<Page>
                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.9

                                                                   SEPT. 1, 1993
                                 LOAN AGREEMENT

                              SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA

PREAMBLE: This Note is a consolidation of all amounts loaned by CLINTON L.
LINGREN ("Holder") to Aurora Technologies Corporation ("Aurora"), a California
Corporation. This Note cancels all loans made by CLINTON L. LINGREN prior to
this date and all loan guarantees prior to this date by any and all Aurora
directors to other Aurora directors.

Aurora promises to pay to CLINTON L. LINGREN a resident of SAN DIEGO, CA
("Holder") at 6211 HANNON CT. 92117 the principal sum of ONE-HUNDRED-NINETY
THOUSAND DOLLARS ($190,000.00), with Interest on such principal sum from the
date of this Note, as more fully set forth below.

         1. PAYMENTS. Principal and interest under this Note shall be paid as
follows.

                  1.1. Commencing on the first day of the month following the
date of executing this agreement and continuing until February 1, 1996, interest
only shall be paid at the rate of eight percent (8%) per annum. Thereafter
principal and interest at the rate of 1.5% above the interest rate of a
thirty-year U.S. treasury note maturing February 1, 2026, shall be paid in such
equal monthly payments that the entire indebtedness shall be paid off on
February 1, 2001.

                  Any or all of this Note may be prepaid without penalty. Any
prepayments shall first be applied to unpaid interest and then to principal.
Aurora agrees not to prepay any amount on this Note unless equal amounts are
paid on the other two similar loan agreements of this same date between Aurora
and JACK F. BUTLER and GERALD G. LOEHR TRUST.

         2. MANNER OF PAYMENTS. All payments by Aurora under this Note shall be
made in lawful money of the United States of America without set-off, deduction
or counterclaim of any kind whatsoever.

         3. COMMERCIAL PURPOSES. Aurora acknowledges that the loan evidenced by
this Note is obtained for business or commercial purposes and that the proceeds
of such loan will not be used primarily for personal, family, household or
agricultural purposes.

         4. NOTE WAIVERS. Aurora waives presentment, demand, protest, notice of
demand and dishonor.

         5. GOVERNING LAW. This Note shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of California.

         6. VENUE AND JURISDICTION. For purposes of venue and jurisdiction, this
Note shall be deemed made and to be performed in San Diego, California.

         7. TIME OF ESSENCE. Time and strict and punctual performance are of the
essence with respect to each provision of this Note.

                                       -1-

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         8. ATTORNEY'S FEES. The prevailing party to this Note shall be
entitled to recover from the unsuccessful party to this Note all costs,
expenses, and actual attorney's fees relating to or arising from the
enforcement or interpretation of, or any litigation, arbitration or mediation
relating to or arising from, this Note.

         9. MODIFICATION. This Note may be modified only by a contract in
writing executed by the party to this Note against whom enforcement of such
modification is sought.

         10. HEADINGS. The headings of the Paragraphs of this Note have been
included only for convenience, and shall not be deemed in any manner to modify
or limit any of the provisions of this Note, or be used in any manner in the
Interpretation of this Note.

         11. PRIOR UNDERSTANDINGS. This Note contains the entire agreement
between the parties to this Note with respect to the subject matter of this
Note, is intended as a final expression of such parties' agreement with respect
to such terms as are included in this Note, is intended as a complete and
exclusive statement of the terms of such agreement, and supersedes all
negotiations, stipulations, understandings, agreements, representations and
warranties, if any, with respect to such subject matter, which precede or
accompany the execution of this Note.

         12. INTERPRETATION. Whenever the context so requires in this Note, all
words used in the singular shall be construed to have been used in the plural
(and vice versa), each gender shall be construed to include any other genders,
and the word "person" shall be construed to include a natural person, a
corporation, a firm, a partnership, a joint venture, a trust, an estate or any
other entity.

