Oct 02
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How Does Veterinary Ultrasound Work?

By Ultrasound

4 FAQs answered about This Fast-Growing Modality

Ultrasound is the second most popular imaging modality in veterinary medicine. Multiple clinical studies have proven that ultrasonography has clear advantages over radiography when diagnosing abdominal organ pathology, non-abdominal soft-tissue conditions, fluid build-up, heart disease, and countless others. Ultrasound is also used in non-diagnostic applications such as safely guiding needles for cystocentesis and cytology and tissue samples.

The following FAQs will introduce you to the basics of ultrasound and how it can be useful when training new nurses and clinicians:

1. How does Ultrasound work?
2. Why Are There Different Types of Transducers (Probes)?
3. When Does an Animal Need an Ultrasound?
4. Why Do Animals Have to Be Shaved Before Ultrasound?

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Sep 26
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6 Features to Look for in Veterinary Ultrasound Equipment

By Ultrasound

Ultrasound is the second most popular veterinary imaging modality. It offers clear benefits over radiography in certain diagnostic applications, and recent advancements in ultrasound technology are helping DVMs deliver earlier and more accurate diagnoses.

With so many ultrasound systems available, it is easy to feel overwhelmed when comparing the options. As with most veterinary modalities, the two basic, primary factors that should guide your purchase decision are your budget and your specific needs.

The top 6 features to look for in a veterinary ultrasound equipment are:

• Image resolution
• Image optimization software
• Ease-of-use/ergonomics
• On-board reporting system,
• Needle guidance features
• Specialized applications.

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Sep 14
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Veterinary Digital Radiography Systems Cost

How Much Do Today’s Veterinary DR Systems Cost?

By Digital Radiography

Let’s face it, everyone wants to jump right to the question of how much todays’ Digital Radiography (DR) systems cost. And most people want the answer quickly. Well here it is: somewhere between $25K and $50K. But that’s a big spread. So let’s re-focus the question where it should be: what are the things about a DR configuration that add cost to the system, and which of these things actually add value (vs. just perceived value):

• X-ray Scintillator Material
• Panel Manufacturer
• Image Processing
• Software
• Warranty and Support

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Sep 08
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5 Advantages of Digital Radiography Every DVM Needs to Know

By Digital Radiography

Digital radiography is a key development in diagnostic imaging that can help improve patient care, support better patient outcomes, expand consultation capabilities, and enhance client interaction. It has become the gold standard in the veterinary industry for over 15 years. It started as a very costly (>$100K) investment when first launched, but as it has become more mainstream, the modality has become more affordable.

Here are the principal advantages over film-based radiography:

• Image Quality
• Cost Savings
• Ease-of-Use
• Fewer Retakes
• Decreased Radiation Exposure

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Aug 22
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The In’s and Out’s of X-Ray Technique and Radiation Dose in the Digital World

By Digital Radiography

Every Digital Radiography (DR) company provides a technique chart with their panels. These x-ray prescriptions have evolved over time from the days of film and as DR panels have evolved to be more sensitive. Most likely, the DR company has spent a good bit of time testing and optimizing these techniques to provide the best image quality for their panels. But what ARE these knobs (kVp and mAs) and what do they DO to your image quality for a variety of species and sized patients? And what are the implications on patient dose, personnel dose, and panel dose?

• X-rays, and How They Are Produced
• Turning the Knobs: kVp and mAs
• Dose to Patients and Staff
• DR Panel Sensitivity

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Aug 08
Love1

What to Look for in a Veterinary DR System: The Top 8 Questions to Ask

By Digital Radiography

No veterinarian wants to spend $60,000 or more on a digital radiography (DR) system just to find out later that they overpaid for underperformance. In the same vein, you wouldn’t want to purchase a system for $15,000 or $20,000 only to discover that it uses outdated technology and will need to be replaced in three to five years.

The secret to getting the most value and highest returns from your DR system is to view the purchase as a long-term investment. Don’t assume that if it works the first year, it will work in the third or fourth year. What you need to look for is product quality and image quality.

Below are a few questions you should ask when evaluating a veterinary DR system:

• Can I See a Live Demo of the DR Unit on a Very Small Animal and a Large Animal?
• Can You Put Me in Touch with Veterinarians Who Use This DR System?
• How Much Training Is Required? Can a New Tech Learn How to Use the DR Quickly?
• How Long Has the Distributor Been Working with the Plate Manufacturer?
• How Easy Is It to Share the X-Rays with Radiologists?
• How Easy Is It to Share the X-Rays with Clients?
• Who Manufactured the Panel?
• Are the Scintillators Made of Cesium or Gadox?

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Jul 31
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gads vs cesium

The Scintillator Question: Gadox vs Cesium

By Digital Radiography

With the steadily increasing number of flat panel digital x-ray detector suppliers in the veterinary space, a lot of the “tech” talk is being watered down into “sales” talk and the true differences in technology are being skewed. With that in mind, this article is dedicated to deciphering one of the principal distinctions in flat panel hardware: scintillator materials. Here we will discuss the details of:

• X-ray absorption
• Implications in radiation dose
• Manufacturing
• Cost

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Jul 10
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DR Flat Panels – Which Side is Up?

By Digital Radiography

Within the subset of indirect DR systems there has been a very recent split in fundamental architecture. Fujifilm has brought a major change to the market with their Irradiation-Side Sampling (ISS) architecture. Here we will discuss the fundamental differences as it pertains to:

• Scintillator Placement
• X-Ray Absorption Location
• Artifacts
• Hardware vs. Software

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Jun 18
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Common Problems with Veterinary Digital Radiography Systems and How to Avoid Them

By Digital Radiography

As one of your practice’s most expensive capital investments, your digital radiography (DR) unit should be a consistent source of revenue long after you’ve made the purchase. But there are a many factors to consider when buying a DR system, and overlooking just one of them could wipe out your return on investment, not to mention negatively affect your patient care.

You may already know that the detector panel is the most expensive component of a DR system, and a low-quality panel may produce distorted images and be unreliable. But beyond the panel, the potential day-to-day pitfalls present the highest risk to impeding daily workflow. The most common problems with DR relate to:

• Technical Support
• Compatibility with existing practice management software
• Ease of Use
• Inconsistencies across patients of various species and size
• Automatic Updates

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