Subtle Medical secure $12.2 million in their latest funding round to develop AI imaging technology. Subtle Medical is a medical software company that provides AI-powered software to help improve the patient experience and for workflow management.  

Subtle Medical is the first company to have approved AI tech. Their expansive portfolio includes SubtleMR™ and SubtlePET™, both of which have been approved by the FDA and have the CE mark of approval.

Subtle Medical's highly versatile software can be paired with any MRI or PET machine. The software uses deep learning algorithms to improve imaging during a scan. The software is already being used in more than 50 locations across the globe, including the US. Previous studies have also verified the safety and efficiency of the software, further adding trust in Subtle Medical's technology.

The financial boost from 3E Bioventures Capital and other seed investors will further expand Subtle Medical's portfolio. This includes the development of SubtleGAD™, which is up and coming in the company's pipeline.

"Our mission is to make medical imaging better, safer and more comfortable for patients while creating new workflow efficiencies for hospitals and imaging centers. Having the financial support and domain expertise in healthcare and biopharma from 3E Bioventures will help us execute our vision more rapidly and with global impact," said Dr Enhao Gong, Founder & CEO, Subtle Medical.

More information can be found at https://subtlemedical.com/                

The image was taken from this press release.

Polaris Market Research suggests that the global CT scan market will be worth $8.4 billion by 2027. There will be enormous growth from 2020 to 2027, as the CT scanner market is projected to grow by an annual rate of 6.4%.

The exponential growth is expected to be driven by a greater need for rapid diagnoses due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and also patients want less invasive diagnostic procedures nowadays to make the process more comfortable.

The market report suggests that mobile CT scanners will have the fastest growth rate and take a large share of the CT scanner market. Cone beam CT scanners are also projected to take an enormous share of the CT scan market, as there is a higher demand for cosmetic dentistry.

The rapid and unexpected onset of the COVID-19 pandemic boosted the global CT scanner market, CT scanners are urgently needed to help distinguish between COVID-19 complications and other diseases.

In terms of location, North America contributes the most revenue to the global CT scanner market, and this is projected to remain the same from 2020 to 2027. The most substantial growth is expected to be seen in the Asia Pacific market, in places like India and China.

The likes of GE Healthcare, Siemens Healthineers, Canon Medical Systems, and Hitachi Medical Corporation are key players and make up a large chunk of the global CT scan market. Competition in the CT scan market is rapidly increasing, as CT scans are being offered at cost-effective price points with extra benefits.

Polaris Market Research explores the revenue generated by CT scanner variations such as the CT scanner type, slice count, architecture, medical speciality, and much more in their full market report. The market report by Polaris Market Research can be found here.

About Mazree

Mazree is an online auction site for used medical equipment. Buyers can use Mazree to purchase CT Scanners, C-Arms, Ultrasounds and other used medical equipment from hospitals, health systems, and equipment resellers.

According to the Market Watch, the global used and refurbished medical equipment market is booming. From 2015 to 2019, the market grew on average by 8% each year. It's no wonder that people want to buy used medical equipment more than ever now.

But who actually buys used medical equipment?

Well, you would be surprised to know that many people want used medical equipment; this can include healthcare providers, the original equipment manufacturer, private companies, and even charities. People can buy the used medical equipment directly from the seller or by using general websites like eBay. Alternatively, there are some companies that specialize in selling and buying used medical equipment too.

Healthcare Providers

Healthcare providers will be the primary buyers of used medical equipment. This could be hospitals on a budget requiring specific pieces of medical equipment to fulfill their clinical needs.

Healthcare providers might directly buy and sell to other healthcare providers in their network. However, healthcare providers are using companies that specialize in medical equipment sales to buy and sell their used medical equipment more often nowadays. Doing so makes the sales process a lot smoother and more manageable. Using this method can also help reach a broader range of people who are not in the hospital’s network.

The Original Equipment Manufacturer

The original equipment manufacturers might also be interested in your used medical equipment and want to repurchase it from you. Some of the manufacturing companies have schemes to trade-in your equipment to get paid for it. For example, companies like Siemens offer trade-in or buyback opportunities for used machines.

