October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. For clinics and organizations in Venezuela, it is also a good moment to look calmly at the equipment behind breast imaging.
A mammography unit is a long-term commitment. It needs the right room, stable power, calibration, trained staff, and parts for years. Whether you are buying new, buying refurbished, or refurbishing a unit you already have, the questions are similar. This article is a practical checklist for clinics, NGOs, and buyers. It describes equipment features and buyer checks. It does not make clinical claims.
This checklist complements two earlier Solmedic notes in Spanish, on choosing a mammography unit and mammography myths and facts. Here we focus on what to ask before you sign a quote.
2D digital or 3D tomosynthesis: what changes for the buyer
A 2D digital mammography unit acquires standard projection images of the breast with a digital detector. A unit with tomosynthesis (often called 3D) moves the X-ray tube through an arc, acquires a series of images, and reconstructs them into a stack of thin slices that the radiologist reviews.
The clinical choice belongs to your radiologists and medical team. For the buyer, the practical differences are these:
- Data and storage. Tomosynthesis studies are much larger than 2D studies. Check that your PACS, network, and storage can receive and keep them.
- Review workstation. Radiologists need a review station and viewer that can display tomosynthesis series. Ask whether it is included or must be quoted separately.
- Detector size. Ask for the detector size (its field of view) and confirm with your radiologists that it fits what they need.
- Licenses. On many systems, tomosynthesis is enabled by a software license. Confirm that the license is active on the specific unit. If you are looking at tomosynthesis, also ask whether synthesized 2D is available in that configuration and whether its license is in the quote.
- Upgrade path. Some 2D units can be upgraded later and some cannot. Ask before you buy, not after. If you want future options, such as tomosynthesis or a biopsy attachment, ask for them as separate options on the quote.
- Training. Technologists and radiologists will need training on acquisition and reading workflow.
New or refurbished: what to ask for
A new unit comes from the manufacturer's current line, usually with factory warranty and a defined support period. A refurbished unit can be a sensible option for many sites, but only if the refurbishment is documented. Ask for:
- Year of manufacture and the serial numbers of the gantry, detector, and workstation.
- A written description of what was refurbished, replaced, or tested, and by whom.
- The current software version and which options are installed.
- What the warranty covers, for how long, and where service will come from.
- Whether the manufacturer still supports this model with parts and software.
If you are refurbishing a unit you already own, the same list applies. Start with an honest inventory of what works, what has failed before, and what parts are still obtainable.
What to verify on the unit
Detector
The detector is one of the most valuable and sensitive parts of the system. Ask for its manufacture or installation date, any replacement history, and recent test images. Ask whether calibration files are current and whether artefacts or defective pixels have been reported. Detectors can be sensitive to temperature, humidity, and handling, so ask how the unit was stored and how it will be packed and shipped.
Acquisition workstation
Check the computer that runs the system: operating system version, whether the software is still supported, condition of hard drives, and backup of configuration. Confirm DICOM connectivity with your PACS and any worklist you use. Ask whether the workstation is matched to the gantry by serial number.
Compression paddles and accessories
Ask which paddles are included and in what sizes, plus any spot compression or magnification accessories. Inspect them for cracks, clouding, or worn locking parts. Confirm that compression force and thickness readouts are checked during calibration. If the site plans to perform biopsies, ask whether a compatible biopsy attachment exists and whether it is part of the quote.
Software licenses and transfer
This is the point most often missed. Many features are licensed, and licenses are often tied to the serial number and to the original owner. Ask for a written list of active licenses. Then ask directly: does each license transfer to the new owner and to the new country, and what process does that require? A feature that appears on screen but is not licensed for transfer may not be usable after installation.
Service history, maintenance, and parts
Ask for service logs, error logs, and records of major replacements such as the X-ray tube or detector. Ask which parts are commonly needed for this model and whether they are available today. A good unit with no path to parts becomes an orphan asset quickly.
