What are the Most common Problems in Ultrasound Systems and How to Prevent them?

By | Date posted: | Last updated: June 1, 2023
Ultrasound Systems

Medical machinery costs a fortune to even a facility with several sponsors or a thick wallet. It is also one of the many reasons that healthcare facilities take extensive care of it. Although during its work course, there may come a time when one would face problems of various kinds. Some of them can be rectified, while others can burn a hole in your pocket for their replacement.

But it’s always advisable to be prepared and know what possible problems can you encounter with the refurbished medical equipment.

Bring light to the most common problems faced, while using ultrasound systems and how they can be prevented.

Let’s get started.

Hardware failures

Input and core hardware failures have a mere possibility of occurrence. If encountered, you may need to replace them to resume the workflow.

The computer central processing unit, batteries, disk storage, and cables are all included in core hardware that makes up to 5% of the entire ultrasound machine.

On the other hand, the input hardware includes sensing equipment like keyboard command keys, barcode scanner which accounts for 13% of the entire ultrasound machine.

The common type of failure is found in image artifacts that can cause a big nuisance to your work. No one reason can define the cause of this problem but some of them are caused due to electrical interference in the proximity of the ultrasound machines.

This comes under the part of output hardware failures which include image display problems as noticed on the monitor hardcopy or other prints. This failure accounts for 22% of the problems encountered in the ultrasound systems.

All these figures can be prevented with regular maintenance and keeping an eye on even a slight mishap in the ultrasound machine.

Corrupted Software

The other most common problem causing improper shut down of the ultrasound machine is software corruption or system reboot. Many technologists while working with ultrasound machines are impatient and do not wait for the system to completely switch off. They instead force shut down by switching the main power button off.

This abrupt and forced shut down of the system results in software corruption. To make sure this doesn’t happen to your ultrasound system, you need to ensure and stick to a proper shutdown procedure. Let the system turn off on its own after you press shut down and then it will work like a charm for a long time.

Ultrasound probes damages and defects repair

Transducer issues or say ultrasound probes or another common problem encountered while working with ultrasound machines.

These issues are distributed into six different sub categories as listed below.

  • Physical damage
  • Defects of the probe
  • Black shadows from the pro probe
  • Sheath/shell
  • Cable and signal loss
  • General defects

Going to discuss some of the issues that fall into these categories and hold you can prevent them.

  • Put protective bags to surround the transducer head or connect safety wires to the probe so that you can avoid any chance of dropping it on the floor.
  • You should never use any disinfectant fluids like alcohol as they dry out the lens of the probe.
  • Do not bend or twist the cable ever as each cable consist of 128 to 320 small wires in it. Each of these 128-320 wires has a connection to a crystal. With any twist or bend, this connection will break. The signal will reduce or maybe even completely disappear. Even the warranty won’t cover the rough and careless treatment of the equipment.

Lens Failure

The acoustic lens in an ultrasound machine is a gelatinous professional substance that contacts the upper body via an ultrasound probe. This lens may get damaged after using it for a long time due to scratch, corrosion, degumming, blisters, wear and tear, or other damage.

In many cases, corrosion occurs due to coupling agents at the lower level that causes doctors to misdiagnose with blind spots such as artifacts. Many ultrasound systems use cheap convex probe crystal that not only endangers the patient’s body, but can also cause harm to the machine as well as the technologist operating it.

To prevent it injecting liquid silicon in degumming, you can expel the bubbles in the lens. The fault can also be eliminated by tying a rope to the probe by force for a day before deregulation. It will help the probe return to normal.

In a failure caused by a glued match between the acoustic lens and the matching layers of liquid, silicon rubber for the probe acoustic lens repair materials like magic.

Stick to prevention rather than looking for a cure

There are innumerable reasons that can cause the shutdown of your ultrasound systems. Although the most common ones are listed above along with the best fit choices on how you can prevent them. While working with such a piece of costly equipment on-board, it is advisable to prevent these problems than to look out for its solutions after the damage is done.

#Tip: Do stick to regular maintenance and check-up of your ultrasound machine that will keep the same running for a long time.

