If you want to be able to take an x-ray anywhere, a battery-powered generator is a great option for you.

A BMV battery-powered portable x-ray generator offers the ultimate portability, making it a popular choice among mobile practitioners.

Capture X-ray Images Anywhere

Since the BMV BDR-50 is cordless with long battery life, you’re not limited to an external power source during the course of your daily practice or on-call shifts.

That means that as an equine practitioner, you can conveniently use the machine in a barn or out in the field, without a power outlet nearby.

And as a small animal veterinarian, you can easily port your x-ray equipment with you—which is perfect for mobile practitioners.

No Cord, No Fuss

The BMV battery-powered portable x-ray generator is cordless, which means it takes less time for you to set up for a procedure and then pack everything up again.

No cord also means no chance of anyone tripping over the cord or of patients becoming entangled.

Wireless Technology

In addition to no cord for the power supply, the BMV BDR-50 also incorporates wireless technology for communication between the generator and the plate.

Radio-frequency (RF) communication means images can be captured without the need for a wire between the generator and the DR interface.

Lightweight and Compact

The generator is only 36 x 20 x 17 cm (approximately 14 x 8 x 7 inches), and weighs merely 6.8 kg (15 pounds). This makes it the lightest, most compact battery-powered generator on the market.

If you’re short on storage space or have to plan for carrying your equipment all day, having a compact, lightweight unit can really make your life easier.

Long Battery Life

With one full charge of the high-capacity lithium-ion battery, you get up to 300 exposures—which means you shouldn’t have to deal with a battery running low right when you need it!

For easy battery monitoring, the BMVx-ray generator also features an energy balance indicator (so you know the time for battery charging) and an LED indicator for when the battery is fully charged (which usually takes just 2-3 hours).

And should you need to replace the battery (its lifecycle is over 5 years, with no battery maintenance required), you’ll find the process to be simple and easy.

High-Frequency Technology Means Good Quality

The compact BMV BDR-50 features advanced, high-frequency technology, with 20mA and 90kV capabilities.

High frequency means a strong power output, with stable/repeatable settings for consistent, high-quality images.

So you receive excellent images, with less need for retakes.

Easy to Use

In addition to being lightweight, compact, and cordless, the BMV battery-powered portable x-ray generator is simple to use, with the option of programming your favorite settings so you don’t have to adjust the settings every time.

The collimator features a dual laser alignment system and a push-button light with a 30-second timer.

If taking an x-ray anywhere, without the need for electricity or an external power source sounds good to you, click here to learn more.

The BMV BDR-50 is available for affordable monthly payments (so it can pay for itself and earn a profit right away with use each month), as well as a 3-year warranty.

Efficiency can increase a veterinary practice’s income by allowing more patients to be seen or more procedures such as radiographs to be performed.

Additionally, it may lead to an increased average charge per patient—which can improve a practice’s bottom line while delivering excellent patient care.

When it comes to radiographs, here are five ways to increase efficiency…

Start With the Best Equipment for Your Practice’s Needs

Having good, well-functioning equipment can really make life easier for a veterinarian and their team. After all, slower machines and image processors can increase the time per shot. And equipment that’s not operating at its best may lead to frustrating retakes—or even to rescheduling a procedure.

To maximize the usefulness of radiography equipment at a veterinary practice, start by taking an inventory of which equipment is there, including: generator, table, plate or cassette, film processor or digital image software, etc.

Next, evaluate each piece of equipment with the following questions:

How is the equipment functioning right now?

If not working well, can repairs or maintenance solve the issue—and what is the cost?

Is there any routine maintenance due to be performed?

Does anything need to be replaced—and is it the whole system, or just one specific component?

Would an upgrade improve efficiency? For example, upgrading from film to digital x-rays can save a lot of time that would otherwise be spent processing films.

Develop Standard Protocols and Techniques

If certain procedures are performed infrequently or don’t have a standard set of protocols to follow, this may lead to confusion, inconsistency, or errors—all of which can waste time and cause frustration.

