Replacing an X-ray tube can be a challenge, and the stakes are high for service providers.

Richardson Healthcare lends its expertise and experience with these best practices and potential missteps for changing a Toshiba/Canon Aquilion CT tube.

This short guide will not only help avoid missteps at installation, but may even improve images and extend the life of the tube, as well.

The Basics

• The X-ray tube, HV cable, and the heat exchanger should be replaced at the same time.
• Due to the weight, two people are required to replace the X-ray tube.
• There are two different types of HV cables used for the ALTA750 and CXB-750D X-ray tube. Each cable uses a different dielectric compound. (We can help! Contact us to learn these critical differences and more.)

Expert Knowledge

• Handle the reference detector and reference detector cable carefully
  • See images: Make sure the reference detector cable tie is wrapped securely to the clamp, otherwise image artifacts may appear (as shown).

Here to Help: Potential Issues at Installation

• Over mA Error or Over mA along with Arc Error / Under mA (Set) Error
• • Do not assume the replacement tube is DOA. The filament characteristics of the new tube and the old tube are different.
  • • Load standard IF data for the generator type, warm the tube up to 50% OLP and perform IF adjustments
    • Save the IF data to a file, then perform IF adjustments again. Compare the two files. There should be zero differences greater than or equal to four. If there are differences greater than or equal to four, the filaments are unstable. Continue to perform IF adjustments and comparisons until there are zero differences greater than or equal to four.
    • For Under mA error: If the wrong dielectric was used this error will occur at specific kV, mA and focus size combinations and tube OLP.

• HV Overcurrent Error or HV Overcurrent along with Arc Error
• • This is not a tube arc-it is a generator arc. Make sure the HV cable is installed properly on the generator.

• Image quality issues
• • Smudge or center dot artifact: Check the tube alignments
  • Soft ring artifact: Check front to back tube alignment
  • Blurry or out of focus images: Check left to right tube alignment
  • Zebra artifact on MPR reconstructions: Check left to right tube alignment

To Extend the Life of Your Tube

• Never make exposures on a cold tube
• Complete the entire warm up at the beginning of each day before scanning
• Warm the tube up to 30% OLP before making exposures

REMEMBER!

It's best to revisit the site and perform IF adjustments two weeks after the new tube is installed. The resistance of the filaments will have changed due to use.

This is only one small way Richardson Healthcare and IMES can help service providers save costs and increase uptime. Enroll in our Toshiba CT service training course today!

24/7 Tech Support and Parts Hotline - (704) 739-3597

Visit rellhealthcare.com to learn more about our CT service training, QA3 replacement parts, and tube solutions including the new ALTA750.

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