 30 is v easy to use - takes about 10 minutes to learn

Celtic SMR will lend you a trial machine for a reasonable period - beware of them then leaving that machine with you - it will NOT be new - insist that you get a brand new one and plates if you decide to purchase. You should get a 2 year warranty not the 1 year they offer initially and at no extra cost

CRx30 is due for an upgrade to double the pixel number on the plates in September - i.e. 40 rather than 20 " transponders" on the plate per sq unit. If they try to sell you the current model insist on a good deal or a price to upgrade in future (£2-3K)

Image quality is limited by the monitor resolution- well worth spending an extra £500 on a proper medical grade monitor - not the standard one they offer - it makes all the difference and will be essential to get the best from the ugraded "mammo" quality version

Some sort of PACS system (ideally intergrated with your ultrasound images etc.) is not a luxury - it is essential : otherwise if the x-ray PC goes down you will not have access to your images. With the PACS you can view images anywhere on your network - alhough obviously you can back up to a pen or external harddrive. Agfa have recenlty had a bad batch of HP PC's supplied to them - the motherboards fail at an early stage - make sure that yours ins not one of them as it is a pain - although when it happened to us they sorted it on the same day.

There are lots of CRx30's about so support and geographical coverage is good.

Overall our experience since going digital has been good-

No chemicals and associated costs/hassles/elves of safety/disposal
No automatic developer cleaning, servicing - but obviously annual servise charge etc for digital system
Improved work flow - nurses do not have to dissappear for indeterminate periods into darkroom
No need to stock x-ray plates
Processor takes up less space than darkroom - we have ours in same room as x-ray generator and use darkroom area for other things!
Fewer wasted exposures but probaly more diagnostic x-rays taken as you know that it is going to be quick and easy
Improved diagnosis and clincal services for clients. Easy to send images to other vets/referrals etc.
No need to change the x-ray generator - although a slight increase in KV and MaS is required to make sure you penetrate adequately otherwise the image is grainy
If total cost is say £20k(but probably significantly less) then lease/HP over 5 years@ £22/£1000 = 440/month. I leave you to do the maths.

We have had various teething problems but in general terms they have been sorted quickly by Celtic SMR /Agfa - but then I can be fairly blunt on the telephone when things aren't going exactly as I want.

If we hadn't bought the Agfa system we would have bought Fuji - determining factor was that we bought an all singing/dancing ultrasound scanner (Sonoscope S8) at the same time as a package.

Re: Which Digital Xray Processor?

Mike Nikolaou — Sat, 14 Jul 2012 00:19:46 GMT

Thanks for all the advice so far! And David, the DR would take a lot of stretching!!!

Re: Which Digital Xray Processor?

David Mills — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 18:41:55 GMT

If you can stretch to a DR plate you will never look back - sensational bit of kit.

Re: Which Digital Xray Processor?

Rob Loxley — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 13:47:12 GMT

We have a KonicaMinolta regius on demo at the moment; images look good and intuitive to drive

Re: Which Digital Xray Processor?

Bob Russell — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 13:15:17 GMT

Image quality with Fuji CR is pretty impressive!

Re: Which Digital Xray Processor?

Frances Barr — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 11:49:24 GMT

I've worked with Fuji CR. The system is straightforward and the images (IMO) good quality. And the company were very helpful.

Re: Which Digital Xray Processor?

Rajat — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 09:25:51 GMT

We have had the Idexx processor for 7 years

now trialling Burtons exmaion system and the AGFA

Both use the same technology plates are idnetical software is a bit different

The image quality is excellent much better than the older system

Havennt yet made a decision on the system yet but impressed with the processor so far

Re: Which Digital Xray Processor?

PATRICK MARSHALL — Thu, 12 Jul 2012 20:27:56 GMT

Mike

I have just tried to send you a long missive about this which just disappeared into the ether. I cannot bear to type it again so please give me a phone if you would like to discuss it. I have recenly bought 2 Afgfa Crx 30's - one for SA and one for a mobile equine unit after fairly extensive research and trialling of various units.

Paddy Marshall

07772043789