In the realm of ophthalmic diagnostics, retinal cameras reign supreme, offering invaluable insights into retinal health and early detection of sight-threatening conditions. Equipping your practice or facility with the right retinal camera empowers accurate diagnoses, informed treatment decisions, and ultimately, superior patient care. This comprehensive buying guide, meticulously crafted for B2B medical device buyers across the globe, aims to illuminate the intricacies of retinal cameras, guiding you towards the optimal choice for your specific needs.
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Retinal cameras can be categorized based on their mobility and functionality. Here are some common types
When it comes to perimetry, there are different types as well, but they are not directly related to retinal cameras. Perimetry methods include kinetic perimetry (using moving stimuli) and static perimetry (using static stimuli), but these are separate diagnostic techniques from retinal imaging.
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PMCID: PMC PMID:Lasers and aesthetic procedures have transformed dermatology practice. They have aided in the treatment of hitherto untreatable conditions and allowed better financial remuneration to the physician. The availability of a variety of laser devices of different makes, specifications and pricing has lead to confusion and dilemma in the mind of the buying physician. There are presently no guidelines available for buying a laser. Since purchase of a laser involves large investments, careful consideration to laser specifications, training, costing, warranty, availability of spares, and reliability of service are important prerequisites. This article describes various factors that are needed to be considered and also attempts to lay down criteria to be assessed while buying a laser system that will be useful to physicians before investing in a laser machine.
Meticulous planning of the type of machine, specifications, financial aspects, maintenance and warranties is important.
It is wise to sign a contract or agreement between the buyer and seller before purchase of a laser which covers key aspects of installation, after sales service and maintenance of the machine.
Adequate training is essential; understanding laser physics and laser-tissue interaction goes a long way in getting the best out of the machine.
The credibility of the dealer and company should be ascertained in order to be assured of after-sales service.
Buying used machines, sharing of equipment to offset high initial investments is a good option but even more care is required to ensure proper functioning and maintenance.
KEYWORDS: Agreement of sale, annual maintenance contract, annual service visit, buying laser, laser, purchase contract, specifications
Lasers have become an integral part in today's aesthetic dermatology practice. With the advent of new technology, more sophisticated devices are being developed that are both relatively safe and effective even in darker skin types. With increasing number of machines being available to choose from, it has become a difficult and often confusing task for the physician to decide upon which system to buy. Multiple technologies such as lasers, lights and other non-light energy devices are available. Choosing a laser system, maintaining the machine and after-sales service, are all vital aspects to having a successful laser practice. Likewise machines from different companies and from different countries varying in specifications and cost are available, making it difficult for a practitioner to judge which one to buy. In addition, there is a lot of hype in the marketing and exaggerated promotional material used by the laser companies, each staking claims that their machine is the best. There is considerable ambiguity with regards to the post-sales maintenance policies including annual maintenance contracts (AMC) and annual service visit (ASV). Most purchasers are unaware of the type of insurance and other terms and conditions that need to be considered for their machines. The aim of this article is to focus on practical aspects before purchasing a laser.
Although it is often difficult to choose a machine, certain lasers are well established in dermatology practice and remain gold standard. The most commonly used laser systems include:
Diode laser 810 nm and long pulse Nd:YAG (Neodymium:Yttrium Aluminum Garnet) laser nm for laser hair removal.[1]
Er:YAG (Erbium doped:Yttrium Aluminum Garnet) nm and carbon dioxide (CO210,600 nm) ablative and fractional lasers for benign skin lesions, resurfacing and scars.[2,3]
Q switched Nd:YAG laser for pigmented lesions and tattoos.[4]
In addition other lasers which have found acceptance include non-ablative nm fractional erbium glass laser,[2]585 and 595 nm pulse dye laser for vascular lesions,[5] and excimer 308 nm laser and lamp for vitiligo and psoriasis. Intense pulse light systems and light-based targeted phototherapy machines also have their place in practice. These broad technologies have well-established roles. Choosing a laser system, between the available models in these technologies will depend on the variables such as pulse duration, spot size, energy and fluence, consumables and cost.