KB Consulting is providing a full line of ultrasound machines for sale. Get the best price on pre-owned ultrasound systems from major brands. 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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Top Advantages of Portable X-Ray Machines

By | Date posted: | Last updated: June 1, 2023
portable-x-ray-machines

Healthcare has never been this best in decades and is only going to reach new heights in the coming future. The technological advancements in various types of refurbished medical equipment utilized in the healthcare industry have brought preventive care to a new level.

The recent trend has shown an increasing interest in portable X-ray machines that are benefiting both the patients as well as the providers. It has completely changed how diagnostic imaging used to be conducted in the healthcare industry.

Want to know how?

Let’s get acquainted with some of the portable x-ray machine’s top advantages for a brief outlook.

Portability

As you can get to know with the name itself, portable x-ray machines offer a significant benefit of Limiting your hospital visits. Especially for patients with severe health conditions the portable x-ray machines offer the flexibility of providing diagnosis on wheels.

It helps in avoiding the extra movement of patients as well as transportation that can cause a big problem for them. These devices come as a blessing in disguise that allows technologists to move them around quickly. They don’t even require an electrical plugin for them to work and can be can even be folded into smaller shapes for easy transportation.

Patient Safety

Patient safety is one of the top concerns while diagnosing with portable x-ray machines. Although just like the safety protocol followed on-site, radiation exposure is maintained at optimum levels for both the person using the portable medical imaging equipment as well as the patient.

Also, a shield present at the front part of the portable x-ray device further protects the x-rays from scattering. It adds enhanced security to any diagnosis in the portable x-ray machine.

Image quality

The portable x-ray machines boast high-tech features that help the technologist capture and generate high-quality images in a short amount of time. In the latest x-ray equipment being used in portable x-ray machines, the laser scanner of the imaging device does not utilize the film. Rather, it consists of cassettes and phosphorus plates that make it easy to delete the images after usage.

It also enables the technologist to upscale the images generated from the portable X-ray machines in the field later.

Easy on the pocket

The transportation costs of the patients can burn a hole in your pocket. Portable x-ray machines come with a potential socio-economic advantage that eliminates the use of van, trailer or ambulance transportation for patients. Even the transportation costs from the patient side are also reduced while moving to and from the hospital.

It has overall come out as an affordable choice for both the healthcare facility as well as the patients.

Process speed

Ever wondered how you can sort out the problem of long waiting queues outside the diagnosis labs?

A portable x-ray machine work as a charm in such a situation that processes the image In less than 20 minutes.

Even the results exist in real-time and are sent directly to the patient’s physician. It helps in eliminating all the delays between the diagnosis and the start of treatment of the patient. It has not only excelled the procedure of diagnosis but also the customer experience at any healthcare facility.

Exceptional patient care

The patient experience, as well as care, has excelled a lot with the efficient portable X-ray machines available on wheels. It has provided a fast way to get the diagnosis as well as accurate results.

The patients don’t have to wait around healthcare facilities for the film to get developed or for the image quality to be of top-notch quality. With a portable x-ray machine onboard, a healthcare facility can deliver accurate and fast results without risking patience to come to the hospital for taking the diagnosis.

Efficient workflow

Utilizing portable x-ray equipment can help you increase the number of patients that you diagnose per day. The doctors can visit the patient off-site that is required in many cases where the patient’s condition hinders them from traveling to the facility.

Offering precise diagnoses to the injured or very ill patients at their place helps the treatment get started immediately saving the lives of many. This, technology on wheels comes as a great choice if your healthcare facility Is looking to cater to more patients with the quality care they deserve.

Are you ready for this innovation?

The medical imaging equipment employed in the present era by the healthcare facilities are not only delivering outstanding performances but convenience on the plate for both the patient as well as the medical professionals.

The innovation of portable x-ray machines on wheels is considered an excellent way to cater to more patients as well as the remote ones that are unable to reach quality healthcare. By eliminating the constraints of money, it has become the new trend that comes with a mutual benefit of excelling quality patient care.

So why not try it for yourself! We would be happy to help.

