Sam Pilkington, a radiographer, declares that portable X-ray machines are capable of determining life or death.
In most cases, X-rays are done at a hospital for those of us who need them. However, according to Ms Pilkington, portable machines are very beneficial for those who are critically ill or for infection control.
The final-year student from the University of the West of England in Bristol and a member of the Institute of Physics states that this is due to the fact that the burden of transportation from the patients is removed. The X-ray devices, in contrast, are brought to them.
Benefits of being in remote locations, such as on a battlefield, roadside, or in a disaster zone, are evident.
Thanks to increased access to and proficiency in using portable systems, their usage is surging. With the coronavirus exacerbating this growth, the worldwide portable X-ray sector was reportedly worth $7.1bn in 2020. This figure is projected to go up to $14bn by 2028.
Essentially, there are two types of portable X-ray machines - those on wheels are often referred to as "mobile" whereas the lightest models that can be carried by one person are known as "ultraportable".
The Orkney Islands in Scotland has acted as a trial site for ultraportable X-ray equipment. Before the scheduled trial, which is to take place between November 2021 and January 2022, a remarkable 73% of those who had been booked in for an X-ray were absent; this was largely due to the financial and temporal burden of travelling to hospitals situated in far-flung places.
At the trial, a handheld device put together by Japanese company Fujifilm was brought to regional medical facilities. This creation was known as the Fujifilm Xair and had a weight of a mere 3.5kg, a width of 301mm (12 inches) and a height of 144mm.
Thanks to its implementation, the non-attendance rate for X-rays appointments dropped to zero.
One patient expressed that the subsequent report was hugely beneficial to people on the small islands, as it would cause much less disruption for those patients who are more fragile.
OR Technology, a German company, has had much success with their portable X-ray machines. The Chief Commercial Officer, Tim Thrun, says that there is high demand in emerging markets due to the need for healthcare accessibility. “We’re seeing a lot of enthusiasm for bringing healthcare to the general populace,” he reported.
Portable X-ray systems in the Philippines, Nigeria, and other nations in the developing world are revolutionizing the screening process for Tuberculosis (TB). It is a regrettable fact that 1.3 million people annually succumb to a disease which can be both prevented and cured.
Suvanand Sahu, the deputy executive director of the Stop TB Partnership, states that it is widely known that a chest X-ray is the most effective screening method for tuberculosis. This organization, based in Switzerland, is made up of more than 1,500 government and non-government organizations from all over the world.
He explains that historically, access to X-rays was limited due to a deficit of hospitals, especially in rural regions and among nomadic, remote, and displaced individuals.
According to Dr Sahu, portable X-ray machines equipped with AI-powered software quickly process images, allowing detection to be accomplished in the field.
If we had said a decade ago that it was possible to do X-rays in a community setting and have a computer interpret them, it would have caused quite a stir. Nonetheless, this has now become a reality.
Dr Sahu mentions that AI has enabled a "huge" increase in the accuracy and speed of interpreting X-rays.
Despite this, some are apprehensive about the potential radiation exposure from portable X-ray machines. These devices emit a targeted burst of radiation in a manner similar to the bulky, stationary X-ray machines found in medical establishments.
In hospitals, x-ray rooms are engineered in such a way as to reduce the amount of radiation released into the environment, including the inclusion of lead walls.
According to Mr Thurn, the lack of shielding in portable systems is remedied by the amount of space in which they are utilized, either outside or in a makeshift medical facility. He emphasizes that healthcare personnel can remain at a greater distance in such settings.
Nonetheless, Zhi Zhen Qin, a digital health specialist at the Stop TB Partnership, claims that the current international regulations on radiation security must be made clearer, as they have been crafted mainly with stationary X-ray machines in mind.
Ms. Pilkington states that portable X-ray machines are now of equal diagnostic value as fixed units; the images they produce are of equivalent quality.
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Despite this, there are limits to how small the parts of an X-ray system can become. When an X-ray detector is not big enough to take a single image of a body part, it could be necessary to make multiple exposures – this would lead to extended time requirements and greater radiation levels.
Units with a limited battery life or restricted data storage decrease the number of patients that can be scanned in one session.
Some systems that are described as portable are not exactly light in weight or convenient to move, especially if they require other devices such as a stand or computer device for them to operate.
The Australian company Micro-X has developed a technology for generating X-rays without heat, enabling them to create ultraportable x-ray machines that are significantly lighter than previous models. This innovative system eliminates the need for oil and motors for cooling, which are a major source of the weight.
The cost of portable X-ray machines is quite high. Although they are cheaper than larger, stationary machines, they are still pricey.
The Stop TB Partnership has declared that ultraportable machines may be priced between $47,000 and $66,000, with extra fees for warranties, installation and software.
Dr Suvanand expresses optimism that as additional producers enter the market, the competition may lead to price decreases.
Ultimately, he aims for broadly accessible modern, digital, ultra-portable X-rays with AI capability for all those in need of an X-ray.
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