This report originally appeared in the January 2010 issue of DOTmed Business News.

Radiology departments are doing their best to keep down costs and an influx of X-ray tube choices and image intensifier (II) upgrades has made that a little easier over the last year or two.

"The Diagnostic Imaging industry is in the middle of a revolutionary change, as digital imaging becomes the standard on radiology and fluoroscopy systems," says David Hurlock, International Marketing Manager for Varian Medical Systems. "Diagnostic Imaging is where photography was 10 years ago, with the transition from analog imaging to digital imaging gaining speed. Image intensifiers, film, and CR are being replaced by flat panel digital detectors."
Today, hospitals have more tube choices than they did just a few years ago, and many healthcare professionals are not giving in to the belief that they must switch from image intensifiers to flat panel technology right away.

Looking at both segments of the imaging industry, the companies that are successful are those that are helping to maximize equipment life and provide lower cost solutions in replacing or installing X-ray tubes.


"Driving down diagnostic imaging costs per procedure is the most important challenge facing the industry today," Hurlock says. "Equipment costs have to be justified by lowering the cost of individual examinations. A large capital cost can be justified, as long as it lowers the per patient procedure cost."

X-ray tubes are often the most expensive consumable in a hospital. Varian's line of compatible replacement X-ray tubes lowers that consumable cost, and ultimately the cost per procedure.

"Digital imaging will lower the per-patient cost of diagnostic imaging," Hurlock says. "However the differences between digital and film X-ray imaging require new ways of working: for the facility and patient flows, for the design of the equipment, and also for the X-ray tube."

While 2009 was a down year for general X-ray tubes, CT tubes stayed steady and were on the rise when you look at the numbers globally. GE has been the leader in manufacturing X-ray tubes, but Dunlee and Varian Medical Systems continue to grow and are taking over a larger percentage of the industry. Third-party sellers are seeing mixed results in these segments.

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