Frequently asked questions

WHY HANDHELD X-RAY?

AVAILABILITY:
What NOMAD products are available?
What is the difference between the NOMAD and the NOMAD Pro?
Where are NOMAD products approved for use?
Can I buy directly from you?
How can an educational institution buy your products?
I’m going on a humanitarian mission. Can you provide me with a NOMAD device for that purpose?
After I order, when will my product ship?
How do I become an Aribex dealer?

SAFETY and USE
Are NOMAD products safe?
What personal protective measures should I take when using NOMAD products?
How do I clean/sanitize my NOMAD?
How can I register my warranty with Aribex?
Who registers the product with the state?
Can you take clear x-rays holding the unit in your hand?
What imaging media can be used?

BATTERIES
How do I maintain the batteries on the NOMAD Dental and NOMAD eXaminer?
How do I maintain the rechargeable handsets on the NOMAD Pro and NOMAD Pro Veterinary?

AVAILABILITY

What NOMAD products are available?

Currently, our line of x-ray devices consists of:

• NOMAD Dental, for general dental use
• NOMAD eXaminer, for forensic, veterinary and other non-human use
• NOMAD Pro, for general dental use
• NOMAD Pro Veterinary, for veterinary dental use
  
  

What is the difference between the NOMAD and the NOMAD Pro?

The NOMAD Dental and NOMAD eXaminer use a rechargeable NiCd battery and weighs 8.5 pounds.

The NOMAD Pro Dental and NOMAD Pro Veterinary use rechargeable Lithium Polymer handsets, weigh 5.5 pounds, and feature an enhanced user interface.

Where are NOMAD products approved for use?

Within the United States the NOMAD Dental and NOMAD Pro are cleared for sale by the FDA.  Individual states may have specific requirements for their use. For details check with your dealer or the state radiation control office.

For use outside of the U.S., please contact Aribex Customer Support.

Can I buy directly from you?

With the exception of educational institutions, Aribex sells its NOMAD products only through established dental and veterinary dealers. Aribex Customer Support will be happy to have a representative contact you or arrange a demonstration in your office. That way you can see how lightweight and convenient NOMAD products are and determine if it’s right for your practice.

How can an educational institution buy your products?

Please contact Aribex Customer Support for information.

I’m going on a humanitarian mission. Can you provide me with a NOMAD device for that purpose?

Aribex has humanitarian support and rental programs available to worthy charitable causes. Opportunities for these units are limited, so contact cdayton@aribex.com as far in advance as possible.

After I order, when will my product ship?

Our policy is to ship within two weeks, however we can usually ship within one business day of receipt of the order.

How do I become an Aribex dealer?

Aribex has an approval process in place for the selection of new dealers. Customer Support will be happy to send you a dealer application. When completed and received, it will be referred to the appropriate segment manager for approval, who will contact you with further information.

SAFETY and USE

Are NOMAD products safe?

Numerous clinical studies have confirmed that NOMAD x-ray products, when used properly, are as safe, if not safer, than conventional x-ray units. Special internal shielding and our external backscatter shield protect the operator, while true DC voltage and a controlled focal spot minimize the exposure to the patient. For more information on these studies please contact Customer Support.

What personal protective measures should I take when using NOMAD products?

When used properly, NOMAD products require no protection unless mandated by your state. Independent tests have shown that even under the heaviest use operator exposure is one one-hundredth of the annual maximum set by the government for occupational safety.

Individual states may vary in their approval and requirements for handheld x-ray devices, including storage, use of protective vests, and dosimetry badges or rings. Check with your dealer or the state radiation control office for details.

If you are pregnant or think you may be pregnant, we recommend using a lead vest just as you would when operating any x-ray equipment.

Bystanders should maintain a proper distance from the x-ray by following local radiation safety regulations to avoid undue exposure.

How do I clean/sanitize my NOMAD?

NOTE: NOMAD devices, batteries, handles, charging units and power supplies ARE NOT designed to be subjected to any kind of sterilization procedure, including autoclaving.

