Refurbished Medical Imaging Equipment Vs Used Medical Imaging Equipment – Which One You Choose

By | Date posted: | Last updated: June 1, 2023
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The imaging centers and hospitals globally routinely upgrade their machines to the newer technology offered by the latest medical device models. Their old machines are still functional and not necessarily outdated.  Many radiology and imaging centers donate their diagnostic equipment to other healthcare institutions or in other countries so they can help in delivering adequate medical attention to those who can’t afford regular imaging check-up.

Some hospitals are looking to replace their medical device with a similar imaging device available in the used or refurbished market. However, there is a difference between the medical equipment which is refurbished or used. Below is a brief comparison between these two terms and it is up to you to determine which one matches your needs the most.

Used medical imaging equipment

Used medical imaging devices means that the unit is sold in “as is” condition. In addition to this, it means that the purchased medical device would be without a warranty but functional.  The used medical machine may require de-installation, re-packaging for shipment and also installation in the clinic at other healthcare organization. It is cost effective to look for used medical equipment especially in the case of MRI as they don’t have moving parts. This makes sense because it is rare to find one with extensive damage.

Before buying used medical imaging machines, try to figure out if the equipment is in good condition. The device may be out of date but as long as it is still functional it will serve a good purpose to another healthcare institution. Onsite visit by a qualified technician and buyer will answer most of the questions. Consider having the seller also help with installation.

Refurbished Medical Imaging Equipment

Contrary to used, a refurbished medical device is tested, upgraded, calibrated, new parts are added as required, esthetically enhanced if requested and comes with a warranty. The final price can include delivery and the whole installation protocol if requested. The refurbished unit may be closer to a new medical device. The buyer has to ask if the parts have been replaced with the refurbished system. This is especially addressed to the parts such as CT scanners X-Ray Tube or the cold head or absorber of the MRI, or even the updates of the software. Here are several reasons why you should consider refurbished medical imaging equipment:

  • Lower cost. This is a very important reason and sometimes it is a primary point why people are deciding to buy refurbished medical equipment. This way, the company could save approximately half of the cost of the new medical device.
  • Guarantees. When a person is purchasing medical imaging tools from a reputable store, the device typically comes with some sort of warranty or guarantee. This is very important because there is no other risks and monetary benefit.
  • Records. The surgical and medical devices company which sells the ultrasound, radiology, X-ray, fluoroscopy, or some other imaging equipment, could probably have detailed records on the machine. When moving forward, the organization who gives you your biomedical repair services should do the same.
  • Easy to service. It is good to know that US Medical systems provide the best service and also repairs which are available for all types of imaging equipment. These companies would keep the advanced devices to work exactly as they should so the medical professionals could deliver excellent medical care to their patients.
  • The latest technology. When a healthcare center is buying refurbished medical devices, it simply means that it can upgrade its imaging devices more frequently. The healthcare institution would have the latest advances, providing it the edge when it comes to making a great diagnose according to the patient’s condition.
  • Good selection. Many medical professionals think that the used medical devices are out of date and not reliable. But this is not true. It is a big surprise that there is usually a great supply of functional medical machines and spare parts. However, working with a large provider increases the chances of the buyer to find exactly what he is looking for.

Conclusion

No matter which type of medical device you choose to purchase, it is essential that you purchase from a trusted source. You should probably talk to previous clients and customers if possible simply to check out the reviews of the selected company. You should always talk with an engineer about your decision and if it makes sense. Make also sure if all the terms of the device are reasonable. Another important thing is if you decide to buy refurbished medical imaging equipment, make sure that the device comes with a warranty list and contract. Discuss all the details regarding the delivery process and also the installation process.

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Is Refurbished MRI scanner Better Than Mammography for Early Breast Cancer Detection?

By | Date posted: | Last updated: June 1, 2023
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Many patients who need detection for early breast cancer ask what’s the difference between getting a breast MRI or a mammogram using a mammography machine. It is very important to know that every device has its own advantages and also disadvantages that result in one person more convenient for general screening (mammography) and the other more convenient for diagnosis and staging (MRI).

Another way of describing the difference is that the false positive rate is high and may be unacceptable for low risk women. MRI can detect cancers that may be missed in a routine mammogram, in fact MRI was able to detect breast cancer in the second (contra lateral) breast of some of these women even when mammogram had been read as normal.