Used and Refurbished Equipment Companies

Some companies specialize in used and refurbished medical equipment sales. These companies will definitely want to buy your used medical equipment. They can buy and then sell the used equipment as it is, or they can refurbish the equipment for resale. They will resell the medical equipment at higher prices on their website.

Charities

People often donate medical equipment to charities. However, we recommend that you do your research on the charity you are donating to. Some organizations call themselves a “charity” but end up selling the equipment they receive to hospitals or groups in other countries.

Websites

There are many ways to find and buy used medical equipment. Individuals may look on websites like eBay, craigslist, etc. However, more reliable companies out there specialize in buying and selling used medical equipment, specifically.

Mazree is an auction site that specializes in used medical equipment. Mazree connects buyers and sellers throughout the US with their auction listings. All it takes is a few clicks to set up, and you’ll be on your way.

If you are interested in Mazree's services, you can visit https://www.mazree.com to find out more or click here to view Mazree's current auction listings.

Buying a C-arm machine can be a daunting process, especially when you are a first-timer. You obviously want to buy the right equipment and not waste your money!

There are different types of C-arm machines available to purchase. Finding out about the different types will help you figure out which one you want to buy. The three main types of C-arms include the mini C-arm, compact C-arm, and full C-arm.

Mini C-arm

The mini C-arm, as the name suggests, is a small-sized C-arm. Mini C-arms are usually less than 63.5 cm tall and only weigh 50 lbs. As well as being physically small, they come with a smaller image intensifier than usual. Specifically, mini C-arms come with a 6” image intensifier.

GE, OrthoScan, and Hologic are the leading manufacturers of mini C-arms. Mini C-arms are used to take images of the extremities, such as hands, feet, or ankles. Surgeons can use the mini C-arm to find fractures, bunion surgery, metatarsal foot surgery, fixing fractures, etc.

Mini C-arms emit less radiation than their larger counterparts. A study found that mini C-arms release 120-400 mrem/min. In contrast, full-sized C-arms emit 200 to 4000 mrem/min of radiation.

Pros and Cons

✔️The mini C-arm doesn’t take up a lot of space.

✔️The mini C-arm is cheaper than the larger C-arms.

✔️Lower waiting times as the mini C-arm can be used anywhere.

✔️The mini C-arm is versatile as it can be used during surgery or in the clinics.

✔️Reduced radiation exposure when using a mini C-arm.

❌The mini C-arm can’t be used for anything other than the extremities

❌Image quality is lower than normal-sized C-arms due to the low power X-ray generator.

Compact C-arm

The compact C-arm is a mixture between the mini C-arm and the full-sized C-arm. It offers similar capabilities as the full C-arm but takes up less space. Although, it’s certainly not the same size as the mini C-arm either.

Compact C-arms generally weigh less than 600 lbs and are around 170 cm tall, but this will vary depending on the manufacturing company. Compact C-arms come with a 9” image intensifier maximum.

The companies that offer compact C-arms include Siemens, Philips, and GE Healthcare. Some C-arm models that are compact include OEC 7600, Philips Libra, and OEC 7700.

Pros and Cons

✔️It can be used for different body parts, not just the extremities.

✔️It’s more lightweight and takes up less space than the full-sized C-arm.

❌Doesn’t usually have a 12” image intensifier (9” max).

❌Lower imaging quality compared to full-sized C-arms.

Full C-arm

The full-sized C-arms are the most commonly used type of C-arm. They usually come with a flat panel detector or a 9”/12” image intensifier. Full C-arms typically weigh upwards of 650 lbs and are around 180 cm tall, but this will vary depending on the manufacturing company.  

The companies that offer full-sized C-arms include Siemens, Ziehm, Philips, and GE Healthcare. Some C-arm models that are full-sized include OEC 9000, Philips Pulsera, and Philips Veradius.

Full-sized C-arms are suitable for all types of imaging, including the extremities. The high-power x-ray generator allows high-quality images to be taken.

As full-sized C-arms have 9” and 12” image intensifiers, this makes them ideal for vascular surgeries, general surgery, orthopedics, and much more.

Pros and Cons

✔️High-quality imaging with a high-power x-ray generator.

✔️It can image all body parts, not just the extremities.

❌A higher radiation dose compared to mini C-arms.

❌It takes up more room and would need to be kept in a larger space.

❌Generally more expensive than mini C-arms.

Which C-Arm should I buy then?