KB Consulting provides a full line of x-ray systems for sale. Get in touch with us to buy new, refurbished or pre-owned medical x-ray equipment at the best price.

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When Should You Upgrade Your Nuclear Gamma Camera?

By | Date posted: | Last updated: June 1, 2023
Nuclear Gamma Camera

How do you know the exact time to upgrade or replace your nuclear gamma camera? Any precise thoughts!

There is an extended list of factors that can be added to make up for an accurate answer to this question. Keep reading as we are listing down the most crucial points that are not worth to missing out.

Questionable results of Nuclear Gamma Camera

Patient diagnosis is one of the top priorities at healthcare facilities that form the base for the treatment of any ailment. Any patient reaching your facility highlights their trust in your service.

To keep it intact, your service should offer them a precise diagnosis. If your camera is indicating signs of poor-quality images or misdiagnosis among the patients, it is high time for you to upgrade it to save your business from any loss of patients or funds.

There are many suppliers in the market who will get you the same component for the one that is messing with your patient diagnosis presently in your nuclear gamma camera. You just need to reach out to them to get it done in minimal time possible.

End of standard life

As for the experts, one should replace or upgrade refurbished medical equipment once it reaches the upper limit of its standard life span. So, if your nuclear gamma camera is approaching the 10-year mark, you should consult with the original manufacturer about the availability of its parts.

The parts or latest innovations for the same are excellent options that are available in the third-party market. These are manufactured in the first place to work with a variety of equipment that delivers accurate results. With just a component upgrade, your nuclear gamma camera can work smoothly again like a new one.

Inconsistent performance of Nuclear Gamma Camera

At healthcare facilities, technologists performing routine maintenance take follow-ups on the quality control of the nuclear gamma camera. A check for its performance as per the original specifications and to offer quality diagnostic studies will help the equipment working in the long run efficiently.

Many times, due to negligence or honest mistakes, specification drift occurs. It can go up to 10%, both positive and negative from the specified limit from the original manufacturer. If this drift is noticed once or twice a year, it’s acceptable to ignore.

But if a system is noticed to drift outside of the tolerance level within a time limit of a month or couple of weeks, take it as an indication of the nuclear gamma camera wearing out.
This often happens when you’re using an old machine. Getting it repaired can shut down your work for days and those causing your loss in your practice. In this competitive market, you can’t even afford to re-schedule the appointments of your patience as they have ample options to get the work done at that instant of time.

Thus, in such a case, recognising the problem in the equipment is necessary. Run a smart scan and check what is the root cause for the poor working of the nuclear gamma camera. This way, upgrading your nuclear gamma camera will be the best option on the plate.

Spending over the budget on medical equipment

Everyone wants to grind the most out of existing medical equipment that cost thousands of dollars in the first place. But it is also important to stop using it at the right time else it would only harm your business.

If you are spending far more than your maintenance fund, it is a sign that you need to look into whether it’s worth it or not. It’s not a wise decision to put in tens of thousands of dollars into buying a new one. This way, you are just putting all the good money that could be invested in getting an upgrade for the same when everything else is working simply fine.

For instance, your facility conducts 15 studies from the nuclear Gamma camera in a day. Suddenly, your camera breaks down in the middle of the week with a jam-packed appointment schedule.

Getting a quality upgrade is the best option in such a scenario. You can offer a promising service to the customers and can move with the scheduled appointments without any delays.

It’s action time!

While working with the nuclear gamma camera, you need to pay attention to the little signals the equipment is highlighting for a nearby breakdown. These can be a slowdown of the system, frequent repairs, and others that need to be given serious attention.

Upgrading is the wise man’s decision in such a case as switching to hi-tech components will help you gain more ROI (Return on Investment) in your business. You may be processing six studies per day with your existing nuclear gamma camera, but with an upgrade in your equipment, you can cover up to 12 or 15 studies in a day. So, investing in an upgrade is worth it and can prove to be a notable change for your practice.

So, what’s the wait for! Start looking for professionals who can upgrade your nuclear gamma camera today for a better future for your business.

We provide a complete line of pre-owned and refurbished Nuclear Gamma Camera for sale which is completely tested and inspected by an experienced team to bring up to the OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) specifications. Get in touch with us to know more.

