If you’ve ever had a parts suppliers offer you a refurbished X-Ray tube for your CT, rad room, or any other X-Ray modality, we hope they misspoke. Because the idea of a refurbished X-Ray tube does not make any sense.
There are three categories an X-Ray tube will fall under, and their price, warranty, and projected lifespan will vary.
What is a refurbished tube?
A CT tube (or X-ray tube) that is not brand new can only fall into one of three categories: used, reprocessed, or reloaded. Depending on the work done, each category has its own trade-off of cost for its projected lifespan.
Three Types of X-Ray Tubes
Used Tube
Used tubes are exactly what the name says – tubes that have been in use on a system scanning patients and have been removed to be resold.
Used tubes will be the least expensive option and may come with a warranty for future performance. The coverage period is likely to be shorter than warranties on the other two categories of tubes we'll discuss next.
Reprocessed Tube:
Reprocessed tubes have been taken out of use, drained of their oil, and refilled with fresh oil. After refilling a vacuum device is used to remove air bubbles that might cause electrical arcing in the tube.
The tube insert is left alone during this process. This process, if done correctly, could add 20-50% more life to the tube than it would otherwise have. This extra longevity commands a higher price and puts reprocessed tubes in the middle of the used tube range. Some sellers will offer limited warranties on reprocessed tubes.
Reloaded Tube:
A reloaded tube has its entire insert replaced with a new one and is processed with new oil. For all intents and purposes, you can consider this to be a new tube and expect it to offer the most longevity of any tube that is not brand-new. A reloaded tube will cost more than a used or reprocessed tube but it will last the longest and is generally sold with a warranty similar to one that comes with a new tube.
Three Questions to Ask Before You Purchase
1.Has the oil been replaced recently?
2.Is the insert new or original?
3.When was the tube last in use on a system?
There are three categories an X-Ray tube will fall under, and their price, warranty, and projected lifespan will vary.
What is a refurbished tube?
A CT tube (or X-ray tube) that is not brand new can only fall into one of three categories: used, reprocessed, or reloaded. Depending on the work done, each category has its own trade-off of cost for its projected lifespan.
Three Types of X-Ray Tubes
Used Tube
Used tubes are exactly what the name says – tubes that have been in use on a system scanning patients and have been removed to be resold.
Used tubes will be the least expensive option and may come with a warranty for future performance. The coverage period is likely to be shorter than warranties on the other two categories of tubes we'll discuss next.
Reprocessed Tube:
Reprocessed tubes have been taken out of use, drained of their oil, and refilled with fresh oil. After refilling a vacuum device is used to remove air bubbles that might cause electrical arcing in the tube.
The tube insert is left alone during this process. This process, if done correctly, could add 20-50% more life to the tube than it would otherwise have. This extra longevity commands a higher price and puts reprocessed tubes in the middle of the used tube range. Some sellers will offer limited warranties on reprocessed tubes.
Reloaded Tube:
A reloaded tube has its entire insert replaced with a new one and is processed with new oil. For all intents and purposes, you can consider this to be a new tube and expect it to offer the most longevity of any tube that is not brand-new. A reloaded tube will cost more than a used or reprocessed tube but it will last the longest and is generally sold with a warranty similar to one that comes with a new tube.
Three Questions to Ask Before You Purchase
1.Has the oil been replaced recently?
2.Is the insert new or original?
3.When was the tube last in use on a system?
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