Aquilion64 Technical Service Training Exercises

Gantry and couch

The purpose of this exercise is to practice the procedures for:

1. operating the GTSA maintenance panel
2. connecting service PC to GTSA
- setting up the functions of the GTSA to be done as part of the installation
procedure and after replacement of parts

After completing these exercises you will be able to:

- operate the GTSA maintenance panel
- set-up the functions of the GTSA

Items required:
- service manual
- Service PC, with terminal emulator (Teraterm)
- standard tools

Procedures
1.a Locate the GTSA maintenance panel, and its function table.
1.b Perform GTSA maintenance panel operations
2.a Connect the service PC to the GTSA CNN 404, with a 0-modem cable, and
start the terminal emulator
2.b Reset the GTSA board and observe the terminal.
2.c At the GTS prompt in the terminal, type H.
2.d Perform relevant settings for the GTSA, and check status information and log

Review
1. In which situations would you connect the service PC to the GTSA?
2. Which functions of the GTSA maintenance panel do you consider useful, and
for what purposes?
3. What can we see in the GTSA log?
4. How would you save the log in a file?
5. What happens to the logs when the GTSA board is reset, or when the gantry
power is turned off?
Aquilion64 Technical Service Training Exercises

Console - Reconstruction box

The purpose of this exercise is to practice the procedures for:
- accessing the Recon box for service

After completing these exercises you will be able to:

- access the Recon box for service and identify the internal components
- replace components and re-assemble the Recon box

Items required:
- service manual
- standard tools
- some table space
- anti static mat and wristband

Procedures
1. Remove the front cover of the Recon box.
2. Identify the components that can be seen here.
3. Re-fit the covers.
4. Reboot and confirm normal operation.

Review
1. Which parts can be found inside the Recon box?
2. Which cables connect to the Recon box, and what do they connect?
3. How are the fiber channel loops connected?
4. How many raw data disks are there?
5. Which precautions should we take when removing boards from the CPI racks?
6. What should we do before removing the RTM from the upper CPCI rack?
Aquilion64 Technical Service Training Exercises

MHR diagnostics

The purpose of this exercise is to practice the procedures for:

- setting up the RTMs’ IP address - performing MHR diagnostics for both recon racks

After completing these exercises you will be able to:

- Perform set-up of the IP address for the RTMs
- Perform MHR diagnostics - Decide when MHR diagnostics should be performed
- Interpret the results of MHR diagnostics

Items required:
- service manual
- Service PC with terminal emulator (Teraterm)
- Straight CAT5(E) network cable
- Serial cable “0-modem”

Procedures
1. Switch on the system and confirm normal completion of the boot-up.
2. Connect the Service PC to the RTM in the upper rack using the serial cable.
3. Reset the RTM in the upper rack and abort the boot-up to enter the Service
menu.
4. Select Display Bootline and check the current settings.
5. Select Modify Bootline and change the current settings if necessary.
6. Reboot the RTM, and again abort the boot-up to enter the service menu.
7. Connect the RTM with one of the Service ports of the CPU box, using the
straight network cable. Confirm the connection with “ping”, using a Korn shell on
the S-console.
8. Run MHR diagnostics for the upper rack.
9. Repeat the procedures for the lower rack, starting with step 2. The first time
the test is executed an error may occur. Reset the RTM and try again.
10. Shut down the entire system and reboot. Confirm normal operation.

Review
1. Why do we need the Service PC for MHR diagnostics?
2. Why do we need the network connection between RTM and Scan console?
3. Why do we not need a network connection between RTM and scan console
for normal operation?
4. Will MHR diagnostics tell us exactly which MHR board is causing a problem?
Aquilion64 Technical Service Training Exercises

Ring artifact - DCA

The purpose of this exercise is to practice the procedures for:

- Operating the Data Collection Analysis program - DCA - to identify defective channels

After completing these exercises you will be able to:

- Start and operate DCA in proper sequence without assistance, and perform the
procedures to identify defective channels

Procedures
1. The instructor will put a piece of metal wire to the detector, using adhesive tape, to
simulate a broken channel. Make a scan of a phantom, with the wire on the detector in
place. Caution: do not remove the wire, as there is a risk of tearing the plastic foil.
2. Confirm that the reconstructed images contain sharp ring artifacts, and determine
which Recon Rows are affected.
3. Analyze the affected Recon rows using DCA. Find the channel number by viewing the
Sinogram, by displaying the scandata in a Graph, and confirm the channel number using
the Dump table.
4. Determine which DAS boards are processing the faulty channel.
5. If only one or two channels are affected, try Channel Replacement.