MRI is a special tool that is extremely sensitive in detecting early cancer, but it is too sensitive and also picks up many breast changes that are not cancer, leading to a high incidence of negative biopsies. In other words, the false positive rate is high and may be unacceptable for low risk women.

Mammography

This method is recommended for screening or diagnosis for most of the patients. It is good to know that mammography method is more suitable than MRI when it comes to detecting suspicious calcifications and it still remains the best choice for patients with ferrous metal implants that are unable to go through an MRI. Those patients who have a personal or family history of breast cancer or maybe dense breasts could definitely benefit more from an MRI result, but with the appearance of the 3D Tomography technology hitting the market, image quality and the manifestation of calcification and lesion recognition have recently improved for the mammography method.

Breast MRI

Due to an MRI imaging procedure, unlike mammography, it is good to know that there is no risk at all of some exposure to radiation because MRIs utilize magnetic fields in order to create images. According to many studies, one important advantage of MRI studies is the ability to better detecting small breast lesions which could be missed on a mammography device in some cases. MRIs are more effective in detecting breast cancer in the patients who are facing dense breasts and also patients with breast implants.

The disadvantage of MRI machines is that they have been known to sometimes miss calcifications or lesions, which can later develop into tumors. In addition to this, because of the magnetic field caused by an MRI, patient who has ferrous implants or another type of implants are disqualified from the screening process on this device. Another thing which has to be considered is that MRI procedures need an expensive and also more invasive injection of contrast dye into the arm of the patient which helps in the formation of a clearer image, but unfortunately it is not always covered by the insurance company a patient has chosen.

Breast MRI couldn’t replace Mammography – it complements it

Scientists and their research show that mammography method reduces mortality among patients who suffer from breast cancer up to thirty percent in women with ages between 40 and 74. It is important to consider the fact that breast MRI is still a new medical advance and no research or study has been done to document the overall reduction of mortality from breast MRI.  Another thing to have in mind is that breast MRI is not even standardized. One of the major drawbacks of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been the lack of a standard and quantifiable interpretation of image intensities. Keep in mind that it is a very expensive diagnostic method about five to eight times than a mammogram image. No matter what there are women who would definitely have benefits from a Breast MRI image:

  • All women with silicone breast implants
  • Women with previous or family history of breast cancer – high-risk women
  • Patients where breast cancer recurrence is suspected
  • All patients who have a new diagnosis of breast cancer, so the medical worker could detect the extent of the cancer
  • All women with hard to assess abnormalities that have been seen on mammography or ultrasound

However, the role of breast MRI method is still constantly evolving and continuous studies are made. This means that this method couldn’t be a substitute for mammography method. When this method is used appropriately in those patients with high-risk and patients with dense breasts, it is a smart step when it comes to making the right decision and diagnosis.

Conclusion

In all of the cases, the medical professional will select to start a patient out with a regular mammogram. If there is something suspicious or the results are inconclusive and the patient has some personal or family history, the medical worker may elect to perform a more expensive breast MRI as well. This way he will be sure about their opinion and diagnose and the patient will be secure about health condition. Balancing which imaging solution is the best for the patient together with the cost management there are more factors which are entering into a medical worker decision. But, however, the main point remains the same. This means that leveraging the separate strengths of the methods, MRI, and mammography to detect the cancer of the breast earlier and save patients life.

There are so many new cases of breast cancer in women and in some of them, the cancer is in more advanced stages. In order to avoid such a situation, all women are advised to do regular mammograms to save their lives. It is an effective way to reduce their risks for breast cancer and to discover cancer in an early stage. Schedule your mammogram and learn more about how to fight this condition.

To help you reach maximum women, create awareness, and improve the availability of mammograms & MRI as per their convenience, at KB Consulting, we can provide you with new and refurbished medical imaging equipment including different types of MRI scanners, Mammography Systems, CT scanners, & more for sale. To get further information on availability, price, specification and condition, please feel free to call us at +1 586 917 0245 or email us at sales@kbdentalconsulting.com

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How to Save Your Medical Imaging Equipment from Cybercriminal hacking

By | Date posted: | Last updated: June 1, 2023
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Hacking is unauthorized intrusion into computer or a network. The Hacker may alter system or security features to accomplish a goal that differs from the original purpose of the system. Hacking is an attempt to exploit a computer system or a private network inside a computer.