First and foremost, the buyer should learn basic laser physics, indications for lasers, different technologies and complications. These can be learnt either by attending workshops, symposia, at conferences and attending established laser centres. The physician should be aware of the prevalence of different dermatological and aesthetic problems in the community and then decide which laser would be most suitable for practice in that area. Patients' attitudes, paying capacity and marketing opportunities need to be assessed. While the choice of a laser system depends on individual situation, some general recommendations are outlined.
The first laser to be bought is either a hair removal laser or a fractional ablative laser. The wide prevalence of hirsutism, increased awareness among women, and wider acceptance of the technology has made the hair removal laser a necessity. However, some doctors have preferred a fractional laser as a first laser as many beauty clinics have started laser hair removal and there has been a proliferation of hair removal machines in some towns and cities. The ablative fractional laser is popular in view of its safety and wide variety of applications.
Q switched Nd:YAG laser for treating pigmented lesions is the next choice. The current nanosecond lasers have established their role, but the cost is high and hence the machine is usually the third choice.
Intense pulse light systems (IPL) are not lasers but polychromatic (multiple wavelength) light devices that use cut-off filters and allow targeting of different chromophores and have the advantage of treating different indications with one system. Although the IPL systems are cost-effective they are generally not as effective as laser systems.
Excimer lamp devices tend to be cheaper than the excimer 308 nm lasers and are quite effective in management of vitiligo and psoriasis. They can be considered as they are cost-effective, effective and safe in dark-skin patients.
Pulse dye laser and excimer lasers are expensive lasers, and are found in only few centres and hence will not be discussed further.
Laser systems are available either as stand-alone or platform systems. Stand-alone systems tend to be of single wavelength with one hand piece (HP) designed for specific purposes such as a long pulse alexandrite 755-nm laser for laser hair reduction. Platform systems have the ability to attach multiple hand pieces to the machine and have the ability to deal with various indications. The hand pieces could be a hair removal HP or an IPL HP for treating vascular lesions or even a near infra-red HP offering skin tightening treatments, etc. At any given time one or two HP can be attached to the system and can be changed as desired. The software of the system recognises the HP attached and the settings can thus be changed as needed. Each of these two systems has its advantages and disadvantages and these are enumerated in Table 1.
Stand-alone systems are obviously suited for large practices and established practitioners' with big budgets, while platforms are more suited for beginners or those with multiple clinics and if different doctors wish to share the machine.
Some basic knowledge of laser physics is essential before buying a machine. Laser training and understanding of the machine can be obtained in any of the below mentioned ways:
Becoming members of societies dedicated and focused on laser dermatology and attending their meetings and interacting with experienced users, listen to lectures, attend hands-on workshops, etc.
Educational and marketing material provided by the company.
Training provided by the company on the machine, observational and hands-on training with another expert or on-site.
Visit to the factory/headquarters of the parent organisation to access the commitment, research and development if and when possible. The buyer should check the company's website for details such as specifications, the scientific and white papers and testimonials.
Know the company: Before buying, the first thing to do is to identify the correct person or organisation or company, whether they are a company or act as Messer (M/s), whether they have registered their organisation/company under companies act/local body or not; what is their total strength of man power ; do they have the provision of provident fund (PF) account; do they have a website which provides full details; how many machines have they supplied; how long are they in business; how big is the company and do they market a wide variety of machines? These points can help ascertain if the company is genuine or not.
Once basic training is obtained, the suitability of a given machine should be judged as below:
Laser specifications: Spot size, pulse duration, peak power, customisation options etc- These are of utmost importance and are explained below:
Publications in peer-reviewed journals on the laser technology-to access the efficacy, side effects profile of a given system. The articles can give a clue to parameters used which can serve as a starting point for new users.
Feedbacks from other users of the system in question: Always make it a point to ask users about their experiences with the machine. Sometimes it may be helpful to ask a competitor company for an opinion about the machine for a frank assessment.
Demonstration: Always insist for a demonstration of the system before buying. The machine should be kept in the clinic for at least two treatment sessions and should be tried on different types of patients.
