At WHX Miami, Micro-X’s Rover Plus stands out as a versatile and cost-efficient mobile radiology solution, combining advanced imaging performance with portability to meet the growing demand for decentralized healthcare across global markets.
In a hurry? Here are two key points:
- The Rover Plus is a compact, high-powered mobile digital X-ray system from Micro-X, designed for advanced imaging in both hospital and remote settings using lightweight Carbon Nano Tube technology.
- By September 2023, Micro-X secured a $1.5 million order from the Australian Government for Rover units.
- The CE Mark certification, granted in January 2024, officially cleared the Rover Plus for distribution in Europe.
As the World Health Expo (WHX) in Miami unfolds, radiologists, healthcare administrators, and medical technologists are engaging with the latest innovations in imaging. Among the standouts at this year’s event is the Micro-X Rover Plus, presented at Lighthouse Imaging’s booth U24. This next-generation mobile X-ray unit, developed by Australian firm Micro-X Ltd, offers a well-balanced solution for healthcare providers seeking compact, high-performance, and cost-effective radiography tools — especially those operating in underserved or remote locations across Latin America and beyond.
A New Standard in Mobile Imaging
The Rover Plus is the evolution of Micro-X’s digital radiography platform, utilizing the company’s patented Carbon Nano Tube (CNT) technology — a cold cathode X-ray emitter that eliminates the need for traditional components like rotating anodes, oil cooling, and lead shielding. The result is a system that’s not only lighter and more energy-efficient, but also has fewer mechanical parts, contributing to its reliability and longevity.
Unlike conventional mobile X-ray systems, the Rover Plus delivers up to 9 kW of power output, covering a kVp range of 40–120 and a variable focal spot size between 0.9 and 1.9 mm. It supports mAs settings from 0.2 to 80, and image acquisition times as fast as 5 milliseconds, enabling it to produce diagnostic-quality images quickly and with minimal radiation exposure. These specifications place it in direct competition with larger systems used in fixed radiology departments — yet it operates on a far more mobile and adaptable platform.
This makes the Rover Plus particularly appealing to facilities managing fluctuating patient volumes, ad-hoc imaging needs, or off-site diagnostic services.
Versatility for Every Scenario
One of the Rover Plus’s primary advantages is its mobility. Weighing 230lbs (105kg) and measuring approximately 1371 mm in length and 1300 mm in height when in its transport configuration, the unit can be maneuvered by a single operator. Its manual drive, intuitive control system, and adjustable arm — with a vertical travel range from 712 mm to over 2 meters — allow for imaging in virtually any clinical setting, from bedside in an ICU to emergency response in field environments.
Power is provided by five LiFePO₄ (Lithium Ferro-Phosphate) batteries, enabling the Rover Plus to operate entirely off-grid for extended periods. These batteries are durable, efficient, and less hazardous than traditional lithium-ion alternatives, making them suitable for variable conditions including high humidity and temperature fluctuations — realities often encountered in mobile health deployments across Latin America.
The device also includes integrated wireless DICOM 3.0 support, allowing images to be transmitted securely over both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. Compatibility with hospital PACS, remote networks, and a wide range of imaging formats ensures that radiologists can maintain clinical workflows regardless of location.
Recognition and Regulatory Momentum
Micro-X’s momentum has been supported by notable regulatory milestones. In early 2024, the Rover Plus received CE Mark certification under the European Medical Device Regulation (MDR), enabling its commercial deployment across 32 countries in the EEA, as well as in the UK and Switzerland. This certification affirms the system’s safety, performance, and manufacturing quality and opens the door for expansion into hospitals and clinics across Europe and regions where CE marking is recognized.
This regulatory milestone also provides assurance to buyers in LATAM and the Caribbean, where regional distributors often benchmark products based on CE or FDA clearance when sourcing new medical equipment.
Government Endorsement and Strategic Growth
Micro-X’s track record continues to gain credibility through institutional partnerships. In late 2023, the Australian Government placed a $1.5 million order for Rover systems as part of its portable X-ray imaging infrastructure for health services. The systems are being deployed for a combination of community-based health initiatives and emergency preparedness, showcasing the Rover’s adaptability to national health frameworks.
Additionally, Micro-X secured a $5.6 million strategic partnership with Billion Prima, a Malaysian security technology firm. While this deal centers on baggage and cargo scanning systems using similar CNT imaging chains, the capital injection and collaborative development efforts are helping Micro-X consolidate its manufacturing and accelerate commercialization efforts — especially for healthcare-focused products like the Rover Plus.
Importantly, a major U.S. hospital group and group purchasing organization (GPO) is currently evaluating the Rover Plus in a live clinical environment. The outcome of this multi-unit trial, expected in the first half of 2025, could represent a pivotal entry into one of the world’s largest healthcare markets.
Why It Matters at WHX
The WHX Miami audience includes many clinicians and procurement leaders from fast-growing healthcare markets across Latin America and the Caribbean — regions where healthcare infrastructure often grapples with gaps in access, trained personnel, and durable equipment. In these settings, the Rover Plus provides a practical solution that blends advanced radiology capabilities with unmatched portability and ease of maintenance.
The lower total cost of ownership, aided by simplified maintenance protocols and built-in field serviceability, further enhances its appeal to organizations seeking long-term value rather than just upfront savings. For mobile clinics, disaster relief agencies, and regional hospitals, it addresses real-world constraints with a design that is clinically robust and economically viable.
Visitors to booth U24 at WHX can see the Rover Plus in person and connect with Micro-X representatives for one-on-one meetings and live demonstrations. The team is offering tailored consultations for organizations exploring deployment across a variety of clinical and geographic settings.
A Company with a Focused Vision
Micro-X has recently refocused its strategy to concentrate on medical imaging solutions, discontinuing certain non-core projects to streamline operations. Backed by over $25 million in U.S. government contracts and partnerships with global imaging institutions, the company is positioning itself not just as a device manufacturer, but as a platform innovator in diagnostic imaging.
As the demand for decentralized and mobile healthcare grows globally, the Rover Plus is well-positioned to serve as a foundational tool in modern, patient-centered radiology workflows. For hospitals, ministries of health, and NGOs working at the intersection of care delivery and access, this is a product worth examining closely.
