X-rays have been around since the late 19th Century, but have historically been cumbersome, expensive and not without their hazards. The modern, 21st-Century portable digital x-ray machine addresses many of these issues – and costs much less than you might expect.
A Brief History of Portable X-Ray Equipment
As you probably know, the first medical X-ray machine was invented by the German scientist William Roentgen in 1895. What may surprise you is that the first portable x-ray system was an American innovation that was developed less than a quarter-century later, in 1919. Fredrick Jones was not a medical scientist, but a mechanical engineer who reportedly overheard a doctor who said he wished he had such a device. Unfortunately for Jones – but happily for the medical profession – he failed to patent the invention, which allowed others to build on Jones' work and create their own portable x-ray machines.
Portable X-Ray Machines Today
The drawback of early portable x-ray equipment was that it shared the shame danger of radiation exposure as the non-portable x-ray system, and also required the same toxic chemicals and inconvenient darkroom facilities as stationary x-ray machines. They were also rather heavy.
Today's portable digital x-ray machine can take advantage of the latest innovations in medical imaging technology – which as you know, has not only shrunk in physical size, but in cost as well – while providing more capabilities and versatility than ever. Digital technology means that modern portable x-ray machines require no film and no developing. Instead, these images are saved in a format that is fully compatible with the latest DICOM protocols. Images taken with a portable digital x-ray machine can easily be transferred to any PC equipped with DICOM software and stored, e-mailed, archived and/or enchanced.
In addition, most portable x-ray equipment today weighs in at no more than 90 pounds – making transport much easier.
Leading Names In The Industry
At Dicom Solutions, we carry
portable digital x-ray machine from the most reputable manufacturers in the business. Min-Xray has been building portable x-ray equipment for over forty years; their units have an excellent history of reliability. Source Ray is a company that builds a range of digital imaging equipment, bringing valuable experience into the development of
portable xray equipment.
When your clinic or private practice decides that it can benefit from the economy and versatility of a
portable xray system, Dicom Solutions will be there to offer a choice of quality portable x-ray machines that can best fit your needs.