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Top Tips to Maximize the Return on Your Used Radiology Equipment!

By | Date posted: | Last updated: June 1, 2023
Used Radiology Equipment

Reaping high ROI is always on priority in the task list of any business. It becomes even harder when you have limited or no funds to get a piece of new equipment on board. But there’s always a solution to a problem. You can make out great profits from your existing radiology equipment.

In this guide, we will help you know how to achieve the same with some simple steps recommended by the experts. These will not just help you with great profit but many other things in your everyday work with your current radiology equipment.

Equipment training

Productivity and thus the returns can be increased by utilising the features on your existing x-ray equipment that are not being used effectively. It is an effective path that the radiographers adopt to utilise the equipment to its extreme potential via training.

If you are looking for experts to offer the training, many experienced consultants are available to impart education to the radiographers to make their work smoother and more efficient than ever.

From diagnostic images of highest quality to training on exposure for image processing and available adjustments in technique, everything can be covered in the training session.

Regular Maintenance and care of radiology equipment

Efficiently working radiology equipment adds to the productivity of the staff. It comes with proper maintenance and care of the equipment that protects your financial solutions and will help you achieve exceptional performance.

Some of the best recommendations from the experts in the field to maximise your return on investment on radiology equipment are listed below.

  • Schedule regular preventive maintenance of the equipment.
  • Take proper care of the components of the equipment.
  • Use the equipment properly daily.
  • Place the equipment in an optimum environment.
  • Make use of only approved disinfectants & cleaners on the external parts of the equipment.
  • Make sure that the technical specifications of the equipment are considered attentively during its operation.

The steps will help you keep your radiology equipment running in the long run. Here are some of the tips to maintain refurbished radiology equipment.

Make use of the existing features of radiology equipment

Many healthcare facilities often overlook the time-saving features that exist in their radiology equipment, given the lack of knowledge of the same. Some of the features that can make your work more efficient are listed below.

  • QA operating mode: This approach can significantly improve the workflow at healthcare facilities dealing with a high volume of imaging studies.
  • Modality performed procedure step: It is an optional software feature that sends a message automatically to the RIS to complete the study when the images acquired have been accepted. This automated workflow helps the radiographer save time from the manual tasks like manually completing the study from the RIS application.
  • EVP Plus software for automated workflow: It is a powerful software that automatically processes and works on diagnostic quality CR and DR images PACS based on the preferred look that can be specified uniquely by each site.

Focus on specialization

Working on specialization has an enormous impact on the workflow of a department. It provides the healthcare facility with a defined segment of patients to serve and meet their needs efficiently.

It is helpful in the case when you have well-researched market trends and understand the utmost need of a particular specialization required in the area. Do your research well before picking up any specialization. If there are a limited number of patients, you won’t be able to take much advantage of the specialization you are to offer.

Gather related services

Gathering services that are the source of your business under one umbrella or in one location is a smart move to work on.

It will help the patients get all the healthcare services under one roof without having to visit a doctor at another location and getting scans or images for diagnosis at any other place.

Utilize AI-based software

Automation has always been a vital factor in improving the workflow for businesses, and thus the ROI. No one likes to wait around for a long time to get the work done. By adopting this great tech at your healthcare facility, you can make your customers happy by offering them your service without wasting their time.

The workload is reduced, and the image quality and consistency increase simultaneously. The need for taking retakes is eliminated, and the work can go on and on without any break.

It’s your best bet!

There’s always room for improvement when you wish to make the most out of your business. The same goes for the radiology equipment you are taking as a point of leverage to increase ROI in your business. After a severe pandemic hit, sticking to these expert tips will get you the desired results without experiencing a dent in your fund. You can get the best returns by following the above listed steps at your practice.

KB Consulting helps you to take a proactive approach and guide you with the best possible solutions as per your requirements for refurbished medical equipment which includes MRI Scanners, CT Scanners, PET-CT Scanners, Nuclear Medicine Camera, Catheterization Lab System, Ultrasound System and Radiation/Fluoroscopy System.

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