JPI frequently receives questions regarding upgrade to a digital x-ray system. Of course, it’s natural to want to know if you’ll be able to use some of your existing system. We think this is a great question, although there is no simple “yes” or “no” answer. For the most part, most x-ray systems currently in use today will be suitable to use with most digital x-ray upgrades available in the market. There are, however, some things to consider.

We’ve heard a lot of clinics say that they likely need a high-frequency x-ray system in order to upgrade to digital imaging. In general, this is not true. While having a high-frequency x-ray system comes with many benefits to various types of clinics and their patients, it is not a necessity for use with digital upgrades. For example, if your the clinic has a standard frequency x-ray system that’s in good working condition and properly calibrated, it should work sufficiently for an upgrade.

Some standard frequency x-ray systems currently being used in clinics across the country are very old and are no longer being produced. In some cases, parts for these systems are simply no longer available. In this instance, it may be a good idea to factor an x-ray upgrade into the purchase of your digital x-ray system.

Another statement we commonly hear is that, “Upgrading to digital x-ray usually means you will be taking more x-rays than ever. The upgrade to digital and the noted additional usage could result in old x-ray parts wearing out faster. This can result in the need to purchase a new x-ray system only a short time after making the upgrade to digital. In such a case, the clinic should consider upgrading now and making all the changes at once. Changing from an old standard frequency system to a new x-ray generator will require some retraining and changes in your x-ray techniques. If necessary, it can be easiest to have your office and techs complete this type of training along with learning about your new digital x-ray detector.

Most upgrades to a digital x-ray system today are advanced enough to capture x-ray regardless of the source. However, there are always exceptions. For example, a low-quality digital system paired with a very old standard frequency x-ray system could result in “lost” images (exposures taken that do not produce an image. This is due to the output of x-rays per second being so low that the detector does not realize that you’ve taken an x-ray. This often occurs in exams of the spine, which already require a longer exposure.

Older standard frequency x-rays are also more likely to give poor image quality below the acceptable diagnostic quality accepted by radiologists. This can be due to the inconsistency in the actual output of the machine or due to the long exposure times increase patient movement and image noise. Keep in mind that the quality of your x-ray image is a direct result of the quality of equipment being used to produce them.