Well, this entirely depends on your personal needs and preferences. If you need the C-arm machine just for the extremities, then a mini C-arm would be ok to use. Whereas, for cardiac procedures, you would need a larger C-arm.

The type of C-arm machine you should buy will depend on what you need it for, but it will also depend on:

• How much space you have available?
• How much you want to spend?

Dunlee has received FDA clearance for its CT tube replacement DA200P40+LMB featuring CoolGlide technology to be used on GE Optima 660 and Revolution Evo CT Scanners. Dunlee will begin delivering these in the US and around Europe by December 2020.

Dunlee is a manufacturing company that specializes in medical imaging parts. The company has more than 100 years’ worth of experience. Their vast portfolio includes x-ray tubes, generators, detectors, and much more.

Dunlee’s novel CT tube LMB DA200P40+LMB boasts an increased lifespan because the liquid metal bearing technology prevents friction, and so, there’s less damage to the system. Dunlee suggests that the LMB CT tube is also quieter, allowing the patients to relax more during their scans. Dunlee developed the LMB tubes with CoolGlide technology specifically for the GE Optima 660 and Revolution Evo CT scanners.

The CoolGlide technology uses a fluid that continuously circulates to redirect the heat produced by the CT tube. This allows the CT tube to become cooler much quicker. So, the user doesn’t have to wait around for the CT tube to cool down.

“Liquid metal bearing technology has been a proprietary technology of the major medical equipment manufacturers for many years. With this new product release, we are offering a unique, cost-effective solution, based on the latest technology,” said Jan Laheij, Commercial Lead Imaging Components, Dunlee.

The company mainly operates in the US but will be expanding to Europe once they have the MDR certification. Dunlee wants its products to be available worldwide. So, they will also be expanding to Canada, the Middle East, and China by 2021.

To find out more, visit https://www.dunlee.com/.

The image was taken from this press release.

Many big companies like Canon, Siemens, Philips refurbish used medical equipment. There are also smaller companies around the US that specialize in medical equipment refurbishment.  

Hopefully, this article will help you understand what refurbishment companies typically provide and will make choosing a refurbishment company an easier task. 

Philips’ Diamond Select Program

Philips has two refurbishment programs: The Diamond Select and Diamond Select Advance. The main difference between the programs seems to be that Diamond Select Advance has a longer service period than the Diamond Select program, and newer, highly functional parts are used in the refurbishment process.

Apart from that, Philips gives a 1-year warranty with their refurbished medical equipment, which is typically what they offer with their new medical equipment.

They also provide flexible finance schemes – these are the same finance schemes that come with their brand-new medical equipment. So, you aren’t losing out when refurbishing used medical equipment. Plus, it’s a cost-effective way to get a highly functional piece of medical equipment.

Philips’ refurbishment process entails de-installation, decontamination, refurbishment, calibration, and then the refurbished medical equipment is transported and installed into the new facility.

Various medical equipment pieces have been refurbished in the Diamond Select Program, such as MRI machines, CT scanners, X-rays, PET scanners, and ultrasounds. So, Philips’ refurbishment process does cover an array of medical equipment.

Canon’s Secondlife program

Canon refurbishes used medical equipment in their Secondlife program. In the Secondlife program, the used medical equipment is de-installed, decontaminated, refurbished, and quality checks are performed before the refurbished medical equipment is transported and installed into the new facility.

The Secondlife program is an ISO certified refurbishment process, meaning that medical equipment is refurbished to the highest quality. Canon complies with ISO 13485:2003, which is the framework that sets quality standards for medical equipment specifically.

As well as being ISO 13485:2003 certified, Canon also complies with COCIR GRP (Good Refurbishment Practice). Therefore, Canon has a robust and high-quality refurbishment process that ensures the refurbished medical equipment meets the OEM standards.

In Canon’s refurbishment process, they only use original Canon spare parts, which means that you’ll get the best parts for your refurbished medical equipment. Fortunately, Canon provides a 1-year warranty with their refurbished medical equipment, which is useful if things do go wrong later down the line.

Canon refurbishes medical equipment pieces, such as x-rays, MRI machines, CT scanners, and ultrasounds.

