CT System Maintenance

This web-based training is designed to introduce the learner to the Recommended Processes for Performing Routine Quality Control functions on your CT System. These steps will help maximize your system performance and optimize your examination IQ. The Daily QC Process Clockwise from top: Checkup, Quality Phantom, Shutdown/Restart, and Calibration Upon completion of this course, you should be able to: Identify the steps required to perform daily quality control Identify the steps required to perform weekly quality control   Daily System Checkup:  Performed at least every 24 hours Conveniently added to the daily shutdown/restart routine or after turning on the system for the day   The tube will be warmed up gradually to operating temperature.    The detectors will be calibrated based on the environmental conditions of the scan room    Any necessary corrective actions to optimize scanner performance will be performed automatically        Step-by-step guidance on how to perform a Daily Checkup STEP 1: SETUP   After system start or reboot the Checkup message box appears automatically Note: if checkup has already been done or scanner is needed immediately (eg Trauma), Cancel checkup and perform later by clicking Setup > Checkup Daily Quality Check:  Should be performed daily, typically after system shutdown/restart and Checkup   Mount the water phantom and align laser lights.   All calculations and measurements are performed automatically: Measures the tube voltage for correct values Calculates the Hounsfield unit of water and the standard deviation as measured in the images     Step-by-step guidance on how to perform a Daily Quality Check Step 1: Phantom   Attach Phantom to table and align with laser lights. Step-by-step guidance to learn how to retrieve QA results   QA results are generated and stored automatically on the scanner and can be accessed as needed. Step 1: Open File Browser From the Examination screen, selelct Options > File Browser from the dropdown.   The purpose of calibrating a CT scanner is to optimize the system performance and help prolong the life of the equipment. A calibration should be performed approximately 1 - 2 hours after the check-up process is completed. It is also recommended to repeat the calibration if the system has been idle for more than one hour, or as otherwise instructed by your service engineer. Step-by-step guidance on how to perform a Calibration Step 1: Setup From the Examination screen, select Setup > Calibration.     Because of the tremendous amounts of data that are created and deleted during normal operation, it is very important to perform a complete system shutdown every 24 hours. Shutting the system down clears the temporary memory and helps optimize performance of the system.  Step-by-step guidance on how to perform a System Shut Down and Restart   Step 1: Menu   Close all open examinations and applications. From the Examination screen, select System > End. The Weekly QC Process The scanner table contains its own set of computer controls. These controls do not reset during a complete shutdown procedure, but instead during a simple System Restart recommended once a week. This will clear the temporary memory and optimize table performance.   Step-by-step guidance on how to perform a System Restart Close all open examinations and applications. From the Examination screen, select System > End   In order to keep the syngo system software running optimally, it is important to run the System Clean Up and Shutdown on a weekly basis. This process organizes and cleans up the disk space and optimizes performance, similar to the clean up and defragmentation process on a PC. When performed regularly this process will add a minimal amount of time to the daily shutdown.   Step-by-step guidance on how to perform a System Clean Up and Shutdown Close all open examinations and applications. From the Examination screen, select System > Run > System Clean Up and Shutdown.     You should now be able to: Identify the steps required to perform daily quality control   Identify the steps required to perform weekly quality control Select Checkup to initiate the process.   The scanner will not produce x-rays unless initiated by the operator. Press the “Scan Start” button to start checkup.   When the Checkup process is complete the dialog box will automatically close and default to the Examination page.   From the Examination screen, select Setup > Quality. Select OK to begin process. The scanner will not produce x-rays unless initiated by the operator. Press the Scan Start button to start the QA process. Press OK to complete the process.  Note: It is important to review the results to ensure they are in tolerance. Follow any local service instructions for corrective actions if necessary. In File Browser: Navigate to the H:\SiteData directory Locate the Constancy Reports folder Double click to open From available files: Locate report - or reports - containing the desired dates Select the Date column header at the top to reverse the sort order.   Insert  formatted USB into PC tower Use right mouse button to copy and paste desired report to USB/removable media USB drive can now be used on another computer (PDF report can be saved or printed there)   To export Constancy report - or reports to a CD: Use  right mouse button to copy and paste the desired report(s) to Offline folder found in File Browser.   To burn a new CD: Local job status queue must be clear. Go to Patient->Browser->Transfer-> Local Job Status and click Clear to empty the job queue.   To start the CD burning process, go to Patient > Browser >Transfer and select Record Off-line Files. Choose DVD-RW,  then Eject.  Insert blank CD.  Note: CD Drawer closes automatically in the next step.     To start the CD burning process, go to Patient->Browser->Transfer and select Record Off-line Files.   To read the CD on another computer, the disk must finalized and ejected. Go to Patient->Browser->Transfer Select Finalize Medium and Eject from DVD-RW. Disk can now be used on another computer. (PDFreport can be saved or printed there)   Select OK to confirm that all objects have been removed from the scan field.   Press Start on the control box to begin the process. When the calibration is complete, click OK to close the dialogue box.   From the End Session dialogue box choose Shutdown System.   Select Yes to initiate Shut Down process. Scanner will begin by closing down the syngo software and will turn the system off completely when done.    From the End Session dialogue box, choose Restart System.   Select Yes to initiate Restart process. Scanner will close the syngo software, shut down the system, and restart automatically.   From the System Clean Up and Shutdown dialogue box, click the Start button.   System Clean Up runs System begins shutdown process automatically once it has completed. (SOMARIS 5 customers need to shut system down manually.) NOTE: If System Clean Up hasn't been performed in some time - or never - the first run may take a few hours. This process can be canceled at any time if scanner is needed.