Xoran MiniCAT IQ
CBCT capability & upgrade report
Specifications
| Sharpest resolution | 70 µm voxel |
|---|---|
| Field of view | 16.5–16.5 cm |
| Capture modes | 16.5cm diameter x 12cm axial (max) |
| Released | 2018 |
| In service | 8 years |
| Status | Current |
| Export path | Standard DICOM |
| Market position | Point-of-care ENT/sinus CBCT, dental-adjacent |
Where the Xoran MiniCAT IQ stands today
- Resolution holds up: at its sharpest (70µm voxel) it's still in the fine-detail tier the newest units sell on. You are not behind on image quality.
- Field of view reaches 16.5cm — enough for both arches in one capture. Most practices never switch out of the small default FOV and never know they have this.
- At 8 years (2018) it's current-generation. There is no hardware reason to replace it — the value left on the table is in how you use it.
What it already does that most practices don't use
- Output/networking: standard DICOM export. That export path is what lets a scan leave the machine and become something a patient can actually look at.
Upgrade paths for the Xoran MiniCAT IQ
- UpgradeCompact seated/point-of-care CBCT for sinuses, temporal bone and skull base. Primarily an ENT device, dental-adjacent (used for sinus/implant and OMFS-related imaging). No pano/ceph.
- NetworkThe fastest upgrade is almost never new hardware — it's getting the volume off the machine and into a workflow. That alone changes what the box is worth to you.
- ReconfigureSwitching your default to the right FOV/scan mode for implant cases is free, and most practices never do it.
Repair vs. replace: what it costs
Repair: the dominant wear item on any dental CBCT is the X-ray tube — a replacement runs roughly $15,000-$40,000, typically every 3–7 years depending on scan volume. A larger-FOV unit like this one sits toward the upper end of that range. Budget a service contract at about $5,000–$15,000/year and software licensing around $2,000/year. A flat-panel detector is the big unknown — it isn't publicly priced, so get a manufacturer quote before assuming the worst.
Replace: replacement pricing varies by configuration and condition. Before any trade-up, the honest test is whether a networking or software path gets you most of the capability for a fraction of a new unit.
Figures are 2025–26 industry ranges for dental CBCT, not a quote for your exact unit or contract. Sources: Medical Imaging Specialists, DentalTI buyer's guide, The Dental Signal.
Xoran MiniCAT IQ — common questions
- Can Alvea use scans from the Xoran MiniCAT IQ?
- Yes. The Xoran MiniCAT IQ exports a standard DICOM volume, and Alvea converts that volume into a chairside 3D model of the patient's jaw — no new hardware and no new scan. It runs off the cone-beam you already take.
- How much does it cost to repair a Xoran MiniCAT IQ?
- The dominant repair on any dental CBCT is the X-ray tube, which runs roughly $15,000-$40,000 and is typically replaced every 3–7 years by scan volume. Annual service contracts run about $5,000–$15,000, and a flat-panel detector is quoted by the manufacturer rather than listed publicly. These are 2025–26 industry ranges, not a quote for a specific unit.
- What is the field of view on the Xoran MiniCAT IQ?
- The Xoran MiniCAT IQ reaches 16.5 cm, enough to capture both arches in one scan — a mode most practices never switch to.
See what a Xoran MiniCAT IQ scan becomes.
Run the free, independent report on your exact unit — then turn one of your own scans into a 3D model the patient can see before they decide. No new hardware, no new scan.
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