What a CR machine does

CR stands for computed radiography. Instead of film, the X-ray falls on a reusable imaging plate sitting in a cassette that looks like a film cassette. The plate stores the image. The CR reader scans the plate with a laser, sends the image to a computer, then erases the plate so it can be used again. The doctor looks at the image on a monitor, and it can be saved, printed or shared.

The big saving is in the day-to-day running. No film, no chemicals, no darkroom, and no film that gets lost or fades.

About the CR 10-X

Agfa launched the CR 10-X in 2012 as an affordable, compact CR reader. A few facts worth knowing:

• It scans at about 100 microns, which Agfa quotes as 10 pixels per millimetre.
• Agfa quotes a throughput of about 34 plates an hour. Actual speed depends on plate size.
• It reads 35 × 43 cm (14 × 17 inch) plates, and 24 × 30 cm (10 × 12 inch) plates with an adaptor.
• It works with Agfa’s NX workstation and MUSICA image processing software, and it is DICOM-compatible, so images can go to a PACS or print on a compatible imager.
• It is not meant for mammography.

Who it suits

It works as a table top CR digitizer in a small X-ray room, and it is a sensible CR reader for small hospitals, clinics and diagnostic centres that take a modest number of X-rays a day. At roughly 34 plates an hour it is not built for a busy trauma department or a large hospital doing hundreds of X-rays daily. If your workload is higher, a faster reader or a DR system will serve you better. We would rather tell you this now than after you buy.

What else you need

A CR reader does not make X-rays. You still need:

• A working X-ray machine and room with the correct AERB licence
• Imaging plates and cassettes in the sizes you use
• The workstation, which comes with the system or needs to be added
• Optionally, a printer or a PACS if you want film printouts or central storage

Price: what to compare

People searching for computed radiography system price in India will see a wide range. New systems from major brands are commonly listed around ₹9–10 lakh. Refurbished machines cost less. The price depends on whether the unit is new or refurbished, what is included (workstation, monitor, plates), and the warranty and service. Always compare condition, contents and service before comparing price.

Before you buy any CR machine

Ask the seller:

• Is it new or refurbished, and how old are the plates?
• What exactly is in the box?
• Who installs it, and who services it?
• What is the warranty, and are spare plates easy to get?
• Is a licence needed for my X-ray room, and do you help with it?

If you want to buy AGFA CR 10-X online India, send us a message first and we will confirm the condition, accessories and warranty before you place the order.

Looking after it

Keep the reader clean and dust-free, and in a cool, dry room. Handle imaging plates carefully. Scratches show up on images. Wipe cassettes gently and never use harsh solvents. Plates wear out with use and age, so keep a spare set.