Last several years we have seen expansion of the Faceless Criminals attacking small businesses including the countries small & large in cyberspace. But the concerning factor is that the number of cyberattacks on the field of healthcare are also rapidly growing.  One of the uncomplicated targets is the legacy medical imaging equipment and also outdated medical IT systems such as CT scanners, C-arms, and MRIs. These systems are weak links which could be easily accessed by hackers who want to enter into medical information technology systems. But, here comes the explanation of why they are so easy to be hacked. Their reliance on the operating systems which are unable to make an upgraded security such as Windows NT or XP is the reason for hacking. Because of this, it is very easy for hackers to access patient information.

There is a special need for protecting patients and their data so that hackers and attackers couldn’t hack an insulin pump to administer a fatal dosage. Those vulnerable medical machines are also connected to a huge array of computers, monitors and sensors, making them a potential access points to the larger hospital networks. That can mean the sensitive medical records theft or an attack which holds vital systems hostage until the administrators pay up.

All medical equipment with features like wireless connection, near-field communication tech, and remote monitoring allows health workers to adjust tune implanted devices without any invasive interventions. This is a great thing but, they have to keep in mind that those convenient things are potential points of cyber exposure. However, these cyber attacks evolve constantly. Some hospitals adopted a more sophisticated system in the recent months. But, who knows if this system will function properly.

There are several key points all providers could take in order to keep their patient’s equipment away and safe from cyber hackers.

Several tips to protect the medical equipment from hackers

  • Knowing the product: All medical technicians should take a close look and investigate their medical equipment before deciding to put them to use. They have to be sure that the manufacturer created the device with cybersecurity systems which is becoming a new requirement in the new world we live in! It is good to know that the producer is responsible for the device security and should work on the risk of cybersecurity. Any interests from the medical team about cybersecurity could lead to better transparency in the future medical
  • Sharing information: According to FDA recommendations, organizations, hospitals, and business professionals needs to participate in Information Sharing Anal This information sharing network is meant to help in the detection and identification of cybersecurity vulnerabilities in the medical machines. They could help in finding and fixing the potential gaps in the security system before any patient is made vulnerable. By sharing experience and information the technology of medical equipment could stay one step ahead of cyber hackers.
  • Creating a plan: Every medical machine attached to the network is unprotected to security attacks. It is almost impossible to eliminate those types of risks but, the manufacturer should make provisions to minimize the threat. All medical teams should be protected from these types of attacks. They have to analyze their network and make a plan for cybersecurity of their devices.
  • Adopt better security: This means that medical professionals should use strong passwords, biometric scanners, or smart card systems just to make it more difficult for hackers to attack private information of the patients. According to some rules, the more secure the medical network is the more secure the medical devices would be. Frequent password changing is a great way to make your devices more secure from hacking threats.
  • Updating technology: Because of this cyber attacks, the FDA permits routine updates of the medical software. They have created a special way to make the updates on a simpler and faster way. The big advantage is that all medical teams have to keep their medical devices and software up to date.
  • Identify the hazards: This kind of medical hacking is known as social engineering and it classified as dangerous and effective. In order to avoid this security breach, medical workers and their colleagues have to know the tactics which hackers use for manipulating their targets.

Summary

Medical technology is in constant and rapid progress and with the new innovations comes new risks and threats. All they have to do is stay proactive to secure their medical devices. This way their patients would be safe and protected. According to many studies, cybersecurity is listed as a secondary to all medical purposes even in cases where cybersecurity can result in death or severe injury. However, all patients deserve better security and better treatment. It is up to the medical organizations and hospitals to take these risks into consideration.  This is another worry but it can be prevented and eliminated.

Please Contact us to know more about Pre-owned and Refurbished Medical Imaging Equipment.

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Maximize Patient Safety and Quality of Treatment with Refurbished Medical Equipment

By | Date posted: | Last updated: June 1, 2023
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Ensuring the safety of all patients is the number one priority for medical professionals. Assuring patient confidence is more important in the special care they are obtaining as it is crucial for both, the practical success of the medical professionals and their patient’s well-being. These goals could be accomplished simply by the use of refurbished medical imaging equipment. It is good to consider the fact that out-of-date medical devices and instruments can have a negative influence over the accuracy of the patient test results and could also cause adverse side-effects, such as infections if they are not regularly maintained. When all medical healthcare institutions would consider these risks, it would be a big necessity to reduce the level of mechanical errors in any medical field.