Siemens’ Ecoline Systems

The ecoline systems are refurbished pieces of medical equipment by Siemens. The ecoline imaging systems include ultrasounds, x-rays, molecular imaging, CT scans, MRI machines, and C-arms.

Siemens, Philips, and Canon have similar refurbishment processes. Siemens offers de-installation, decontamination, refurbishment, and quality checks as part of their refurbishment process. They also provide transportation and installation after the refurbishment.

Siemens gives the same warranty, flexible finance schemes, and original spare parts (for at least five years) for refurbished medical equipment as they normally do for their brand-new medical equipment. So, the warranty with Siemens would last for a year.

I’ve written about the well-known companies that refurbish used medical equipment in this article. However, we shouldn’t forget that smaller, less prominent companies offer refurbishment services for used medical equipment too.

These less well-known companies can carry out different types of refurbishment: cosmetic refurbishment, parts refurbishment, or full refurbishment.

Plus, refurbishment companies usually have similar refurbishment processes:

1. An initial check-up

2. Decontamination

3. Refurbishment

4. Calibration and verification.

It is important to note that each company will have slight variations in their refurbishment process. One company might offer more, and another company might not match up. Smaller refurbishment companies generally provide a 30-day warranty, but this will vary depending on the company too.

It would be good to find out what each company offers in their packages, and then you can easily decide which company is a good fit for you.

Refurbishing used medical equipment is a great way to save money, but which company you use for the refurbishment process will make a big difference. That’s because refurbishment companies offer different things as part of their refurbishment process. So, you want to pick the most efficient and cost-effective refurbishment company to get the most out of your money.

Below we have listed some things to think about when you approach a refurbishment company. These things will help you identify which company has high-quality refurbishment processes, and hopefully, our list will make choosing a refurbishment company more straightforward.

Documentation

Does the refurbishment company provide documented information about the refurbishment process?

It would be best to know what the company offers in its refurbishment process. That’s why you should ask them for documentation. This will help you understand what steps they take to refurbish the medical equipment.

Companies can provide paper documents, videos, or an article to let you know about their refurbishment process.

Having access to this information will allow you to make a well-informed decision about whether or not you want to go ahead with the company.

ISO certification

Does the company offer an ISO certified refurbishment process?

The ISO standards are a framework that explains how to maintain high quality. If a company is ISO certified, it will verify that the company has risk management systems and high-quality processes.

Companies may say they are ISO certified, but it is essential to know which ISO standards they comply with, ISO 9001:2015 or ISO 13485:2016?

ISO 9001 concerns generic things like cleaning products, construction, logistics, etc. Whereas, ISO 13485 is a framework for medical devices specifically, and so has added requirements to be fulfilled.

Check out the infographic by Agiliti that helps to distinguish ISO 9001 and ISO 13485.

HIPAA compliance

Does the refurbishment company comply with HIPAA?

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA) is a law that maintains privacy and protects patient information. This act states that owners must remove all patient data from the medical equipment before passing it onto the new owner.

The refurbishment company might remove the patient information for you as part of the refurbishment process. However, you must confirm whether this is a part of their refurbishment process or not.

If the patient records remain on the medical equipment, you’ll get into big trouble - You can expect fines and jail time for breaching HIPPA.

The decontamination process

What does the decontamination process entail?

As the medical equipment is used, it’s obvious that wear and tear will happen over time.

It would help to find out whether the refurbishment company decontaminates the medical equipment externally and internally.

It’s essential to decontaminate the medical equipment internally because dust residues can build up. This could become a problem later down the line if it interferes with the internal parts.

Warranty

Does the refurbished medical equipment come with a warranty?

It would be best to find out whether the company offers a warranty for the refurbished medical equipment. Refurbishment companies often provide a warranty for a year, but they might not provide any warranty at all.

A warranty is essential because it will cover the repairs or replacement if the medical equipment becomes faulty.

Keep in mind that each company will include different things in their warranty - so read the warranty information thoroughly!

If your refurbished medical equipment breaks down, the warranty will be your safety net and will help you avoid extra costs.

Finance options

Does the refurbishment company offer financing options?

It’s important to know whether you have the right budget for the refurbishment. Can you pay outright? If not, does the company offer flexible payment plans?

Many companies offer financing options like monthly payment plans, but you’ll need to ask the company whether they have this option or not.

