Always look before you leap

Refurbishment in linear accelerators always focuses on components that might affect reliability. How many parts are replaced usually depends on the pricing package but should always include thorough testing and replacement of any parts not meeting the OEM Acceptance specification tolerances.


"Refurbishing,"says Jose Rodriguez, President, RISMED Oncology Systems, Huntsville, AL, "usually involves the replacement of thyratrons, magnetron, waveguide seals and frames, electrical cables, water cooling components, water pump, all new bolts and screws. All other parts are checked and replaced if found to have defects that may compromise its operation. Simulators normally have the X-Ray tube replaced. Accelerators and simulators get 100% aesthetically reconditioned with high quality materials." RISMED sells and services Varian accelerators exclusively to the U.S. and Latin America market.

Stuart Farber, President, Farber Medical Solutions, Bridgeport, CT, sells and services most major brands including Mitsubishi and simulator manufacturer Kermath. "During a complete system refurbish," says Farber, "we disassemble the unit and all major components are checked including the wave guide, klystron or magnetron, thyratron, gantry bearings, cooling system components, cables, collimator, high voltage relays and other major electronics, console and related electronics." The couch assembly is replaced if necessary, the unit is painted, re-assembled, and verified that it functions to OEM specs. Completely refurbished units typically come with a one year warranty. Farber Medical Solutions does not employ its own engineers, instead outsourcing assignments to third party experts.

An alternative to buying a refurbished LINAC or simulator is going through a broker. Speak to a good one and you'll hear the same refrain about research as applies to servicers.

"The only customer I've heard of who's unhappy with the machine they bought is someone who didn't do his due diligence-his research-before he bought," says Pam King, CEO, JP International, a Charleston, SC based seller and installer of turnkey radiation therapy solutions. That particular customer wasn't hers.

"If you're thinking of buying a used machine you'd better hire an engineer and do an on-site inspection. It pays to satisfy yourself that you're getting a good solid buy." King estimates that savings on late-model used accelerators can run as high as 80%. She believes in the virtue of saving money-hundreds of thousands of dollars in the case of a state-of-the-art LINAC-but she also believes in the value of used. "These machines have been broken in. They're tried and true. The bugs have been worked out-- unlike a machine that may have come off the factory line the weekend before," she says. King cleans and replaces all necessary parts before reinstalling a LINAC at a new installation. "All of our machines are brought back up to OEM standards."

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