Mobile Digital Radiography
Battery-powered wheeled X-ray carts with collimated tube + wireless flat-panel detector. Brings radiography to the patient — ICU, NICU, ED, OR, isolation rooms. The ubiquitous "bedside X-ray" in hospital inpatient care.
Why mobile DR exists
Transporting critically ill patients to a fixed DR room is risky + time-consuming. Mobile DR lets the exam come to the patient. ICU chest X-rays, NICU (neonatal) imaging, ED trauma supplementation, OR intraoperative verification — all depend on mobile DR fleet availability.
Modern mobile DR architecture
- Battery-powered motorized drive — modern units drive to the patient under joystick / trigger control, not pushed manually
- Tilting column — extends and tilts to clear bedside equipment (IV poles, monitors, vents)
- Wireless flat-panel detector — slides under the patient; image back to the cart or PACS via Wi-Fi in seconds
- Battery runtime — 60+ exposures per charge typical
- Weight — ~1,200–1,400 lb (550–650 kg) loaded
Key specs
- Tube power — 30–40 kW typical (vs fixed DR's 50–80 kW — battery limits practical power)
- Max kVp — 120–150 kVp
- Detector — wireless, usually cross-compatible with the fleet's fixed DR rooms (panel sharing is a meaningful operational benefit)
- Column + arm reach — engineering varies by manufacturer
- DICOM + Wi-Fi — image upload to PACS in real time
Clinical use patterns
- ICU chest X-ray — daily for ventilated patients
- NICU — neonatal chest + abdomen
- OR intraoperative — supplemental imaging when fluoro isn't needed
- ED bedside — trauma bays, resuscitation areas
- Bariatric / immobile patients — too large or too unstable for transport
- Isolation — dedicated unit + strict decon protocols
Systems
- GE Optima XR220amx
- Siemens Mobilett Mira
- Philips MobileDiagnost wDR
- Canon Medical Ultimax-i
- Carestream DRX-Revolution + DRX-Revolution Nano
- Fujifilm FDR Go PLUS
Service reality
- Battery degradation — lithium packs weaken over 3–5 years; plan replacement
- Wheel / drive motor wear — mobile use + floor-level abuse
- Tube bearing — same as fixed DR; duty cycle typically lower
- Wi-Fi reliability — hospital RF environment can frustrate image transfer
- Decon cycling — cleaning chemicals accelerate plastic + paint wear
Regulatory
Same as fixed DR — state radiation registration, physicist survey. Mobile unit operator safety + bystander dose is a real consideration (lead aprons for staff within scatter zone).