Top 5 CT Scanner Issues & How To Resolve Them

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Top 5 CT Scanner Issues How To Resolve Them
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By Vikki Harmonay
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CT Scanners are the workhorse of many medical
imaging facilities. But, after thousands of
scans, problems can crop up. Oftentimes it
requires a visit by an imaging engineer. The
experts at Atlantis Worldwide put together this
list of five common issues with CT Scanners and
what you can do about them.
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1. Calibration Issues
You want to make sure your CT Scanner is working
properly and providing accurate scan results.
Thats why its important to make sure your CT
Scanner is calibrated correctly. To find out if
the calibration is correct, youll want to scan
an object with a phantom with known radiodensity.
This provides important information to determine
whether the measurements show the proper number
of Hounsfield Units or HUs. You can do this
automatically or manually, depending upon which
calibration tool was included when you purchased
your CT Scanner. If you dont have a calibration
tool, youll have to buy one separately.
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2. X-Ray Tube Failure
When an X-ray tube malfunctions or fails you end
up with poor image quality or no images at all.
Factors that can contribute to tube failure
include age, wear and tear and improper
maintenance. Usually theres an issue in the
vacuum seal within the tube or the tube has been
damaged. If youre experiencing a tube failure,
its important to turn off the X-ray beam quickly
in order to ensure the safety of the healthcare
providers and patient. Youll need to contact an
engineer and reschedule the patients appointment.
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3. Cloudy filters and sensors
Your machine can be affected by ambient humidity
and temperature because water vapor can condense
on the lenses and sensors of your CT Scanner. To
avoid these kinds of issues keep your machine at
72 F or 22 C. If you happen to live in a very
dry climate, make sure your imaging machine is
located out of direct sunlight. Other culprits
that can make your machine malfunction can be
dust particles and other contaminants inside the
air filter system. Be sure to change out the CT
Scanners filters every three months and clean
them with compressed air and soap-based cleaners
on a regular basis. Its important not to clean
filters with alcohol. Its also wise to use HEPA
filters for all rooms that are adjacent to the
room used for scanning. These HEPA filters can
capture dust particles before they are exposed to
the sensitive components in a CT Scanner.
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4. Power Surges
A power surge can damage your CT Scanner and
other medical imaging devices. You should always
use a surge protector thats UL-tested and
approved. You should always make sure electrical
equipment in your radiology suite is plugged into
an outlet with a ground fault circuit interrupter
(GFCI) installed. Its also a good idea to buy
specialty outlets with built-in receptacles for
plugs without cords to eliminate tripping hazards
and improve overall safety.
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5. Lots of Image Noise
Some CT Scanners have multiple detectors to take
images from different angles around a patients
body. Each one records only part of the image.
These images are all combined later during
processing, which produces better quality results
than a single-detector scanner. However, they
also produce more images with noise. If you
experience noise in your images, try to increase
the radiation does in order to improve a CT
scans contrast resolution. This can reduce image
noise and provide an image that is clearer and
more detailed. You must, however, balance between
the radiation noise and the required contrast
resolution when you determine the settings for
the exam. If you increase the radiation dose, it
could come at a cost.
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Talk To An Expert
Do you have questions about your CT Scanner? Are
you in the market for a refurbished CT Scanner
for your facility? Talk to the experts at
Atlantis Worldwide. Weve been helping medical
facilities find ideal solutions for their medical
imaging needs for more than 30 years and would
love to help you. Contact Us Today!
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Talk To An Expert

• Comparing Air Cooled Water Cooled CT Scanners
• CT Scanner Artifacts- How Do I Correct Streaks?
• The Lowdown on CT X-Ray Replacement Tubes
• The Difference Between a CT Scanner a CT
  Simulator
• Gemstone Spectral Imaging 101
• Free CT Resources

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