Details
Here in this tutorial, we are contrasting fixed and mobile x-ray machines and helping you choose the optimal one well developed to fulfill your medical need and purchasing good ones from Star Nuke, India's quality AERB-approved x-ray machine manufacturer.
Portable X-ray machines
They are small, lightweight diagnostic imaging devices that are merely portable from place to place. They are employed wherever patient mobility is constrained or radiography must be done in a setup where mobility of a fixed location cannot be implemented—i.e., home care, emergency, rural health camps, ICUs, or field camps of the military.
Two of them are the Star Nuke MIN-X PRO, low-weight, low-cost-technology hand-held X-ray machine and Indian made. The machine is just 2.kg in weight and can be applied in field clinics and point-of-care diagnostics. MIN-X PRO has also been equipped with digital radiography (DR) technology, where there is direct acquisition of imaging and stored in network-compatible machines, thus time-efficient in the diagnosis and satisfaction enhanced among the patients.
It is battery-powered and requires little if any setup to run. It doesn't require the use of an X-ray room and is best suited for low volume to mid-volume patients.
Fixed X-ray Machines
Or, fixed X-ray machines have large pieces of equipment mounted in radiology rooms or single diagnosis rooms. Fixed X-ray machines are volume use machines and perform more diversified types of radiographic tests like chest studies, bone studies, spine studies, etc.
Star Nuke HF300 is a perfect example of fixed system overload. 300 mA high-frequency X-ray machine comes with a 20-kW power generator and would therefore be best suited for orthopedic clinics, diagnostic laboratories, and hospitals. Variable exposures and feature-easy-to-use digital display variable exposures and feature-easy-to-use digital display and would therefore be reliable, except for image quality. Ceiling or floor mounting positions it at best possible and convenient mounting in busy clinics, most imaging applications. With periodic maintenance, such equipment would function year in and year out.
Fixed machines have more image and processing capacity than transportable machines. Colossal machines like lead-lined rooms, power supply (UPS) uninterrupted, electrical shielding, and AERB norm standards have to be fitted in fixed machines as a condition precedent to work of the installation being executed.
Both are being installed with one and the same diagnostic imaging purpose, but installation, use, and use of both is day and night.
Mobile X-ray units are used in:
- Bed radiology and intensive care unit
- Off-premises diagnosis and home
- Rural health centers
- Small, infrastructurally constrained clinics
Installed X-ray units work best when installed in:
- Multi-specialty and orthopedic imaging centers
- Installed fixed radiology equipment
- High-usage radiology units
- Huge diagnostic room and hospital sizes as big
- Clinic or multi-site-sized sized process units to accommodate high-end imaging
- Convenience equipment such as the MIN-X PRO, plug-and-go, portable, easy to install, handy. Small space clinic rooms space, or in multi-site scenario, can accommodate. They will probably have immensely smaller imaging capabilities than installed machines.
Fixed devices like the Star Nuke HF300 are best suited to maximum ruggedness and best workflow process but maximum imaging. While expensive in terms of initial capital investment and utilization of infrastructure, they cannot be eliminated in high-imaging required environments.
Technology Consideration: CR vs DR
Technology is one to be kept in mind while selecting any X-ray device—fixed or mobile.
Computed Radiography (CR) is encapsulated in cassettes and image plates and read by scanning. CR units are less expensive but time-consuming, slow, and suitable for cost clinics.
Digital Radiography (DR) is also becoming standard of care by direct and projection-image acquisition using flat-panel detectors. Modalities such as Star Nuke’s MIN-X and HF300 DR can deliver high-resolution, real-time images and directly connect with PACS (Picture Archiving and Communication Systems) for greater diagnostic potential and workflow.
Handheld or fixed machines or whatever, Indian regulations cannot be evaded. All diagnostic X-ray equipment must go through pre-approval of the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) if they are to achieve any success in India. Registration on the Elora portal for all X-ray equipment is required and must have a valid current Type Approval Certificate by AERB.
Star Nuke goes a step further by buying all its X-ray equipment like MIN-X PRO and HF300 AERB-approved and ready for installation at a national level. While buying anything from any supplier, request AERB reports and Elora registration status while taking any supplier decision.
You can verify whose certified your device from: [https://elora.aerb.gov.in](https://elora.aerb.gov.in)
More than the Machine: Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)
X-ray machine price is orders of magnitude the purchase price. Estimate cost of ownership in terms of:
- AERB clearance and compliance fee
- Installation, room preparation, and shielding (particularly fixed equipment)
- Preventive maintenance contract and maintenance
- Battery replacement of portable units
- Integration and software upgrade on PACS
- Training and operations support personnel
Star Nuke also has total mobile and fixed equipment support, i.e., installation, training, maintenance packages, and warranty maintenance. This will lead to long-term reliability and avoid sudden repair cost or downtime.
Which One to Use?
And lastly, what to use one for, i.e., mobile or fixed X-ray unit, is your facility's choice
- If you own a multi-specialty clinic or imaging center with average daily census, high-end imaging needs, and fixed equipment, a fixed system such as the Star Nuke HF300 will pay you more.
- As a mobile clinic, image at home, or must image from department to department, a mobile unit such as the Star Nuke MIN-X PRO saves you tremendous convenience, saves time, and saves money.
And consider how integration works in this case. A majority of the new plants include mobile and fixed units with mixed fixed and flexibility.
Why Star Nuke?
Star Nuke is India's top-selling brand of X-ray machines offering the complete range of AERB-approved hand-held portable and fixed X-ray machines. You require a hand-held portable or a rough radiography unit - Star Nuke offers both to deliver to you the best-class technology, security-approved functionality, and world-class post-sales service as well.
- MIN-X PRO Handheld Portable X-ray Machine: (https://starnuke.net/product/Handheld%20X-Ray%20MIN-X%20PRO)
- HF300 Fixed 300 mA X-ray Machine: (https://starnuke.net/product/300-mA-Fixed-X-Ray-Machine-STARNUKE-HF300-20-KW-High-Frequency)
Final Thoughts
In deciding between a fixed and mobile X-ray machine, don't do it by brand names or prices—do it by performance, use, compliance, and cost of ownership. Denying the appropriate machine today ensures better diagnosis, enhanced workflows, and better patient care tomorrow.
Superior equipment, round-the-clock installation support, and guidance from experts—for all of this and more, Star Nuke is your X-ray one-stop shop.