GE OEC has always been the industry standard for surgical c-arm systems in the United States all the way back to the 1980s when OEC was it’s own company. So because of that its always exciting when GE OEC comes out with a new model. For 2018 and beyond, GE decided to drop the typical numeral naming (9000, 9400, 9600, 9900 ect) and simply call their new models the GE OEC Elite for the image intensifier version and Elite CFD for their new flat detector version. Both new models offer a verity of new features over the GE’s previous model the GE OEC 9900 Elite, so today I’m going to cut through all the technical specs and break it down to simply whats different between the 9900 and the all new Elite c-arm systems.

Whats Changed:

For the most part the all new GE OEC Elite and Elite CFD c-arm systems are just minor update of the GE OEC 9900. The majority of changes are on the monitor cart with the exception of the Flat Detector panel on the CFD version which is on the machine its self. You can basically break it down as follows:

*GE OEC 9900 C-Arm & GE OEC Elite C-Arm Are The Same Except For The Monitor Cart

*GE OEC 9900 C-Arm & GE OEC Elite CFD C-Arm Are The Same Except For The Monitor Cart And Flat Detector

Now let’s dig into those changes deeper.

9900 II vs Elite II vs Elite CFD Flat Detector:

When comparing the GE OEC 9900 to the GE OEC Elite, they both come in 9″ and 12″ Image intensifier models. Both have the same resolution and nothing has really changed here.

When comparing the GE OEC 9900 to the GE OEC Elite CFD this is where things have changed. Some for the better and some for the worst.

With the GE OEC 9900 you had the options of a true 9″ or 12″ II both with tri-mode options (9″ II offers 9/6/4.5″ and 12″ II offers 12/9/6″), the CFD on the other hand offers a 21cm (8.27″) or 31cm (12.2″) options. This means the new CFD has .2″ more field of view when comparing the 31cm detector to the 12″ II of the 9900 but loses .73″ of field of view when comparing the 21cm detector to the 9″ II, so there is some trade offs here on the smaller flat detector.

When it comes to resolution however there are no trade offs. Both the 21cm and 31cm flat detectors offer 1,500 x 1,500 x 16 bit resolution compared to the 9900’s 1,000 x 1,000 x 16 bit resolution. This gives the Flat Detector models a total of 1,500,000 more pixels, which increases pixel density and improves image quality.

9900 vs Elite Monitor Cart Comparison

GE OEC 9900 Monitor Cart vs Elite & Elite CFD Monitor Cart:

The monitor cart on both the Elite and Elite CFD are the same, and this is where most of the changes happen when compared to the GE OEC 9900 c-arm model.

The all new monitor cart design on the GE OEC Elite and Elite CFD has had the internal electronics minimized to a more compact size which allows the cart to have a more open air design and a lighter overall weight. The monitor cart also features a 32″ UHD 4K Monitor that offers touch and split screen functionality. The 9900 model by comparison has dual 18″ LCD flat panel displays. Both monitors offer articulating monitor arms, with the Elite offering up to 27″ of movement and the 9900 22″ of movement.

Other then the design of the cart its self and the display the rest of the new features are functional and software specific. The new Elite monitor cart offers more default presets for procedure or user preferences and has a new simplified user interface with less clicks required to navigate around and more active icons to launch into features quicker. Smart Connect now allows the monitor cart to be disconnected and reconnect to the c-arm without having to reboot which can help save time if repositioning the “C”.

Lastly while the “C” is basically the same. GE did make adjustments to to make it easier to steer, which physically smaller technicians will find helpful. GE claims that it now takes 30% less force then before.

Pricing:

The Elite & Elite CFD are both more expensive NEW then their NEW GE OEC 9900 counter parts, with Flat Detector models starting in the high $100 thousands and refurbished systems are simply not available yet do to them just being released the end of last year (on average its take 3-5 years before you’ll see refurbished systems available) by comparison refurbished GE OEC 9900 start at around $70,000 at this time of writing.

Conclusion: 

For GE the new Elite and Elite CFD c-arms are steps in the right direction of producing systems with modern technology and a nice minor upgrade from the GE OEC 9900 with updated monitor carts and optional Flat Detectors. However depending on your facility’s needs and budget the tired and true GE OEC 9900 might still be a better fit for you. The staff here at Equipped MD are happy to consult with you and go over your specific needs and help fit you with a c-arm system that will not only work for your needs but also work within you budget. If you would like our assistant please give us a call at (833) 838-8382 or REQUEST A QUOTE