Choosing an Equine X-ray system
Investing in a new piece of imaging equipment is an exciting opportunity for equine practice, but deciding which one can be daunting. Below are the main considerations when choosing an equine X-ray system:
An Everyday Equine Essential
A radiography system is seen as an everyday essential for most equine vets these days, whether it be to help with diagnosis and management of trauma, laminitis, lameness, farriery, or as part of a pre purchase examination. Equine radiography systems are a large investment for any veterinary practice and it can be overwhelming to decide which system is best for your practice. Your investment is for the future, not just now, and buying old technology now may not be the system you still need in 5 years time.
In this article Alan Barringer talks through some key points to consider when choosing an X-ray system for your equine practice, to ensure that you find the right solution for your team.
Basic needs
- Diagnostic images!
- Is it fit for purpose?
- How can it help your work processes?
- Can it improve your time efficiency?
- How does the image management help your work?
- Will the technology keep pace with your changing environment (is it future proof)?
The key elements of all X-ray setups are; a generator to produce radiation, a receptor that detects the radiation (imaging cassette or plate), and a processor which will display the resultant image on a screen (computer or tablet). Most practices have moved on from CR – with plates that have to be put through a processor – to wireless DR – where the plate connects wirelessly with the display. In this article, we will focus on Generators and wireless DR.
Generators
Firstly, it is important to clarify that, whereas in the past the generator and processor/plate may have been linked, this is not the case with modern systems and so the choice of generator is distinct from the choice of DR system and there does not need to be a “compatibility” between the two. So long as the generator produces appropriate radiation, the DR plate can receive it to form an image. The Generator choice will have an impact on the quality of images you are able to produce. Generally ambulatory equine practice use battery powered generators, however, these portable generators are lower powered which can limit the range of clinical applications. Something like a 90kV/20mA generator is good for distal limbs, but for good neck, back and stifle x-rays, a more powerful unit is required.
Things to consider when choosing a battery powered Generator are:
- Personal safety – lighter weight, generally means less lead shielding!
- Battery Life – How long between required charges and how does this suit your way of working? If the generator has run out of charge, can it still be used with the charger plugged in to complete the study?
- Robustness – Is it strong enough for the task? Particular areas that can be problematic are the connection point for the trigger, the trigger cable, and the power input point.
It is very important to make sure you have a generator stand (or purchase on with your new equipment) as this is now an HSE requirement when using a mobile generator.
DR Plates and Processors
A modern DR system includes a battery powered wireless digital plate and a computer, with software to interpret the data and display an image. DR Plates have come a long way in the last few years and are all generally good at what they do, so a more important factor is the software that interprets the image! This will often have a larger impact on image quality! The computer can be a laptop style or a tablet, which is down to personal preference, but it must have a bright screen so that images can be seen well in light conditions. A battery life that suits your work processes is also desirable – batteries have come a long way in recent times and a good laptop can run for a whole day without need for recharge. It also has to be robust enough to cope with being used in stables.
Here are some important factors when choosing a DR System:
- Plate size – generally a 10”x12” plate is the best choice for limb x-rays, but a 14”x17” plate can be a good compromise for practices wanting to use the same system for equine and small animal work, and if you are doing more backs, necks and stifles, or Dental work ups.
- Glass free plates – These are an innovation using newer technology. They are potentially lighter and more robust, but are also more expensive. Image quality remains very good. It is worth noting that broken glass in a DR plate is normally associated with the plate being kicked and there is no suggestion that a glass free plate would be less damaged in that circumstance.
- Image density – this is measured with a few different parameters – for example, pixel pitch, special resolution, pixel matrix and greyscale. However, the software will have a bigger impact of the image you see, so choose a system that gives good images and there is a degree of personal preference that underpins that. Find out if the software can be adapted to suit the focal distance you use, the amount of soft tissue you like to see and the labeling that you want to have? At IMV Imaging we spend time with every new x-ray system purchase to adapt the settings so you get the image how you like to see it and with the labels you want on images.
- Ease of Use – Any X-ray system needs to be intuitive and easy to use for everyone, with a sensible work process – It is likely that the system will be used by more than one technician. One advancement that has recently become available, is the ability to view studies on a remote device through the capture process. This then acts as a remote control and can be attached by magnets to the generator. It will show the X-ray as it appears on the PC and you can check images are diagnostic, add views, reject images, or retake a view, all without having to go to the laptop. The laptop can then be positioned at a safer distance from the horse and still speed up your routines.
- Battery life – In practical terms, this can have a big impact on useability! Older technology may have batteries that need to be changed and recharged in the course of your day, adding a layer of complexity to the process. Newer battery technology systems can work for 6-8 hours from a single charge, going the whole working day without the hassle of finding a charging point or restarting the system to change batteries!
- Managing and storing images – Once a study is completed, how are the images saved? Just to the laptop, or are they backed up to a cloud? Some systems allow you to share studies straight form the acquisition device via email, which can be a time saver and improve work process. If there is cloud storage, what is the process for storing those images? For example, the Connect DR has a bult in SIM card and can send studies automatically to cloud storage even while you are still in the stables! This allows these studies to be immediately viewed remotely if desired. You can even get the studies up on a mobile app (for smart phone or tablet) and you can add video clips from your phone to the study. This allows you to keep a record of trotting up with the x-rays, take photos of a wound or oedema, and pair them with the x-rays for context.
We can help…
There are many things to consider when choosing an equine X-ray system for your practice and it can be difficult to know where to start. One of our Account Managers will always be happy to help you navigate the process and find the right solution for you and you team.