Review
1. In which cases can we have a sharp ring artifact as in this exercise?
2. What is the purpose of the analysis with DCA in this case?
3. What is the function of DCA in general?
4. Why can’t we undo preprocessing for scan data, which was loaded into DCA
from Raw data disk?
5. What should we do if the artifact does not seem to be caused by the detector?
6. What do we see in the Sinogram?
7. What do we see in the Graph?
8. Why can’t we make a Graph without calculating the scan data?
Aquilion64 Technical Service Training Exercises

SURECOM maintenance

The purpose of this exercise is to practice the procedures for:

- SURECOM maintenance to be done every three months

After completing these exercises you will be able to:

- Perform SURECOM maintenance without assistance
- Perform replacement and alignment procedures for the receiver assemblies

Items required:
- service manuals
- standard tools
- alignment gauges 1.0mm and 1.4mm

Procedures
1. Switch off the mains circuit breakers in the power supply to the gantry.
2. Remove the gantry rear cover and the dome cover. Make sure the power is off
as the sliprings are exposed in this situation which imposes a high risk of electric
shock when the power is on.
3. Identify the components of SURECOM: rings, transmitters, antennas, receivers.
4. Clean the SURECOM ring - lock the rotation while cleaning - fingers might get
caught!
5. Remove the UPLINK receiver assembly and reinstall it to its proper position.
Gap adjustment and left/right adjustment under +30 degree gantry tilt to make
sure there is no interference between the antenna carrier of the UPLINK receiver
and the black clamps that hold the antenna assembly in place on the stationary
SURECOM ring.
6. Remove the DOWNLINK receiver assembly and reinstall it to its proper
position. Perform gap adjustment and left/right adjustment.

Review
1. Why should we clean the SURECOM ring regularly?
2. Why should we check the gap around the entire circumference, at 30 degrees
intervals and the left/right adjustment of the UPLINK receiver under +30 degrees
gantry tilt?
4. Why should the power be off while cleaning and checking the SURECOM?
5. What would happen if there is too much pollution on the SURECOM ring?
6. Why are there two DOWNLINK receivers?
Aquilion64 Technical Service Training Exercises

NRA calibration - Noise Reduction algorithm

The purpose of this exercise is to practice the procedures for:

NRA calibration; to be performed as part of the installation and corrective
maintenance procedures, and after replacements of parts (tube, detector, optics)
After completing these exercises you will be able to:
- Perform NRA calibration without assistance
- Determine when NRA calibrations have to be made
- Explain the procedures to the customer

Items required:
- set of phantoms - standard system accessory
- service manuals

Procedures
1. Warm-up the X-ray tube
2. Mount the phantom holder, place the LL phantom and center it.
3. Perform NRA calibrations for LL
4. Mount and center the M phantom and perform NRA calibrations for M
5. Check the image noise for M
6. Check the CT numbers, using the TOS phantom
7. Calibrate Scano

Review
1. Where is the calibration data stored?
2. Which data will be saved if we include the Calibration Data entry in the site
specifics back-up tool?
3. Do we need to acquire NRA data for SS field?
4. What will happen if we continue NRA acquisition after it has been aborted
while the phantom is 200mm out of the slice plane?
5. When should we perform NRA calibration?
6. What could happen if the NRA calibration data is wrong (or old)?
7. Why do we need to acquire air data after completing NRA?
8. Do we need to perform NRA calibration after replacing the raw data disk?
10. How much time would it take to do NRA calibration for all conditions?
11. What is the CT number of the polypropylene phantoms (L and LL)?
12. How can we center the LL phantom?
14. Where do we calibrate Scano?

Aquilion64 Technical Service Training Exercises

Console - Screenshots

The purpose of this exercise is to practice the procedures for:

- making screenshots

After completing these exercises you will be able to:

- make screenshots and save them at an appropriate location on the CT’s disk

Items required:
- service manual
- standard tools

Procedures
1. Make a screenshot. Alt-PrtSc saves the active window to the clipboard.
PrtSc saves the entire screen to the clipboard.
2. Paste the contents of the clipboard into an image-editing program. The CT has
two such programs: Paint and Imaging. Paint is not recommended
because it can save the image only in large-size BMP format. Open
Imaging from the programs list, select new file and specify jpg format.
Then paste the contents of the clipboard.
3. Save the image to the S: partition, while giving it a recognizable name.
4. View the image by double clicking on its name in Windows Explorer.
5. Display a CT image, set WL and WW, make a screenshot and save it in S:.