To make things more efficient, it helps to have standard protocols for team members to follow, which have been properly explained to them. Protocols may include:

Specific instructions for patient positioning for different radiographic views, such as thorax, hip, spine, etc.

Guidelines for effective patient restraint while minimizing the staff’s exposure to radiation. For example, be sure the team knows how to properly use positioning aids such as sandbags and tape.

If patients are sedated, be sure to have a minimum standard for patient monitoring, with prepared monitoring sheets a team member can easily pick up and use for their monitoring notes.

Have a standard technique chart, or make sure the team knows how to properly set up an x-ray study using a digital program that automatically sets technique. This includes explaining how to measure a patient in the position in which they will be radiographed.

Have the Right Resources Available for Radiographic Interpretation

This may include textbooks and other references for what is normal on each radiographic view and what is not.

Access to a second opinion can also be very valuable. Try to create a collaborative environment where veterinary colleagues within the practice can help each other discuss and interpret radiographs. Consider subscribing to an online forum such as the Veterinary Information Network (VIN), where a vet can post their radiographs for a second opinion. Or, consider using a teleradiology consultation service with veterinary radiologists.

Practice Makes Perfect

Efficiency in taking and interpreting radiographs will improve over time, with practice. So even if fitting more radiographs into a busy schedule feels time-consuming at the beginning, it will get to be second nature over time.

The same is true with x-ray image interpretation—many vets become faster and more proficient with practice. Also, be sure to study the radiographs of normal patients, to gain a thorough understanding of all the different ways normal anatomy can look in different sizes and breeds of veterinary patients.

Plan for Conversations With Clients

If pet owners are unsure about proceeding with radiographs—especially when sedation is required—the conversation can take up a lot of time for veterinarians and their team members. By planning what to say and gaining comfort with these conversations, time can be saved while providing patients with the care they need. Also, clients may feel more comfortable if everything is explained in just the right way.

Efficient x-ray conversation techniques may include general principles for good communication (active listening, empathy, non-verbal communication, etc.), as well as proactively discussing the answers to commonly asked questions and concerns. For example, explain how sedation not only makes the radiographs more detailed and accurate—it also makes the procedure less scary and more comfortable for a dog or cat.

Putting all these principles together, a veterinary team may find the whole x-ray process becomes more efficient. This is good for team morale, as it helps to keep the day running as smoothly as possible. It can also increase a practice’s bottom line over time while providing excellent care for patients. For all these reasons, it’s usually well worth it for a veterinary practice to invest in radiographic efficiency!

A cystocentesis offers advantages over other urine collection methods

If you work in a small animal veterinary practice, there’s a good chance you’ve performed, assisted with, ordered, or overseen a cystocentesis in many of your patients.

A cystocentesis offers advantages over other urine collection methods in that it provides a sterile sample, as opposed to free catch or even catheter methods that may contain contamination with pathogens or cells from the skin or urethra.

But how does an ultrasound-guided cystocentesis compare to a blind cystocentesis obtained via palpation or anatomical landmarks?

Your preference may depend on your practice style, experience, and patient needs. But here are a few things to consider…

Which Patients Are Good Candidates for Ultrasound-Guided Cystocentesis?

Here are a few factors that may determine if an ultrasound-guided cystocentesis is a good option for any particular patient…

Large or overweight patients. A blind (or non-ultrasound assisted) cystocentesis may be straightforward on cats, and even small dogs, who are not overweight. In these patients, it is often possible to palpate the urinary bladder and to easily reach the bladder with a standard-length needle.

However, difficulties arise in patients who are overweight, which makes it more challenging to feel and reach the bladder. Additionally, an ultrasound can help guide your needle with large dogs.

Patients with “hard to stick” bladders. Maybe your patient’s bladder is thickened due to chronic cystitis or another condition. Or, maybe the patient’s bladder is small.