The usage of refurbished and Pre-Owned medical equipment in many ways could be a cost-effective method in order to meet the standards of the doctors and patients too in the treatment a doctor would provide. As a general rule the new medical imaging system will cost twice that of Pre-Owned version. Refurbishment is not always necessary because the Pre-Owned equipment is normally subjected to routine maintenance including the software updates. The medical professional has to be sure that the refurbished medical machines would have the quality they expect but in most cases a pre-owned equipment should provide equivalent quality. It is very important to have qualified technicians refurbish the machines because they would know exactly how to maintain and repair your medical equipment & not just focus on the aesthetic side of their refurbishing practices. Some suppliers like us disassemble the pre-owned equipment for inspection and test to ensure that the equipment is ready for sale. But have no doubt the refurbished equipment will add to the cost of equipment. Normally you would not undertake replacing engine or transmission before selling your pre-owned car unless you were having problems. Another tip to consider when having cooperation with refurbishing companies is the type of warranty they provide for the selected product keeping in mind that it will add to the cost of the equipment. Nothing is free. If a medical organization is working with a company with unknown experience in refurbishing field and at the same time doesn’t explain the warranty condition, then it is better to weigh your risk and inquire why the refurbishing was not necessary. Answer may be simple that all the components were functioning to the manufacturer’s specifications. So, you have to find a team which would offer clear description and terms for equipment sale. Most companies will insure that they are selling a quality and reliable equipment if they want to stay in the market for a longer duration to be identified as reliable.  The most professional companies offer annual service contract for on the site service at additional cost and/or online team support. Qualified companies have a mission to satisfy every client and try to answer all the expectations in order to maximize the patient’s safety.

To guarantee quality you have to measure it

The main goal of the medical experts is to improve the treatment process of the patients and to optimize their results of the treatment. There are many medical institutions which are pioneers in results-oriented care of patients. In many points, the hospital should verify the quality of treatments and to summaries what are the achieved results. For every medical institute, the quality-oriented procedures are playing an important role in providing their services. They claim that some appropriate indicators and also some evaluation tools are essential to measure and at the same time verify the results obtained from the treatment. There is a need for well-developed systems of indicators which would document every result in the entire part of a treatment.

It is very important to know that the measurement is done in three dimensions which consider the results of the medical treatment, patient safety, and the satisfaction of the patients. So this means that the medical professionals are concerned for the objective and subjective points of the procedure, the experience and also the result. The crucial question is how patients benefit from some treatment or medical procedure not how that process works.

Refurbished Medical equipment: safe and effective

Refurbished medical devices are good for many reasons. In large hospitals, managers look for the newest magnetic resonance imaging system or computed tomography scanner every five years even though the “old” machine can still provide high-quality images for diagnostic purposes. Since the hospitals follow certain maintenance schedule it makes sense that this particular equipment should not require refurbishing and can be sold as Pre-Owned.  According to this, when a manufacturer refurbishes a pre-owned system, the final outcome is a medical imaging machine which is effective as a new one and safe but will add cost which may not be necessary if the equipment is working at the manufacturer’s specifications.  However, high-quality refurbished machines are a viable upgrade alternative for those medical institutions which are seeking to stretch their budget to buy still-exceptionally good medical gear.

Manufacturers with a big experience in refurbishing field, ensure that when medical equipment is refurbished appropriately in accordance with many standards and certifications, then the patients and the healthcare provider could be sure that patients are safe and the medical professional would have high-quality pictures to help and determine the right care. It is good to know that environmental benefits of these refurbished medical systems are worth as well. Refurbishing is a way of reuse and waste prevention which contributes to a better circular economy.

Summary

Refurbishment process saves the materials which are used to create new devices, saves also the energy. From an environmental point, it is very important to extend the service life as much as possible.  Even though, the patient care technology has become a growing process, transforming the old medical equipment to a better one is a great idea. This way the patients would have better health care because such medical machines could be positioned in small medical practices and medical organizations. This way, all the patients would have positive benefits from the refurbishing process.

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