Engineer's training and expertise: Try to understand if the marketing person or engineer of the company has some basic scientific knowledge about the laser machine, the training they got from the parent manufacturer abroad, etc. This is very important as the technical knowhow to service is the key to maintenance. Many laser manufacturers provide training to service personnel in their plant. This needs to be verified.
Power Meter: Ensure that the service engineer has a power meter for the laser which is critical to ensure correct output and the parent company always suggest this for the dealer. Other requirements that need to be ensured while buying a laser:
For detailed laser room requirements, specific articles may be referred.[6]
Cost negotiation: The ultimate aim of a buyer of a laser system is to get the maximum discount possible as compared to the list price or quoted price. This will depend on the communication skills of the buyer, knowledge of the global and local pricing, discounts offered by the dealer/distributor and the approximate price paid by the other purchasers of the system. Try not to show the sales representative that you are interested in their system only; make them aware that you are looking at other competing systems. Never be in a hurry to buy a laser! Get quotes from different companies for the similar systems. This will allow better negotiation. Also, ask colleagues about the price paid by them. It is important to understand that all medical lasers depreciate as soon as they are sold. So getting the best price is more crucial. Always strike a balance between cost and quality while making a decision. This cost-quality equation has to be kept in mind while buying a laser system.[10] It is also not practical to buy and own every new laser that is launched in the marker. It is paramount to evaluate each technology in depth and choose only that system which will benefit the practice, only then will the money be well spent.[11]
Funding: A doctor may have to take a bank loan to purchase the laser. Check the interest rates and required documents to procure the loan. The following is a rough check-list of the documents needed for procuring a loan for medical equipment:
Quotation from the company.
Purchase contract.
Income tax returns.
Registration documents of the clinic.
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Clinic building documents.
Medical council registration.
Personal documents such as identity, address proofs, taxation documents.
Having a laser purchase contract on paper signed by the buyer and distributor is essential. Many distributors take a brief one page purchase order (PO) from the customer, but this is insufficient as full details of the deal are not mentioned. The purchase contract should include:
Advance: Once a price is negotiated, and a contract is signed, an advance amount is sought by the company. Generally this should not be more than 25% of the total amount. A proper receipt clearly stating the cheque number and the amount needs to be obtained.
Clause for balance payment, with date of repayment; installments, if any, need to be specified.
Dollar /foreign currency value: Since many machines are imported, the price often depends on the price of dollar/other currency which are subject to market fluctuations. This should be properly discussed and proper understanding reached with respect to market fluctuations of currency.
Check the cost of the machine mentioned and note if there is any undervaluation. DO NOT UNDERVALUE THE MACHINE FOR ANY REASON.
Check if all costs are mentioned: Taxes, customs, transportation, insurance while transportation and installment costs.
Warranty: Warranty should include all parts of laser; check the fine print and see if there are any exclusion clauses. Check if the warranty is subject to any specification of laser room and associate devices such as vacuum evacuator or air conditioner. Check the frequency of servicing, need for distilled water replacement if any. Sometimes the company or parent organisation may offer an extended warranty or extra service that should be in writing and mentioned in the contract.
Clause on repair: Check how many hours/days will it take to attend to breakdown? Rough estimate of time frame to repair/replace parts? Installation of a standby system while the machine is being repaired so that work will not be affected should be asked for.
Taxes can be levied while transporting the machine from the port to the place of installation. Proper documentation needs to be done for this and done accurately. Most of the laser machines are delicate and not supposed to be shifted to various centres. It does affect the life of the machine. Check if such movements can be done.
This should be done from the company representative himself and not by anyone else. During the time of installation, check if the laser room has adequate air conditioning, space for movement and other requirements &#; ask him to specify that this is done. A satisfactory installation report should be sought and kept.
Hands on training is to be provided to the doctor and staff regarding usage, safety and maintenance of the laser. Some lasers need some optics to be cleaned periodically, de-ionised/distilled water to be topped up and filters to be cleaned or replaced. These have to be understood and learnt by the doctor and staff handling the system. After training, insist on a certificate of hands on training issued in the names of all staff who may handle it.
