Philips Medical Systems has introduced at ECR a motorized radiography system featuring battery technology that promises all-day scanning without recharging.

The advanced battery design frees the operator from the power cord that can hamstring a mobile radiography system, especially in tight quarters.

"In the ICU or trauma, where you have equipment and cables all around the patient, it is necessary to disturb the patient as little as possible," said Annette Eckhardt, Ph.D., international senior product manager for Philips conventional radiography. "You don't want to be looking for a socket."

With the commercial launch of Practix Convenio at the Vienna meeting, Philips plans to begin installing units over the next few months at selected customer sites. Full production is expected to begin by the end of summer.

The film-based system doubles as a platform for Philips' computed radiography offerings. Multiple-size CR cassettes provide greater flexibility than a single-size digital detector in matching the body part to the image, Eckhardt said. CR plates do not require cabling to the unit, as do digital detectors, and they present less risk of costly mistakes.

"This CR cassette can be easily managed with one hand. If it falls down and breaks, it is not so expensive as a digital detector," she said.

The motorized carriage allows radiographers to move the system at the touch of a button. A telescoping arm allows easy placement of the x-ray tube over the patient.