         13. PARTIAL INVALIDITY. Each provision of this Note shall be valid and
enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law. If any provision of this
Note or the application of such provision to any person or circumstance shall,
to any extent, be invalid or unenforceable, the remainder of this Note, or the
application of such provision to persons or circumstances other than those as to
which it is held invalid or unenforceable, shall not be affected by such
invalidity or unenforceability, unless such provision or such application of
such provision is essential to this Note.

         14. SUCCESSORS-IN-INTEREST AND ASSIGNS. This Note shall be binding upon
and shall inure to the benefit of the successors-in-interest and assigns of each
party to this Note. Nothing in this Paragraph shall create any rights
enforceable by any person not a party to this Note, except for the rights of the
successors-in-interest and assigns of each party to this Note, unless such
rights are expressly granted in this Note to other specifically identified
persons.

         15. WAIVER. Any waiver of a default under this Note must be in writing
and shall not be a waiver of any other default concerning the same or any other
provision of this Note. No delay or omission in the exercise of any right or
remedy shall impair such right or remedy or be construed as a waiver. A consent
to or approval of any act shall not be deemed to waive or render unnecessary
consent to or approval of any other or subsequent act.


                                       -2-

<Page>

GERALD G.  LOEHR TRUST              AURORA TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
                                    a California corporation

By:  /s/ Gerald G. Loehr, Trustee   By:   /s/ Jack F. Butler     9/1/93
    ------------------------------      -----------------------------------
     Gerald G. Loehr                      Jack F. Butler, President


By:  /s/ Clinton L. Lingren         By:   /s/ Clinton L. Lingren 9-1-93
    ------------------------------      -----------------------------------
    Clinton L. Lingren                    Clinton L. Lingren, Secretary


<Page>

                           AMENDMENT TO LOAN AGREEMENT

         THIS AMENDMENT TO LOAN AGREEMENT (the "Amendment") dated as of May
13, 1994 amends the Loan Agreement dated as of September 1, 1993 by and
between AURORA TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION, a California corporation, with
principal offices at 7408 Trade Street, San Diego, California 92121-2410 (the
"Company"), and CLINTON L. LINGREN ("Lender"), as amended by the Addendum to
Loan Agreement dated as of January 1, 1994, February 17, 1994 and April 14,
1994 (collectively, the "Original Agreement").

         WHEREAS, Lender together with JACK F. BUTLER , and GERALD G. LOEHR ,
collectively (the "Founders"), have individually entered into loan agreements
with the Company which provide for the Company to repay to the Founders
principal totaling $735,000 and interest thereon;

         WHEREAS, the Company and Kingsbury Capital Partners, L.P. ("Kingsbury")
have entered into a Stock Purchase Agreement dated as of May 13, 1994, whereby
Kingsbury will provide additional financing to the Company in exchange for
Series A Preferred Stock of the Company, pursuant to which the Company has
agreed to enter into this Amendment with Lender to amend the terms of the
Original Agreement by the terms set forth below;

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and of the mutual
provisions and obligations hereinafter set forth, the parties hereto agree as
follows:

         1. PAYMENTS. Principal and interest under this Amendment shall be paid
as follows.

                  1.1. Interest shall be paid quarterly. The simple rate of
interest shall be six and thirty-five hundredths percent (6.35%) per annum.
Notwithstanding any provision of this Amendment, it is the intent and agreement
of the parties that in the event any interest specified herein is found to
violate any applicable law or regulation, this Amendment shall be construed or
deemed amended so that the interest is adjusted to the extent necessary to
comply with such applicable law or regulation.

