t the heart of every CT scanner is its X-ray tube. More so than any other component, keeping careful tabs on the functioning of the CT tube can mitigate the cost of owning and operating a CT system. Unfortunately, some people only start thinking about the remaining lifespan of their X-ray tube after the system has been installed and in use for several years. This can mean that some damage has already been done.
Loud Tube Bearing Noise
During a scan, the anode of the tube is constantly spinning. If the bearings inside the tube housing are wearing out they’ll become noisy and the user will hear a continuous “humming” sound.
Arcing That Interrupts Scanning
A certain small amount of electrical arcing in the tube is actually tolerated by your CT scanner. If the arcing is getting out of control, however, it may interrupt you mid-scan. Be on the lookout for arc-related error messages in your log. They're relatively easy to clear and won't put your system hard down (at first), but they could be a precursor to more frequent interruptions.
Immediate Shutdown With Arc Error
The immediacy of this error lets you know that arcing is happening consistently in your tube. This is more likely to happen with a cold tube that has not been run through its warm-up sequence, so be sure to allow time for warm-up at the beginning of each scanning schedule.
Change In Tube Cooling Delay Frequency
If your scanner is reaching the upper limits of its operating temperature, the system will stop between techniques to give the tube a break. If the breaks are getting consistently longer, you may have a problem.
Loud Tube Bearing Noise
During a scan, the anode of the tube is constantly spinning. If the bearings inside the tube housing are wearing out they’ll become noisy and the user will hear a continuous “humming” sound.
Arcing That Interrupts Scanning
A certain small amount of electrical arcing in the tube is actually tolerated by your CT scanner. If the arcing is getting out of control, however, it may interrupt you mid-scan. Be on the lookout for arc-related error messages in your log. They're relatively easy to clear and won't put your system hard down (at first), but they could be a precursor to more frequent interruptions.
Immediate Shutdown With Arc Error
The immediacy of this error lets you know that arcing is happening consistently in your tube. This is more likely to happen with a cold tube that has not been run through its warm-up sequence, so be sure to allow time for warm-up at the beginning of each scanning schedule.
Change In Tube Cooling Delay Frequency
If your scanner is reaching the upper limits of its operating temperature, the system will stop between techniques to give the tube a break. If the breaks are getting consistently longer, you may have a problem.
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