EBME Forums Forums Maintenance Spare Parts X-Ray Tubes

The major X-Ray companies are keeping the cost of X-Ray Tubes artificially too high, almost double the price that we can obtail the same spec tubes from USA.
Can we join forces with other hospitals to see if we can bring in some sort of competition so that we can get the X-Ray tubes half price.

We would certainly be interested in getting involved (via our Supplies Dept.) as we had two tubes go within a few weeks of each other towards the end of last year - which blew the Radiology maintenance budget right out of the water !
If we were to buy them from the USA (for instance) - who would fit them and re-calibrate the unit ?

I also sent an e-mail to Department of Health to raise their awareness. I am hoping the government to force the major X-Ray companies to open to competition where they will be forced to fit third party tubes.

Regards
Sidki

I think that getting value for money is an excellent idea, as long we can be certain the products are of the same quality and meet the european standards.

As far as fitting of tubes, I was speaking to Caroline Finlay at Kings today and she mentioned a 3rd party maintenance supplier, they could probably fit the tube. (can't remember their name, but I'm sure there is more than one)

About 6 years ago I purchased a tube at £5K (IGE price was double this amount) from Richardson Elecrtonics, a Varial Tube, compatible for IGE X-Ray equipment. IGE engineer fitted without realising it wasn't their tube. Everthing went fine except when the MDA heard about the case, they made a big fuss about it. The tube is still operating. I sometimes wander whether the MDA is on our side or on manufacturer's side.
I know of tube suppliers in USA as well who are very keen to supply us FDA approved tubes at half the cost. The question is how to force the major X-Ray companies to fit it.

Regards

There is EU standard x-ray tube available in UK and less than half the price including more than 1 years warrenty. Contact www.appletechnologies.co.uk / email: parts@appletechnologies.co.uk. They have experienced engineers help you to fit and arrange for QA. Also they are doing x-ray equipment maintenance at competetive prices.

Whats the latest on the availability, purchasing and use of X Ray tubes which are not supplied by the major companies ?

I have started working with NHS procurement specialists now, all manners of insurers risk managers and consultants on alternative to OEM solutions.

Much to the delight of the directorates involved, we have together managed to provide a like for like service in some of the the high end modalities, even some of the latest multi slice CT systems.

Even so, we seem to be struggling I would say with tubes from angio down, but thats just our experience in case studies here and throughout Europe

Working in individual Hospitals now but looking at radiology clustered locations for our NHS, Im still not sure how far we have come ?

Still seems to be major resistance to change, many issues, and although suceeding, its like wading through treacle at times - any of your experiences or comments here would be appreciated

Thanks

Darren

Fitting non OEM tubes is a risky business. I have seen cases where a 3rd party fitted a tube and the equipment experienced nothing but trouble as the spec was not exactly the same.

Most x-ray equipment is under full contract with the manufactures who would react very negatively to the fitting of non OEM parts. To the extent that if an non OEM tube was fitted any subsequent faults, on any part of the system, would not be covered by the contract!

Also who would take the legal responsibility if there were some sort of incident that led to a court case?

Saving a little money in the short term on a 3rd part x-ray tube may cost a lot more in the long term!

If budgeting is an issue then take out suitable tube contract to avoid sudden and large outlays in the event of a tube failing.

It could be argued that the 3rd party tube suppliers are promoting cut-price x-ray tubes to line there own pockets! Remember if the equipment manufactures can't make reasonable profits there will be no products to buy in the future (or a reduced number of suppliers reducing the competition).

All in all, like lots of great ideas for saving money they turn out to cost more in the long run!

Are we saying that the Big Manufacturers all make their own x-ray tubes? I think not.

Perhaps '3rd party' actually means 'original manufacturer'!

As long as the new tube is selected by an x-ray engineer who knows what he is doing ... there should not be a problem. Especially if it can be shown that the tube itself is the same (or equivalent) to that originally fitted by the system manufacturer.

Not just the specifications, the physical characteristics would have to match as well, otherwise how would you bolt it back together?