                  1.2. Payment of principal shall not become due until the later
of (i) March 31, 1999 or (ii) March 31 of the year immediately following the
first year in which the Company's cash provided by operations is greater than
zero as shown on the Company's audited statement of cash flows for such year.
Subject to certain exceptions to payment provided herein, the principal shall be
paid to Lender in twelve (12) equal quarterly installments, the first such
payment to be made within forty-five (45) days of the initial due date and
subsequent quarterly installments to be paid within forty-five (45) days of the
end of each subsequent quarter. The Company shall make payment of quarterly
installments to Lender in equal proportion to the amounts paid to the other
Founders, and shall not make payment of any portion of Lender's principal before
similar payment to other Founders. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary
herein, the aggregate amount of the quarterly installments to principal paid to
Lender and the other Founders shall not exceed fifty percent (50%) of the
Company's cash provided by operations as shown on the Company's unaudited
statement of cash flows for the prior quarter, in which event, any unpaid
amounts of principal shall be carried forward and subsequent quarterly
installments shall be adjusted accordingly to account for the principal carried
forward.

<Page>

         2. Except as set forth herein, there have been no other amendments to
the Original Agreement and all terms and conditions thereof shall remain in full
force and effect.

         3. This Amendment may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of
which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute
one and the same instrument.

         4. No waiver or modification of the terms of this Amendment shall be
valid unless in writing, signed by both parties to this Amendment.

         5. This Amendment shall be governed by and construed in accordance with
the laws of the State of California, irrespective of its choice of law
provisions.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Amendment to be signed
in duplicate by their duly authorized representatives. Entered into as of the
day and year first above written.

                                       AURORA TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION

                                       By       /s/ Jack F. Butler
                                          ----------------------------------
                                       Title    Presient
                                             -------------------------------

                                                Jack F. Butler
                                       -------------------------------------
                                       By       /s/ Jack F. Butler
                                          ----------------------------------
                                       Title    President
                                             -------------------------------

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AURORA TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    7408 Trade Street - San Diego, CA 92121-2410
                                             (619) 549-4545 - Fax (619) 549-7714


                           ADDENDUM TO LOAN AGREEMENT

This ADDENDUM amends the Agreement between CLINTON L. LINGREN and Aurora
Technologies Corporation ("Aurora") dated September 1, 1993 ("Original
Agreement") to allow additional amounts to be loaned to Aurora from time to
time, with the principal sum being increased accordingly. The rates of interest
and all terms and conditions contained in the original Agreement will apply to
the loans and new principal amounts.

Loans will be considered valid and new principal amounts established when
properly recorded and accepted by the named Aurora officials below.

<Table>
<S>                          <C>                            <C>
1.  1/1/94                   $20,000.00                     $210,000.00
    ----------------------   -------------------            ----------------------
    Date                     Amount Loaned                  New Principal Balance

    Loaned by:               Accepted for Aurora
                             Technologies Corporation by:

    /s/ Clinton L. Lingren   /s/ Jack F. Butler             /s/ Clinton L. Lingren
    ----------------------   -------------------            ----------------------
                             Jack F. Butler                 Clinton L. Lingren
                             President                      Secretary

2.  2/17/94                  $25,000.00                     $235,000.00
    ----------------------   -------------------            ----------------------
    Date                     Amount Loaned                  New Principal Balance

    Loaned by:               Accepted for Aurora
                             Technologies Corporation by:

    /s/ Clinton L. Lingren   /s/ Jack F. Butler             /s/ Clinton L. Lingren
    ----------------------   -------------------            ----------------------
                             Jack F. Butler                 Clinton L. Lingren
                             President                      Secretary

3.  4/14/94                  $10,000.00                     $245,000.00
    ----------------------   -------------------            ----------------------
    Date                     Amount Loaned                  New Principal Balance

    Loaned by:               Accepted for Aurora
                             Technologies Corporation by:

    /s/ Clinton L. Lingren   /s/ Jack F. Butler             /s/ Clinton L. Lingren
    ----------------------   -------------------            ----------------------
                             Jack F. Butler                 Clinton L. Lingren
                             President                      Secretary
</Table>

<Page>

                           AMENDMENT TO LOAN AGREEMENT

         This Amendment to Loan Agreement (this "Amendment") is entered into as
of May 7, 2004 (the "Effective Date") by and between Digirad Corporation, a
Delaware corporation (the "Company") and Clinton L. Lingren ("Holder").