Either way, an ultrasound provides additional direction (and visualization) of partially-full or otherwise difficult-to-obtain-a-sample-from bladders.

Patients whose bladders could use a visual evaluation. If you’re obtaining a cystocentesis because the patient has urinary symptoms, a quick scan can provide more information about any obvious lesions.

Use this for your own peace of mind (i.e., there’s no bladder tumor present at the time of the cysto), or create a charge for urinary ultrasound evaluation packaged together with other diagnostics.

Which Patients Are NOT Good Candidates for Ultrasound-Guided Cystocentesis?

Thin cats with big bladders. Depending on your practice style and preference, you may find it’s easier to do a blind cystocentesis on a cat with an easily palpable bladder, especially for routine health checks.

Although it may still be worth doing an ultrasound if the cat presented for urinary symptoms, so you can look at the bladder.

Patients with bladder masses or tumors. If a patient has transitional cell carcinoma, placing a needle into the bladder may “seed” tumor cells into the abdomen as the needle is withdrawn.

So any time a mass is present or suspected, it’s good to be cautious and skip the cysto (with or without ultrasound).

Fractious or wiggly patients. These patients may not be good candidates for either ultrasound-guided or blind cystocentesis, since it wouldn’t be good for them to move around while the needle is inserted.

However, sedation may make the procedure possible for these dogs and cats.

PROS of Ultrasound-Guided Cystocentesis Versus Blind Cystocentesis

Advantages include…

Quick and easy. If you’re new to ultrasound-guided cystocentesis, it may take some practice. But soon it becomes a habit and may even be faster than a blind cysto.

Visualization of the bladder. You know exactly where the needle is heading, and therefore you have an improved likelihood of getting a sample from a small or partially-full bladder.

Plus, you may want to do a quick bladder evaluation to look for things like uroliths, sludge, or bladder masses, as this could change your recommended course of treatment.

Safety. Supporters of ultrasound-guided cystocentesis point out that if you can see where the needle is going, there’s less risk of accidental puncture of other organs or blood vessels.

CONS of Ultrasound-Guided Cystocentesis Versus Blind Cystocentesis

Training and practice are needed. It may take a little time for your team to become comfortable with this new method. Fortunately, it’s simple and straightforward to learn.

Creating a charge for the service. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing—after all, you should be paid for your time and expertise when you provide a service.

However, there are differing opinions from practice to practice as to when and how to charge.

For example, will you charge for all ultrasound-guided cystocentesis?

Or only charge as part of a package with other diagnostics (urine analysis, urine culture and sensitivity, and quick ultrasound evaluation of the bladder, for example) in patients who are symptomatic?

And how much will you charge?

Small risk of side effects. The most common side effect is hematuria, which is mild and transient. Other risks do exist, such as bladder rupture or injury, organ or blood vessel puncture, urine leakage into the abdomen, the spread of bladder cancer, or vagal reactions (retching, panting, hypersalivation, collapse).

While these effects are quite rare, it’s always worth considering the risks of any procedure before performing it, especially in patients who may be at higher risk due to underlying health conditions.

Investing in Ultrasound Training

In addition to teaching your team members to do an ultrasound-guided cystocentesis, it’s worth considering training in ultrasound examinations for you or one of your DVM associates.

There are plenty of other uses, including but not limited to abdominal evaluation for organs, masses, ascites, or even pregnancy, and cardiac or pericardial evaluations.

By maximizing your ultrasound usage, you can offer more diagnostics to your patients, while also getting the best ROI on your equipment investment—a win-win.

Disclaimer: This article is for general informational purposes only, and not intended as a guide to the medical treatment of any specific animal.

By becoming proficient at ultrasound studies, a veterinarian can elevate patient care at their practice while also boosting profits.

Whether you’re evaluating the abdomen, the heart, or something else, an ultrasound study can be a very valuable tool.

