Siemens MAMMOMAT - User Manual

The provided document is a maintenance manual for the SIEMENS MAMMOMAT Balance SP mammography system. This manual, identified by Print No.: SPB7-115.831.01.01.02 and dated 05.04, outlines the procedures for preventive maintenance, safety inspections, and quality checks.

Function Description

The MAMMOMAT Balance SP is a mammography system designed for breast imaging. It incorporates a C-arm for positioning, a compression system for immobilizing the breast, an X-ray tube with a rotating anode, and a high-tension power supply to generate X-rays. The system includes various safety features and controls to ensure accurate and safe operation during examinations.

Important Technical Specifications

While the manual primarily focuses on maintenance, it provides insights into several technical aspects:

X-ray Tube: Features a rotating anode, with filament current calibration for both mAH and mAL.
High-Tension Power Supply: Operates within a range of 20 kV to 35 kV. The manual includes a conversion table for kV to VTP1/TP2 (±1%) on PCB 94-132, showing values from 279 Vdc at 20 kV to 488 Vdc at 35 kV. The kV waveform is designed to have no overshoot for any kV/mA loading factors.
Compression System: Supports magnification platforms at 1.5x and 2x. It allows for manual movement and includes a "Compression" force test and a "Decompression" force test.
Detectors: Utilizes AEC (Automatic Exposure Control) detectors, with a sensitivity test parameter [r].
Safety Features: Includes radiation protection shields, emergency stop buttons, and micro-switches for carriage travel limits. The system also has a "Dead Man" function for the X-ray pushbutton to prevent accidental triggering.
Software: Utilizes MAMMOMAT Balance SSW (Service Software Program) for service operations and includes logging of exposures/errors.

Usage Features

The manual highlights several operational aspects that are relevant to its usage:

Manual Mode: Allows for selection of specific mAs values (e.g., 40 mAs for 0.3 mm focus, 13 mAs for 0.1 mm focus) and kV settings.
AEC Calibration: Uses Plexiglas phantom blocks (2cm, 2cm, 2cm, 1cm, 0.5cm) for calibration.
Compression Thickness Display: Provides an indication of breast thickness, which is obtained by subtracting the F.F.D. (Film-to-Focal Distance) from the measured value.
Foot Pedal Switches: Used for various functionalities, including compression.
Collimation Plates: Supports 18x24 collimation plates.
Grid Table: Compatible with 18x24 grid tables.
Phantom Exposures: Used for image quality checks, comparing current exposures with archived starting values.
Zero Points Technique: A specific technique mentioned for image quality testing.

Maintenance Features

The core of the document details extensive maintenance procedures, categorized into Safety Inspections (SI), Electrical Safety Inspections (SIE), Mechanical Safety Inspections (SIM), Preventive Maintenance (PM), Preventive Maintenance Adjustments (PMA), and Preventive Maintenance, Function Check, Operating Value Check (PMF).

Key maintenance aspects include:

Required Documentation: Planning Guide, Wiring Diagrams, Installation and Start-up Instructions, Maintenance Protocol, Instructions for Use, and Service Instruction.
Required Tools and Devices: Oscilloscope, digital multimeter, non-invasive kVp-meter, dosemeter, service PC with software, SIB/Normi 7/customer phantoms, sensitometer/densitometer, protective conductor meter, bathroom balance, spray enamel, and standard installation tools.
Required Lubricants: All-purpose grease PD2 and Viscogen oil.
Safety Checks: Verification of radiation protection shields, C-arm attachment and handles, tube cover fixation, table retention, power connection cable condition, and foot pedal switches.
Mechanical Checks: Smooth and noiseless rotation movements, C-arm brake functionality, goniometer functionality, vertical travel of the column stand, and condition of C-arm carriage wheels, rails, gas spring assembly, chain, and gear box.
Electrical Checks: Functionality of limit switches (MW1, MW2, MW3, MW4), protection circuits for the rotating anode starter, and control LEDs on PCB 92-074.
Filament Current Check: Calibration modes for mAH and mAL, with parameters displayed on the mAs window.
High Tension Power Supply Checks: kV waveform analysis, internal kV checks using TP1/TP2 on PCB 94-132, and external kV checks using non-invasive instruments.
Miscellaneous Checks: Radiation field/light field limitation, automatic filter selection, RX signal lamp functionality, AEC detector sensitivity test, table functions and safety locks, blocking exposure release conditions, emergency stop functionality, exposure and error data recorder read-out, and deletion of exposure/error memory.
Quality Checks (QIQ, QSQ): Film O.D. linearity testing, image quality testing using phantoms, and system quality checks.
Final Tests: Removal of measurement devices, checking for operating problems, reattaching covers, protective conductor test, cleaning, and a final test exposure.
ESD Precautions: Emphasized for handling Printed Circuit Boards.
Radiation Safety: Explicit warnings for tests performed with radiation ON, requiring protective clothing.
Brake Disabling: Recommended for heavy use to reduce tube assembly temperature.