Comparing the OEC 9600 c-arm and OEC 9800 c-arm systems is often a common comparison for buyers. Most of the time buyers would like a clear understanding on the main differences between the two systems, so today we thought would help answer that question.

When comparing the two units there are a few categories that we will need to cover: Dates Of Manufacture, Image Quality, Hardware Configurations, Software Configurations, Other Miscellaneous items, and of course Price.

Dates Of Manufacture: 

The 9800 is the replacement model for the 9600 in  GE / OEC’s c-arm lineup. As a result, the 9600 has older dates of manufacture. The OEC 9600 was manufactured between 1994 to 1999, where the OEC 9800 was manufactured between 1999 and 2006.

Image Quality:

Image quality for a c-arm is often its most important feature. The OEC 9600 c-arm came with a pixel resolution of 512 x 512 where the OEC 9800 c-arm received a bump in resolution to 1K x 1K. The upgrade in resolution results in the ability to see finer details compared to that of a model with less resolution.

Hardware:

Hardware wise the OEC 9600 and OEC 9800 c-arms are identical with one exception: The 9800 offered an MD or “Motor Driven” model. This MD model allows for rotation, to be controlled by electric motors within the system instead of being manually moved by hand. Other than the MD model, both the OEC 9600 and OEC 9800 offer 9/6/4″ and 12/9/6″ Image Intensifiers, As well as “standard c” and “super-c” configurations.

Software:

In regards to software configurations both the OEC 9600 and OEC 9800 offer similar packages with slight tweaks in offerings:

OEC 9600 C-Arm:

  • Surgical Package (SP)
  • General Surgical Package (GSP)
  • Vascular Package (4, 8, 15 FPS CINE Options)
  • Neuro Vascular Package (30 FPS CINE)
  • Cardiac Package (30 FPS CINE, Upgraded Hardware)

OEC 9800 C-Arm:

  • General Surgical Package (GSP)
  • Vascular Package (8, 15 FPS CINE Options)
  • Neuro Vascular Package (30 FPS CINE)
  • Cardiac Package (30 FPS CINE, Upgraded Hardware)

DICOM:

With today’s modern patient records system, it’s often common to need DICOM on an imaging system. The OEC 9600 c-arm did not natively come with DICOM, so in most cases, those that require DICOM will need to add an aftermarket DICOM system to the unit. With the OEC 9800 c-arm DICOM was optional on standard models and included by default on “9800 Plus” models. If DICOM is required on a 9800, we can often find you a system that has a factory DICOM option.

Touchscreen Controls:

One of the big upgrades from the OEC 9600 to the OEC 9800 was the touchscreen controls.  When navigating through the software menus on the OEC 9600 C-Arm you are required to use the keyboard and arrow keys to move from menu to menu. With the OEC 9800 touchscreen controls, you can do this simply by tapping on the screen with your fingers.

Price:

So now after reading through all of that, I bet you’re saying to yourself, “The 9800 Is For Me”, and often times that’s the case, however, one last major item to consider: Price. In the world of refurbished c-arms, prices often fluctuate based on supply and demand, but as of this writing, the OEC 9800 c-arm will cost you about 45% more than a similarly equipped OEC 9600 c-arm. With that said it’s best to consider your budget, and what features are the most important to you and the needs of your facility, depending on your circumstances one unit may better fit your needs than the other.

If you would like a quote on either system we would be happy to earn your business. For a quote simply give us a call or simply fill out our REQUEST A QUOTE form and a sales representative will be in contact with you shortly.