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End of Life & End of Service Explained
Learning that a system in your facility is reaching its "End of Life" or "End of Service" from the manufacturer can seem scary but don't fret! We're here to answer all of your questions.
What Does "End of Service" Mean?
End of Service (EOS) indicates your imaging system's original manufacturer is no longer offering service support for your system.
Many third-party companies, including Block Imaging, offer service contracts to support these systems.
What Does "End Of Life" Mean?
According to the International Medical Device Regulators Forum (IMDRF), which is supported by the FDA, “End of Life” (EOL) indicates the life cycle stage of a product starting when the manufacturer no longer sells the product.
When you receive an EOL/EOS letter, it might lead you to believe it's time for a system upgrade. Most of the time, it's not necessary.
Many third-party companies, including Block Imaging, can support these systems.
Frequently Asked Questions:
We're experts at navigating end-of-life (EOL) and end-of-service (EOS) questions related to medical imaging equipment!
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Contact our team to get the answers you need about End of life (EOL) and end of service support (EOS) medical imaging equipment, original equipment manufacturer (OEM) concerns, and comprehensive medical imaging services.
DO I NEED TO BUY A NEW SYSTEM RIGHT AWAY?
The short answer: no.
With third-party parts and service options available from companies like Block Imaging, your system will live on years after being deemed EOL by the original equipment manufacturer. Our end-of-life and service support ensures that you receive continuous functionality from your medical imaging equipment.
HOW LONG WILL MY SYSTEM LAST AFTER DEEMED EOL?
While we can't determine the exact lifespan of your system after it's been deemed EOL by the OEM, our expertise in medical imaging services suggests that with the right support, a piece of equipment can outlast its OEM-designated end of life by several years.
DO PARTS BECOME UNAVAILABLE?
When parts suppliers that manufacture components for OEMs no longer supply the parts for a particular unit, the OEM begins to lean toward dubbing the system EOL.
Don’t despair just yet.
The used parts market is an excellent resource for finding reconditioned and tested parts from older medical imaging equipment. If a model was even moderately successful in establishing an install base, replacement parts can be sourced from third parties (like Block Imaging) for years after and end of life or end of service support designation.
DOES MY TECHNICAL SUPPORT STOP?
It is our experience that when the OEM terms their product EOL, They will start to gradually phase out technical support for the product. The timeframe for phase-out varies, but the endgame is the same.
In the event of an OEM phase-out, users can turn to third-party service groups for end-of-service parts and support. They should be able to help you keep your system running top notch until you decide it’s time to upgrade.
DOES THE SERVICE SUPPORT STOP?
After the OEM has completed their phase-out, you might find they won't work on a system at all. Once again, the solution for this lies in the wealth of experience available on the third-party market.
Many independent groups are founded by or employ engineers that began their careers with equipment manufacturers working and training on the equipment you’re now having trouble with.
These groups offer extensive support for EOL/EOS medical imaging equipment, ensuring your systems continue to operate effectively.
Block Imaging Can Help!
Our team works with EOL and EOS systems every day and we're ready with an experienced service team and thousands of parts in stock, ready to be shipped to your site!
24/7 Technical Support
Our team of service coordinators are available to help troubleshoot your system.
35,000+ Parts in Stock
Browse medical imaging parts available for all modalities! Receive same day shipping until 7:30PM EST Mon-Fri.
Field Service Support
Our team of field service engineers are experienced in working on all modalities, and all manufacturers.
Connect with our Service Team!
Learn more about your service options and how the Block Imaging team can help.
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