Review 1. What is the disadvantage of using Paint for screenshots? 2. Why

should we save screenshots to the S: partition? 3. How can we get the
screenshots into service PC? 4. Can we edit screenshots on the service PC?
Aquilion64 Technical Service Training Exercises

Console - RDDUtil
The purpose of this exercise is to practice the procedures for:
- checking the RDD with RDDUtil
Use this sheet together with the Raw data disk replacement exercise.

After completing these exercises you will be able to:

- check the RDD status with RDDUtil

Items required:
- service manuals
- software service manual
- notebook
- standard tools
- service PC with terminal emulator (Teraterm)

Procedures
1. Start RDDUtil in a Korn Shell.
[C:/] x:
[X:/] etc
X:/ct/KBProj/develop/etc/scan
[X:/ct/KBProj/develop/etc/scan] cd BIR/bin
[X:/ct/KBProj/develop/etc/scan/BIR/bin] ./RDDUtil

2. Check the RDD configuration and the disk defects. Do not select any other
options from the menu.
3. Quit RDDUtil and confirm normal operation.

Review
1. What can we see with RDDUtil?
2. Should we use RDDUtil to reconfigure the RAID?
3. Can we initialize the raw data patient information with RDDUtil?
4. What should we do after formatting a disk with RDDUtil?
5. Would we still have calibration data after formatting a disk in the RAID and
performing the required configuration procedures?
6. When would you want to format a raw data disk (with RDDUtil)?
Aquilion64 Technical Service Training Exercises
Console - Raw data disk replacement
The purpose of this exercise is to practice the procedures for:
- replacing a single raw data disk in the RDD RAID

After completing these exercises you will be able to:

- identify and replace a single defective raw data disk and perform related setting

Items required:
- service manuals
- standard tools
- service PC with terminal emulator (Teraterm)

Procedures
1. While the power of the console is off, remove one of the raw data disks from the rack.
2. Connect a terminal to the RTM to log the RTM boot-up messages. Switch on
the system and observe the error messages in the monitor.
3. Confirm that normal operation is possible: make a scan.
4. Check the RDD configuration with RDDUtil.
5. Shut down and reinsert the disk, which was removed at step 1.
6. Reboot the system, observe the messages and confirm normal operation.
7. Check the configuration again with RDDUtil.
8. Switch off the aquilion flag and reboot to the System Setup menu.
9. 9. Select “RDD Setup” and “Add disk to RDD”. Confirm that progress can be
seen in the terminal. This procedure takes appr. 45 minutes, so time for a
break.
10. Switch on aquilion flag, reboot, confirm that there are no errors, that normal
operation is possible and that there is no raw data loss.

Review
1. How can you identify which disk is defective?
2. Do we need to initialize the raw data patient information after replacing
just one disk in the RAID?
3. Do we need to initialize the raw data patient information after reconfiguring
the entire RAID with parity?
4. How can we initialize raw data patient information only?
5. Do we still have raw data after a full RAID re-configuration?
6. How can we keep the calibration data, if we want to re-configure the RAID
(assuming it is still working, possibly with one defective disk)?
7. When would you want to format a raw data disk (with RDDUtil)?
8. Why should we use RDDUtil only to check the RDD, and possibly to
format the RDD?
Console - File Transfer Protocol - FTP

The purpose of this exercise is to practice the procedures for:

- FTP, to transfer files between the CT and the Service PC

After completing these exercises you will be able to:

- Set-up the service PC and connect to the CT via FTP

Items required:
- service manual
- service PC
- straight network cable
- standard tools

Procedures
1. Connect the service PC with the 1GB switch inside the CPU box, or with one
of the service ports on the power controller.
2. Set-up the IP address of the service PC on the same network as the CT.
3. Check the connection with “ping”.
4. Use the FTP protocol (using a command prompt, or a dedicated FTP client
program, on the service PC. Username is kingbird, and password is also
kingbird.
5. Transfer some files from the CT into the service PC, e.g. some log files.
6. Try to transfer some files from the Service PC onto the S: partition on the CT.
7. Logon with user Administrator and password toshibact, and try again to upload some
files. Delete the uploaded files from the CT afterwards.

Review
1. Can we just connect the service PC with any IP address on the same network
as the CT, if the CT is in a hospital network?
2. What can we check with “ping”?
3. Why is it recommended to have a dedicated FTP client program available on
the service PC, rather than using the DOS command prompt?
4. What is the logon information for FTP?
5. Can we load files onto the CT when we log on as kingbird?
6. When would you logon as administrator?