Felgains ImageFlow Stretcher vs Stryker Fluoroscopy Stretcher – an honest comparison

There are a large number of imaging and fluoroscopy stretchers on the market, each with various positives and drawbacks, and some with special functions, and subsequently, choosing the correct stretcher for your hospital can be a daunting and time-consuming task. 

The purpose of this article is to compare two of the most popular stretchers on the market; the Stryker Fluoroscopy stretcher and the Felgains ImageFlow stretcher, covering the key features, positives, and drawbacks of each, to make your decision-making process easier and to enable you to make the best decision for your hospital. 

Key features comparison at a glance

What is the Stryker Fluoroscopy Stretcher?

The Stryker Fluoroscopy stretcher is designed with access, functionality, and safety in mind, and is designed to simplify operation and minimize the need to reposition the patient during fluoroscopic imaging.

Key Features and Specifications

• Safe working load: 225kg
• Pneumatic backrest
• 150 mm castor wheels
• Foot-controlled hydraulics
• U-shaped base
• Fold-down side rails

Positives

• U-shaped base – The U-shaped stretcher base enables you to position a C-arm camera very close to the trolley and offers good clearance for the camera, enabling you to capture clear images exactly where you need to. 
• Foot-controlled hydraulics – Foot-controlled hydraulics enable staff to have their hands free for easily carrying out imaging tasks whilst adjusting the profile and height of the trolley. 
• Good access to the patient – Fold-down side rails enable unimpeded access to the patient and freedom of camera movement. 

Drawbacks

• Lack of sliding top – A sliding mattress platform enables you to greatly reduce the need to move the patient, trolley base or C arm, which increases efficiency in your imaging department and reduces the risk of musculoskeletal injury to your staff. The Stryker stretcher doesn’t have this feature, which means your staff will need to manually move the C-arm or patient whilst imaging. 
• Lack of 5th wheel – The absence of a 5th wheel makes the Stryker stretcher harder to push and manoeuvre when compared to those with a 5th wheel, particularly in small environments such as imaging and endoscopy units. 
• A very thin mattress means that patients often report discomfort

What is the Felgains ImageFlow Stretcher?

The Felgains ImageFlow is a hospital imaging stretcher for Endoscopy, Fluoroscopy and any task requiring the use of a C-arm. The ImageFlow is designed to solve problems with inefficient patient transfer and reduce manual manoeuvring of C-arms and repositioning of patients whilst imaging. 

Key Features and Specifications

• Safe working load: 320kg
• Pneumatic backrest and knee-brake
• 150mm double-roller castor wheels
• Sliding radiolucent top
• U-shaped base
• Fold-down side rails
• Retractable 5^th wheel
• Stainless steel frame

Positives

• Sliding top – The mattress platform on the ImageFlow slides 490mm horizontally, up and down, greatly reducing the need to move the patient, trolley base or C arm. As well as increasing efficiency in your imaging department, this reduces the risk of musculoskeletal injury to your staff. 
• One trolley for multiple tasks – The ImageFlow suits multiple different tasks, including therapeutic Endoscopy, Fluoroscopy and any task requiring the use of a C-arm. It can also be used for patient transfer, right through from your ED department to the imaging department. 
• U-shaped base – The U-shaped stretcher base enables you to position a C-arm camera very close to the trolley and offers good clearance for the camera, enabling you to capture clear images exactly where you need to. 
• 5th wheel – The retractable 5th wheel on the Fluoro-Track stretcher makes the stretcher easy and intuitive for staff to move around your hospital, which is especially useful in compact hospital environments such as imaging rooms.
• High safe working load – The ImageFlow has an industry-leading safe working load of 320kg SWL, meaning you are able to use it with more patients and also those previously unable to access such treatments due to low safe working loads. 
• Robust – Built with a stainless steel frame for longevity and with the hospital environment in mind, the ImageFlow is reliable, robust and always ready to use.

Drawbacks

• Heavy – The robust nature of the ImageFlow means that the stretcher is quite heavy, which may mean some staff find it hard to move around. 

Click here to learn more about the ImageFlow stretcher 🡥

Which stretcher should you choose for your hospital?

I trust this article has given you a clear understanding of the two imaging stretchers from Stryker and Felgains, and the positives and drawbacks of each. 

Which stretcher you choose for your trust will vary depending on your needs and requirements, and we will happily talk this through with you if required.  Often, a hospital would trial a piece of equipment such as a stretcher before purchasing, and we would be happy to arrange this for you.

To get started, feel free to get in touch on 01473 741144, or via the contact form below. 

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How to avoid injury when moving and using a C-arm camera for fluoroscopy

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