"The industry is transitioning from analog to digital and everyone wants to get rid of film because of chemicals and you have to walk around with the cassettes more. When you work digitally, you can speed up the process of getting images read and make the diagnoses quicker," says Herbert Westin, Siemens' senior director of surgery and urology. "Our portable digital system is very small and compact, and because the weight is very low, you don't need to use special elevators and it's easy to move."

That's important, Westin says, because the portable X-ray systems can be used in an emergency situation, such as a hurricane, earthquake or flood, where people can't get to hospitals.


"When Hurricane Katrina happened, there was a need for emergency care, and many of the hospitals didn't have power, so you could bring in portable solutions for X-rays, such as the Mobilett XP Digital, which you could use with a generator to charge the batteries," he says. "You also don't have any issues with cables, so when it comes to positioning or cleaning, they won't get in the way."

Bill Lammers, director of radiology for Citizens Memorial Hospital in Bolivar, Mo., has spent the last year using Siemens' Mobilett XP digital.

"It's the best portable ever," Lammers says. "You go over and take your image and within 12 seconds you have your image in front of you. If you are doing trauma, you don't leave the room. I cannot tell you how much time it saves. Is it more expensive? Sure, but it's definitely worth it."

His one complaint? "I wish it had the same swivel tube stand as GE's AMX. But I would rather have this with the DR, than to not have it; we will never go back."

If one was to manufacture a patchwork portable X-ray unit that would be ideal, Ralph Frizzle, president of Largo, Fla.-based German Electronics, believes he knows the makeup of that perfect system.

"Develop a portable that is light, can roll easily on carpet, withstand banging into the elevator walls, does not use batteries, has a small tube head, flexible control arm, folds up for storage, and uses an infrared remote control console," he says. "These features exist individually in different makes and models but not all in any one model."

Changing with the times

Philips Healthcare currently offers the Practix Convenio battery powered portable X-ray system from the Practix family, which also includes the Practix 400, 300 and 160 models. Each system is compact and can take X-rays into some very small places. The Practix Convenio is cable-free and can run for several hours on a single battery.

Philips is in the midst of transforming its portable X-ray offerings from analog to digital, and expects to continue being one of the major players in the sector for years to come.

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