                                    RECITALS

         WHEREAS, the Company and Holder are party to a certain Loan Agreement
dated on or about September 1, 1993, as amended on or about January 1, 1994,
February 17, 1994, April 14, 1994 and May 13, 1994 (collectively, the "Loan
Agreement");

         WHEREAS, in connection with the consummation of the sale by the Company
of certain shares of its common stock to the public (the "Public Offering")
pursuant a Registration Statement on Form S-1 (the "Registration Statement"),
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Company and Holder have
entered into a certain Loan Modification and Warrant Issuance Agreement dated as
of the date hereof (the "Loan Modification Agreement"), pursuant to which the
Company and Holder have set forth their agreements and understandings with
respect to certain matters and have agreed to settle any potential disagreements
among them in connection therewith; and

         WHEREAS, in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Loan
Modification Agreement, and acting pursuant to Section 9 of the Loan Agreement,
the Company and Holder desire to amend and restate certain provisions of the
Loan Agreement.

         In consideration of the foregoing and the promises and covenants
contained herein and other good and valuable consideration the receipt of which
is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

         1. PAYMENT OF PRINCIPAL. Section 1.2 of the Loan Agreement shall be
amended and restated in its entirety as follows:

                  "1.2 Payment of principal shall not become due until the later
                  of (i) March 31, 1999 or (ii) March 31 of the year immediately
                  following the first year in which the Company's cash provided
                  by operations is greater than zero as shown on the Company's
                  audited statement of cash flows for such year. Subject to
                  certain exceptions to payment provided herein, the principal
                  shall be paid to Lender in twelve (12) equal quarterly
                  installments, the first such payment to be made within one (1)
                  business day of May 7, 2004 and subsequent quarterly
                  installments to be paid within forty-five (45) days of the end
                  of each subsequent quarter. The Company shall make payment of
                  quarterly installments to Lender in equal proportion to the
                  amounts paid to the other Founders, and shall not make payment
                  of any portion of Lender's principal before similar payment to
                  other Founders. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event
                  that during the term of this agreement, the Company
                  consummates the initial sale of its common stock to the public
                  in a firm commitment, underwritten public

<Page>

                  offering pursuant a Registration Statement on Form S-1, under
                  the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (an "IPO"), the Company
                  shall pay to Lender (i) fifty percent (50%) of the remaining
                  principal amount outstanding under this agreement within ten
                  (10) business days of the consummation of the IPO, and (ii)
                  the remaining principal amount outstanding under this
                  agreement within sixty (60) days of the consummation of the
                  IPO."

         2. EFFECT OF AMENDMENT. Except as expressly amended, restated or
consented to in this Amendment, the Loan Agreement shall continue in full force
and effect. In the event of any conflict between the terms of this Amendment and
Loan Agreement, the terms of this Amendment shall govern and control.

         3. GOVERNING LAW. This Amendment shall be governed by and construed
under the laws of the State of California as applied to agreements among
California residents entered into and to be performed entirely within
California.

         4. COUNTERPARTS. This Amendment may be executed in any number of
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which
together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

         5. SEVERABILITY. If one or more provisions of this Amendment is held to
be unenforceable under applicable law, such provision shall be excluded from
this Amendment and the balance of the Amendment shall be interpreted as if such
provision were so excluded and shall be enforceable in accordance with its
terms.

         6. ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Amendment, together with the Loan Agreement,
the Loan Modification Agreement and the documents executed in connection
therewith, constitutes the full and entire understanding and agreement between
the parties with regard to the subjects hereof and thereof.



                  [REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]


                                       2

<Page>


         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Amendment as of the
date first above written.

COMPANY:                              DIGIRAD CORPORATION


                                         /s/ DAVID M. SHEEHAN
                                      ------------------------------------------
                                      David M. Sheehan
                                      President and Chief Executive Officer





HOLDER:                                  /s/ CLINTON L. LINGREN
                                      ------------------------------------------
                                      Clinton L. Lingren

















                 [SIGNATURE PAGE TO AMENDMENT TO LOAN AGREEMENT]