If the refurbishment company has financing options, you can plan for the expense and go ahead with the refurbishment.

Tracking the service

Is there a system in place that gives you updates throughout the refurbishment process?

Ask the company if they have a system in place to provide you with regular updates as the refurbishment process happens.

The worst thing that can happen is being left in the dark and not knowing what’s happening with your medical equipment.

Some companies might use tracking software or use an actual person like a project leader to give regular updates during the refurbishment process.

Either way, it’s good to know what options they have available.

Deinstallation and installation

Are deinstallation and installation included?

Some companies may offer to deinstall your medical equipment, transport it to their facility, and reinstall the medical equipment after the refurbishment process.

Having the refurbishment company take care of the deinstallation, transport, and reinstallation process would remove the hassle, making the refurbishment process much smoother.

It would be good to ask the refurbishment company about it. If they don’t provide this service, then you will need to find a way to arrange deinstallation, transportation, and reinstallation yourself.

To top it off, you’d need to calculate the costs involved so you can include this expense in the budget too.  

Certificate after completion

Will the company provide a certificate to show the medical equipment has successfully undergone refurbishment?

It’s essential to check whether the medical equipment has successfully been refurbished.

The refurbishment process aims to upgrade your used medical equipment so that it’s working at the most optimum level.

You can check whether your medical equipment has been successfully refurbished if the company provides you with a certificate.

The certificate will show if the medical equipment reaches the Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) standards. If your medical equipment meets the OEM standards, then it has been successfully refurbished.

Buying the newest medical equipment can be so expensive these days. Many companies can refurbish used medical equipment to the highest quality. They do this by assessing whether the medical equipment meets the Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) specifications.

What is refurbished medical equipment?

Used medical equipment usually means that the equipment is sold as seen. Refurbished medical equipment means that the equipment has been repaired in some way. There are different types of refurbishment: cosmetics, parts only, or a full refurbishment.

Cosmetic refurbishment happens when the technician fixes the equipment’s visual imperfections, which means that the visual aspects are cleaned, painted, and repaired. This type of refurbishment only includes the cosmetic aspects.

Parts refurbished means that some parts of the medical equipment are faulty and need to be changed. So, the technician will get new parts that reach the OEM standards. In this type of refurbishment, there may also be some cosmetic work done.

Fully refurbished means that the equipment will undergo a complete transformation. Major internal parts will be upgraded to reach the OEM standards, and the equipment will be cosmetically restored so that it functions and looks like a brand-new device.

So how does the refurbishment process go?

The refurbishment process

Here’s the general refurbishment process:

1. The initial check-up – The medical equipment will have an initial inspection by the field engineer. They will look for any significant issues with the medical equipment.
2. Decontamination – After the device has been delivered to the facility, the team will dismantle and thoroughly decontaminate the medical equipment internally and externally.
3. Refurbishment –
   1. At this stage, the refurbishment company will conduct cosmetic repairs on the medical equipment. The team members will fill in any dents/holes and sand them down. Then they will paint the medical equipment – to make the equipment look new.
   2. After the cosmetic repairs, the engineer will test the parts to see if they reach the OEMs standards. If the parts don’t meet the criteria, the engineer will identify where the problems are, and then the parts can be repaired accordingly.
   3. Calibration - The final step in which the medical equipment is calibrated and quality checks are carried out.

That’s the general refurbishment process. Although, keep in mind that the refurbishment process can vary depending on which company is used to complete the task.

The advantages of refurbished medical equipment

Firstly, having refurbished medical equipment is a cost-effective choice. These days buying new medical equipment is quite expensive. As a result, people are turning to used and refurbished medical equipment instead. By refurbishing used equipment, you will get medical equipment functioning at high standards. So, you can have full trust in the medical equipment you buy.

Sometimes there can be medical equipment shortages and thus long waiting times. So, people can easily rely on used or refurbished equipment because they are available. Newer pieces of medical equipment may not be readily available.

Using refurbished medical equipment is also environmentally friendly. Instead of wasting valuable medical equipment, refurbishment allows the medical equipment to be put to good use - once it meets the OEM standards, of course.

Many big companies specializing in medical equipment are now offering refurbished medical equipment. Brands like Canon have the Secondlife refurbishment program for medical equipment. Find out about Canon’s Secondlife program by clicking here.

