Equipment reference
Used Philips BV Pulsera C-Arm
The most commonly traded Philips mobile C-arm, and the one where the licensed software packages decide what you can actually do with it.
The Philips BV Pulsera is a mobile fluoroscopy C-arm built for surgical, vascular and pain management work, and it is the Philips system a used-equipment buyer is most likely to encounter. It competes directly with the GE OEC 9800 and 9900 generation, and facilities generally choose between them on image handling preference, existing service relationships and what happens to be available rather than on capability.
Like its GE counterparts, the machine's identity lives in the configuration rather than the model name.
Configuration variants — check which one you are getting
| Variant | What differs |
|---|---|
| 9-inch intensifier | General surgical, orthopedic and pain management configuration |
| 12-inch intensifier | Larger field of view for vascular, spine and bariatric work |
| Vascular and cardiac packages | Roadmapping, subtraction and cardiac review are licensed software options |
| Monitor cart generation | Flat-panel workstations are the norm; confirm what is actually attached |
Philips systems in this generation carry their imaging capabilities as licensed packages, so two Pulseras that look identical can behave very differently. Ask which packages are enabled on the specific serial number rather than which packages the platform supports.
Specifications
| Type | Mobile fluoroscopy C-arm |
| Image receptor | Image intensifier, 9-inch or 12-inch by configuration |
| Typical use | Vascular access, orthopedics, pain management, urology, general surgery |
| Monitors | Dual-monitor mobile workstation |
| Networking | DICOM options commonly licensed rather than standard — confirm per machine |
| Footprint | Two-piece: C-arm and separate monitor cart |
Known failure points
Image intensifier degradation. The dominant cost and the one that decides value. A dim intensifier is not visible in a screen photograph — ask for exported images.
Tube hours. Consumable and expensive. Ask for the accumulated figure rather than an impression of how much the system has been used.
Interconnect cable. Repeatedly rolled over, heavy, and costly to replace. Inspect the whole length and both connectors.
Monitor cart electronics. Confirm both monitors work and that the cart's own controls are intact — carts are sometimes swapped between machines and do not always arrive matched.
Mechanical movement. Orbital, wig-wag and vertical travel should all be smooth and self-holding. Drift signals brake and counterbalance wear.
Service availability. Support for older Philips mobile imaging varies by region and by third-party service company. Confirm who will service the unit where it is going before you buy it, not after.
Pre-purchase inspection checklist
- Confirm intensifier size from a photograph of the actual machine
- Get the enabled software packages listed against the serial number, in writing
- Ask for accumulated tube hours and exported sample images
- Confirm DICOM capability if you need to send studies anywhere
- Inspect the interconnect cable end to end
- Confirm both monitors and the cart's controls function
- Run every axis through full travel and confirm it holds position
- Identify a service provider for your area before purchase
- Check your state's radiation control requirements before shipment
Availability
No live listings yet. Send a sourcing request and we will look for a Pulsera across the approved seller network as it comes online.
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