NOMAD Dental or NOMAD eXaminer: Turn off the power and detach the battery before cleaning. Ensure the battery charger is unplugged before attempting to clean it. Use a non-acetone based disinfectant wipe  or cloth (according to chemical manufacturer’s recommendations) to wipe the exterior surfaces of the NOMAD  and charger.

NOMAD Pro and NOMAD Pro Veterinary: Unplug the charging cradle before cleaning. Use a non-acetone based disinfectant wipe  or cloth (according to chemical manufacturer’s recommendations) to disinfect the exterior surfaces of the NOMAD Pro  and handset. Leave the handset connected to the NOMAD Pro and wipe down all surfaces of the device.

DO NOT spray disinfectant of cleaners directly on any NOMAD device, handset, battery, charging unit or AC power supply. The connecting areas are subject to ingress, and damage to your device may result.
DO NOT operate the NOMAD, battery, handset, charging unit, or power supply if equipment was subjected to moisture (wetting, immersing, or soaking). If this occurs, return the unit to Aribex for service.

How can I register my warranty with Aribex?

You can either mail in the warranty card that came with your unit or fill out the online warranty registration here.

Who registers the product with the state?

The owner has responsibility to register the device with the state. A list of state regulatory websites is available at http://www.aribex.com/news/links.html.

Can you take clear x-rays holding the unit in your hand?

Yes. Both experience and data show that the operator can easily hold the NOMAD and NOMAD Pro steady enough to produce diagnostic quality x-rays. In tests, we have even deliberated moved the NOMAD while taking an x-ray without affecting the quality of the radiograph. Simply put, it's not an issue.

What imaging media can be used?

A. NOMAD devices work equally well with film, digital media and phosphor plates. Exposure times will vary with the media used.

BATTERIES

How do I maintain the batteries on the NOMAD Dental and NOMAD eXaminer?

The batteries on these devices are NiCd (Nickel-Cadmium).

You may charge a partially used pack whenever you desire with no adverse affect on the battery pack.

For optimum performance, leave the battery pack in the charger for eight hours or more once every week or after 10 charge/discharge cycles. This balances the cells, keeps the pack at peak performance and extends the usable life of the pack.

If a NOMAD Dental or NOMAD Examiner is not in use for an extended length of time, the handles should still be charged once every three months to ensure the integrity of the battery cells.

Using Automatic Tune-UpMode (NOMAD Dental and eXaminer only)

The Automatic Tune-Up Mode equalizes or balances the individual cells in the battery pack allowing it to function at peak capacity. Battery packs should be tuned up weekly or after 10 charge/discharge cycles or whenever the pack no longer delivers the same amount of work. To use the automatic tune-up mode, simply place the battery pack in the charger and leave it for at least eight hours. The charger will cycle through the following modes.

1. The red light will blink continuously indicating that the 1-hour charge cycle has started.

2. When the 1-hour charge cycle is complete, the light will stay on continuously longer blink. This indicates that the pack is fully charged and can be used at this time.

3. Whenever the pack is left in the charger after the initial 1-hour charge, the charger will begin the Automatic Tune-Up Mode. This mode continues up to 8 hours or until individual cells in the battery pack are equalized. The battery pack is ready for use and can be removed at any time during the Tune-Up Mode.

4. Once the Automatic Tune-Up Mode is complete the charger will transition to a maintenance charge; no indicator light shows the Tune-Up Mode.

How do I maintain the rechargeable handsets on the NOMAD Pro and NOMAD Pro Veterinary?

The handsets contain Lithium Polymer batteries. They may be recharged every evening. Always unplug the charger when not in use.

If a NOMAD Pro is not in use for an extended length of time, the handles should still be charged once every six months to ensure the integrity of the battery cells.

All NOMAD products:

Batteries and handsets should be carefully removed from the x-ray head each night when storing the device.

It is recommended that when using NOMAD devices to leave the spare battery/handset in the charger at all times.

Use the active battery/handset until the low battery indicator is displayed, then remove it and swap it for the battery/handset that has been in the charger. This cycle could continue for a couple of years.

Eventually the battery/handset will stop holding a charge and require replacement from your dealer.