Frost and Sullivan have awarded the Swoop™ portable MRI system for the 2020 Global New Product Innovation Award. Every year, Frost and Sullivan recognize and present the award to a company with innovative and cutting-edge technology.

The Swoop™ portable MRI system is a novel medical imaging system that was developed by a company called Hyperfine – it boasts of being the first-ever mobile MRI system in the world. The Swoop™ system has wheels and can be easily transported to and from the patient's bedside. Furthermore, an MRI technician can easily manage the Swoop™ system with a tablet.  

"Nearly six years ago, we had a crazy vision to create a new product category for imaging: an affordable point-of-care MRI system. With our Swoop™ now readily available in the US, we are disrupting current practices by enabling bedside diagnostic neuroimages, proving particularly effective in time-critical indications like stroke and COVID," said Jonathan Rothberg, PhD, founder and chairman of Hyperfine.

The Swoop™ system stands tall at 160 cm and weighs 635 kg making it relatively light compared to standard MRI machines. The Swoop™ system is a versatile piece of equipment that can be readily used for medical imaging alongside pre-existing MRI machines to reduce waiting times and improve patients' accessibility.

"Hyperfine's Swoop™ Portable MRI system incorporates progressive image reconstruction while the scan is in progress to display images on the screen after just 10% of the scan completes. The low-field MRI system allows family members to comfort patients—mainly children—during the scanning procedure, reducing the need for sedation," said Poornima Srinivasan, Consultant at Frost & Sullivan.

Visit https://hyperfine.io/ for more information.

A CT scanner’s value can depend on a wide range of factors like the CT tube, brand, age of the CT scanner, and much more! In this article, we will explain what can maximize the value of your CT scanner.

Service records

Your service records will make a big difference to your CT scanner’s value. Try to schedule these servicing appointments regularly. Medical device servicing is useful because it can pinpoint any issues that are developing with the CT scanner. The service engineer can fix these issues accordingly and let you know if you need any significant repairs.   

When anyone wants to buy your CT scanner, they will be able to look through the service records. The service history can help the buyer see how well the CT scanner has been working and whether the owner has installed any new parts. The buyer will be interested in your service records because they won’t want to keep repairing their recent purchase.

Having regular servicing and maintenance, and having the service records on hand will undoubtedly add value to your CT scanner.

Software

Buyers will be interested in what type of software you have installed on your CT scanner. This is because the buyer may want a CT scanner with specialized software for their specific clinical needs, and they won’t want to pay extra for new software in the future.

You can have general software packages or specialized software packages specifically for orthopedics, dental, cardiac, etc. Software packages aren’t cheap! The prices of the different packages do vary but are usually in the region of $15,000-$100,000.

Therefore, knowing which software package you have installed on your CT scanner can impact your CT scanner’s value. 

CT scanner parts

Many parts of the CT scanner can deteriorate as we use them. The x-ray tube is probably one of the most expensive parts of the CT scanner. Used x-ray tubes can cost between $25,000 and $85,000. As you would expect, the new x-ray tubes are even more expensive than the used ones.

Most x-ray tubes last 3-4 years on average, but this does vary depending on the brand and usage of these devices. The MRC 600 and 800 can last up to 4-7 years, which is longer than most x-ray tubes.

X-ray tubes with lower usage usually have a higher value because this suggests how much longer the x-ray tube has left. You can check the x-ray tube’s lifespan by looking at the tube count. The tube count is usually displayed in scan seconds and can be found on the specialist computer attached to the CT scanner.

Visual condition

Try to keep the CT scanner in good condition while it’s in your possession. Any damage to the CT scanner’s physical appearance, such as marks, scratches, and dents, can also reduce the value of the CT scanner. Perhaps, visual damage won’t impact your CT scanner as much as issues with the internal CT scanner parts, but it could still make a difference to the overall cost.

The age of the CT scanner

The date your CT scanner was manufactured is essential too. If your CT scanner is quite old, you might have issues finding compatible parts when the CT scanner breaks down. Furthermore, old CT scanners won’t be equipped with the latest and most efficient software. Buyers might be looking for newer CT scanner models with more recent software and CT scanners with easily accessible spare parts (if you need them).

Find out what other things buyers are interested in with Radiology Today’s article.