The contract of purchase always should be under the IEC (Import export code) code (of the doctor)
Before the purchase, a doctor should communicate with the parent organisation via or regarding the serial number of the device and the date of manufacture.
The serial number on the machine at the time of purchase should be noted and mentioned on purchase bill. At the time of taking insurance this number should be mentioned on insurance form.
The serial number of hand piece should also be noted and mentioned separately on purchase bill. In case hand piece needs replacement, it has to be proved that it was bought with laser.
The manufacturing date of both laser machine as well as hand piece have to be noted separately.
It is a good idea to click a picture of serial number of the device upon installation.
Ensure that the service engineer gives a service report after each visit signed by him with comments of the performance of the system.
It is recommended to know the cost of spare parts from the parent organisation, well in advance; this is helpful for the future course of action.
Clinician must take the LMC (labor maintenance contract which is generally 5%-7% of the invoice value, only for servicing) or AMC (annual maintenance contract, which is generally 22% of the invoice value, includes all parts and maintenance), after the warranty period is over. The figures stated above are to give a rough idea and can vary.
AMC is also essential for insurance purpose.
Insurance coverage is a must following installation of the device.
Electronic insurance for the system-that covers all the parts and electronics of the device. Many insurance companies offer electronic insurance that may be cheaper than the AMC offered by the laser companies after the warranty period is over. While taking insurance it is important to specify which parts are covered and mention it in the policy.
Fire and burglary insurance and insurance for mobility from one clinic to another also needs to be done.
Always insist on the installation report, mentioning all details, regarding the device number, hand probe number if any, make/model number, installation date, warranty period, instructions regarding the electricity provision/UPS for the system. It is better to have an on-line uninterrupted power supply for safety and uninterrupted lasing during a procedure.[10]
Local partner of the parent company must keep updating the doctor about the road-map of the parent organisation and updates related to the products or devices.
In case of a break down, the company should attend to the call within 48 hours or in case of delay in repair, should provide a stand by unit till the repair is done. This should be again mentioned in writing in the laser purchase contract.
Get the machine calibrated at regular intervals to ensure sufficient output.
As a good number of new lasers are being sold, it is inevitable that many lasers will end up in the used lasers market. Often, a machine which has been under demonstration use by the company may also be supplied. Some tips regarding the purchase of pre-owned systems are summarised below.
Cross-check with the original dealer if they are willing to service it upon purchase.
Typically the 1 year warranty most systems come with is void if the laser is sold to another person as this warranty is non-transferable. The new buyer may have to pay a &#;recertification fee&#; to the manufacturer in order for the distributor to service it in future and offer additional warranty.
Check the shot count, previous service reports, age of the system and availability of spares.
Insure the system during transport to avoid damages that may occur during transport.
A good website for checking prices of used medical devices is www.dotmed.com.
A check list for signing a contract is shown in text box below. The exact format will vary according to the system, the company, the cost and payment terms and conditions.
To summarise, some important points to consider while purchasing a laser system are shown in text box:
A model contract can be found in annexure 1 (3MB, pdf) online
Before taking the plunge, access your practice profile, decide what lasers are best suited for your practice. Do discuss with your peers and check evidence of efficacy and adverse effects. Always insist for a demonstration of the machine. Choose the right technology and choose the right company. Check the after sales record and cost of maintenance, only then finally purchase the machine. Ensure that a detailed laser purchase contract is made and signed by the two parties as this will allow a healthy and hassle-free relationship between the dealer and the doctor in the future.
The authors would like to thank Dr. Shehnaz Arsiwala, Mumbai, India & Dr. Swapnil Shah, Solapur, India for their valuable contribution to the article.
Source of Support: Nil.
Conflict of Interest: None declared.
This section collects any data citations, data availability statements, or supplementary materials included in this article.
Articles from Journal of Cutaneous and Aesthetic Surgery are provided here courtesy of Scientific Scholar
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