What Is the Power of Medical X-Ray Diagnostic Equipment?

For a medical X-ray diagnostic device, power (P = kV × mA) is one of the key parameters used to evaluate its performance. It reflects the output capacity of the X-ray source.

The higher the power of the X-ray source, the greater the intensity of X-rays it can generate. This means a higher number of X-ray photons can be emitted per unit of time. Under the same exposure settings, a high-power X-ray source can complete scans more quickly or produce higher-quality images, thereby improving workflow efficiency. In addition, higher power provides stronger penetration, allowing the X-rays to pass through dense tissues or objects, yielding more detailed internal structural information.

Power Range of Different Types of Medical X-Ray Diagnostic Equipment

1. Portable X-Ray Equipment

• Power Range: 1–5 kW
• Applications:
  Commonly used in emergency rooms, ICU bedside examinations, field rescue operations, or primary healthcare facilities. These devices are compact and lightweight, making them highly mobile and suitable for rapid preliminary imaging.
• Representative Devices:
  • Mobile Flat-Panel C-Arm X-ray Machine PLXC2119A (5 kW)
  • Handheld X-ray units

2. Conventional Fixed X-Ray Equipment

• Power Range: 10–50 kW
• Applications:
  Used for routine examinations in hospital radiology departments, such as chest X-rays, skeletal imaging, and abdominal radiographs. These machines are stationary with stable imaging performance, ideal for high patient volumes.
• Representative Devices:
  • Fixed DR systems
  • Gastrointestinal fluoroscopy units
  • Mammography machines
  • Mobile DR units
  Example: PLXM5320A Mobile DR, equipped with a 50 kW X-ray tube, delivers image quality comparable to fixed DR systems.

3. High-Power X-Ray Equipment

• Power Range: 50–100 kW or higher
• Applications:
  Designed for scenarios that require exceptionally high imaging resolution, such as CT (Computed Tomography), Digital Subtraction Angiography (DSA), and high-resolution DR systems.
  High power supports rapid continuous exposures to meet the demands of complex anatomical imaging.
• Representative Devices:
  • CT Scanners:
    • Single-slice CT: Approximately 20–30 kW
    • Advanced multi-slice CT (64 slices or more): 80–150 kW
  • Digital Subtraction Angiography (DSA) Systems:
    • Typically 50 kW or above to ensure clear vascular contrast imaging.
  • High-Power Mobile DR Systems:
    • Example: Perlove PLX5500, equipped with a 65 kW X-ray tube, ideal for large-scale physical examinations or continuous pneumonia screening.