HCB News: Dunlee is exiting the replacement CT tube market. What does their departure mean for Chronos?
PF: Chronos Imaging intends to continue to provide leadership in this space with a continuous stream of new replacement products. We are strong supporters of the Right to Service movement and have played a key role in enabling cost effective third-party CT service from the very beginning.

OEMs deliberately price their own replacement tubes sky high to drive customers toward OEM service contracts. It’s not practical for a third party to service a CT system for $75,000 per year when the OEM replacement tubes cost $250,000 each.
Chronos today has an unprecedented portfolio of new products under development. The next few years are going to be quite exciting. Independent service organizations and healthcare providers under pressure to reduce the cost of healthcare are partnering with Chronos to bring these new products to life, and in some cases are even making investments to help support their development. People in the know understand that new Chronos products are essential to enabling alternative service and keeping the market healthy.

HCB News: What should Dunlee's replacement tube customers know about this?
PF: I spoke to one customer recently here in the U.S. that thought Dunlee’s exit meant they wouldn’t be honoring their warranties. Not true. For the last two years, Dunlee has primarily sold the Chronos AU series replacement CT tubes. Customers began to insist on the Chronos brand tubes because of all the product improvements we were introducing.

ISOs can come directly to Chronos for technical and warranty service on these products. Customers should know that all of our products are fully compatible with OEM CT system requirements, including dose equivalence.

Chronos also has 24/7 technical and customer support. If one of our partners is having a problem installing a tube at 2 a.m., Chronos is right there with them, helping to troubleshoot the issue and get the site back up and running before morning patients begin to arrive.

On our own and through our partners, Chronos has forward-stocking of tubes across the U.S., Europe and Asia. Chronos is one of only 1 or 2% of all medical device manufacturers globally that have made the full transition to MDR in Europe, and we also have full NMPA registration of our products in China. Chronos tubes are made right here in America in Aurora, Illinois by experts who know their business.

HCB News: What should CT stakeholders know about Chronos and how it sees itself impacting the marketplace going forward?

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