Also ask for a written maintenance plan, both preventive and corrective:
- How often are preventive visits, and what does each one include?
- Who responds to a failure, and how fast?
- Where do parts come from, and how long does one take to reach your city?
Not sure where to start?
You can browse the mammography units in our catalog, all available on a quote basis, or send us a message and we will go through this checklist with you.
Installation, room preparation, and shielding
Plan the room before the unit ships. In general terms, the site should review:
- Room size and layout, including space for the gantry, control area, and patient movement.
- Floor and wall conditions for mounting and weight.
- Electrical supply and power quality. Ask the installer what the unit requires and whether voltage stabilization or backup power is advisable on your site.
- Temperature and humidity control within the manufacturer's specifications.
- Network points for the workstation and PACS.
- Radiation shielding. The shielding design should be prepared or reviewed by a qualified expert according to local rules. Confirm the requirements with the local authority and your medical physicist.
Common site mistakes: what to ask before the unit ships
- Will the room be finished (construction, flooring, paint, and climate control) before the unit arrives?
- Has an electrician checked the circuits, grounding, and power quality against what the manufacturer requires?
- Will the unit fit through doors, corridors, and elevators on the way to the room?
- Who supervises delivery and installation, and what happens if the room is not ready when the unit arrives? A unit sitting in crates is a unit standing idle.
After installation, the unit must be calibrated by trained engineers before clinical use. Calibration is not a one-time event. Plan for periodic calibration and quality control as part of the operating budget.
Acceptance testing by a qualified medical physicist
Before the first patient, a qualified medical physicist should perform acceptance testing. This confirms that the installed unit performs according to its specifications and establishes the baseline for the routine quality control program. Keep the report. It is useful for the site's own records, for future service, and for any registration or licensing the site may need. Which tests and documents are required locally is a question for the physicist and the local authority.
Lead times and logistics into Venezuela
Lead times vary. They depend on the unit's availability, the scope of refurbishment, export documentation, freight route, customs clearance, and site readiness. We do not quote a general number here, because an honest timeline can only be set for a specific unit and destination.
Questions worth asking on any quote:
- Who handles export, freight, insurance, and import?
- How will the detector and electronics be packed and protected in transit?
- What documents will travel with the equipment?
- Who installs, calibrates, and trains on site, and when?
Common buying mistakes
- Comparing only the upfront price, not the cost of maintenance, calibration, and parts over the years of use.
- Closing the purchase without a written maintenance plan.
- Assuming the review station, accessories, or training are included without seeing them on the quote.
- Choosing between repair and replacement without comparing. A single major part can approach the cost of a whole unit. Ask for a written comparison, with documented quotes for both options.
Why buying is quote-led
No two mammography purchases are the same. Configuration, condition, licenses, accessories, installation scope, training, and logistics all change the final offer. A list price on a product card cannot capture that. A formal quotation can, and it states in writing what is included and what is not. Certification and technical documentation is available on request as part of that process.
Quick checklist
- 2D or tomosynthesis decided with your radiologists, with storage and review station confirmed.
- Detector size confirmed and, if tomosynthesis, synthesized 2D and licenses itemized on the quote.
- New or refurbished, with refurbishment documented in writing.
- Detector history, test images, and calibration files reviewed.
- Acquisition workstation supported and connected to your PACS.
- Paddles and accessories listed and inspected.
- Active licenses listed, with transfer confirmed in writing.
- Service history and parts availability confirmed.
- Written preventive and corrective maintenance plan, with local parts lead time.
- Room, power, climate, network, and shielding planned with qualified experts, and room finished before shipping.
- Calibration and acceptance testing by a qualified medical physicist scheduled.
- Logistics, import, installation, and training responsibilities defined in the quote.
Request a quote
If your clinic or organization is planning a mammography purchase or refurbishment, tell us the destination city, the type of unit you are considering, and your timeline. We will reply with questions and then a formal quotation.
NGOs and institutions can find the process for organizational requests on our NGOs and institutions page.