Here are five ways for a practitioner to improve their ultrasound skills and offer more of this valuable service to pet owners…

The Right Equipment Can Make a Vet’s Job Easier

Having good, well-functioning equipment can really make life easier for a veterinarian and their team.

This could include a variety of factors, such as…

Does all of the ultrasound equipment—probe, machine and monitor, and any programs for saving videos and information—work? Does any component (or the whole system) need to be repaired or replaced?

Is the equipment of a good quality? Maybe it’s technically working, but do the images you produce have enough detail and clarity to see what you need to see? Is any part of the process cumbersome, which can make it less likely that the ultrasound will be used to its full capacity and potential?

Would routine maintenance or an upgrade improve efficiency and make it easier to offer this service to clients and their pets?

This is all-important because even as you learn, practice, and improve your skills, inefficient or subpar equipment may make it challenging to fully implement your new training and may lead to frustration.

Standard Protocols and Techniques Can Improve Efficiency

If an ultrasound is only performed once in a while, it may feel like a hassle or lead to confusion or inefficiency when trying to schedule and perform an ultrasound study.

To improve efficiency and make it easier to offer ultrasound services at your practice, consider all stages of the process, including…

Has the veterinary team been trained and empowered in all aspects of scheduling an ultrasound study? For example, is there a specific day of the week, especially if there is only one doctor at the practice who performs ultrasounds? Has enough time been scheduled, especially if sedation is needed? Having a standard set of instructions or protocols can help the team and make things run smoother for everyone.

If the patient needs any special instructions to prepare for their ultrasound study (such as fasting from the previous evening), is there a clear process for communicating this to the client?

Does the veterinary team know all the tools you would prefer to have available during an ultrasound study? This may include everything from a v-trough, towel, and clippers, to syringes and microscope slides in case an FNA is indicated. Having a kit or list prepared ahead of time will help save time so no one has to run to the other room and grab supplies mid-study.

If a patient is sedated or under anesthesia, is there a standard format/form for monitoring?

Is there a report prepared for the client? Can video clips or still images be saved as part of the medical record? Will the client be present during the ultrasound in some cases? Make sure the whole team knows what should be done.

Take Advantage of All the Resources You Find Helpful

This may include textbooks and other references for what is normal on each ultrasound study and what is not.

Access to a second opinion can also be helpful. Consider discussing your findings with colleagues within the practice, subscribing to an online forum such as the Veterinary Information Network (VIN), or even using a specialist consultation service for an expert, second set of eyes on your ultrasound images or videos.

Practice Makes Perfect

Any new skill can be challenging at the beginning. But ultrasound proficiency will improve over time, with practice. So even if fitting more ultrasounds into a busy schedule feels time-consuming at first, it will probably get to be second nature over time.

In addition to training and courses, it may help to ultrasound healthy patients for practice, to gain a thorough understanding of all the different ways normal anatomy can look in different sizes and breeds of veterinary patients. This could be done with the pets of veterinary team members, or possibly offered to clients at a discounted price in the early stages.

Communicate Effectively With Clients

If pet owners are unsure about proceeding with ultrasound for any reason or experiencing sticker shock, the conversation can take up a lot of time for veterinarians and their team members. By planning what to say and gaining comfort with these conversations, time can be saved while providing patients with the care they need.

Efficient conversations about pet ultrasounds may include general principles for good communication (active listening, empathy, non-verbal communication, etc.), as well as explaining the excellent value that clients are receiving for the cost. For example, explain just how much information can be gathered from an abdominal ultrasound study. In addition to looking at suspected abnormalities, it’s a thorough look at many important organs. Occasionally, unexpected issues are caught early, or if the dog or cat is normal then the owner can have peace of mind.

Putting all these principles together, a veterinary team may find the whole ultrasound process becomes more efficient. This is good for team morale, as it helps to keep the day running as smoothly as possible. It can also increase a practice’s bottom line while providing excellent care for patients.

For all these reasons, it may be well worth it for a veterinary team to invest time and effort in adding ultrasound to their practice!