7 Collimation of The Primary Beam

7 COLLIMATION OF THE PRIMARY BEAM
NOTE:
The operation described in this section is referred to the remote console and collimator keyboards lay
out of the next page.
In this figures all keys are numbered and, in case a signalling Lamp is present, its identification number
is the same of the key one.
The primary beam is limited by a double collimating system, one used to limit the rectangular field and
second one to shape circular fields. The collimator provides also the confinement of extra focal
radiation.
These collimating stages can be independently controlled by the operator if the collimator is set in
manual mode, or controlled by the collimator CPU when the operator selects the Automatic mode.
By default, at unit power on, the collimator is set in Automatic Mode; this condition is indicated by
lamp of button 18 on the Remote Console, lamp of button 20 on the SFD keyboard and lamp of button
2 on the collimator keyboard set ON.
At the system start-up the collimator is set to collimate the primary beam on the I.I. format and the
square field shutters set just outside the circular field.
SUPERIX RL180N USER MANUAL - UM -18005 - 0698 MECALL srl 1998 All rights reserved
7.1 AUTOMATIC COLLIMATION.
The Automatic Collimating mode can be enabled if the appropriate technique has been selected on the
generator keyboard and the tube is aligned with the SFD. For further informations please refer to
Generator operator manual.
Automatic collimating means an automatic adjustment of the blades and iris to shape the X-ray field on
the smallest available receptor size.
In case there is no film cassette into the SFD, the sole receptor is the Image Intensifier and the
collimator will set the iris on the diameter of selected zoom and the square field shutters just external
to the circular field.
When the operator insert a cassette into the SFD and selects the film division, the collimator will set
both shutters in the way to limit the beam to the selected film size along the longitudinal and
transversal directions.
In case of fluoroscopy, the shutters will be independently adjusted to the smallest size between the
selected Image Intensifier zoom and the used portion of film.
The size of the primary beam, in the image plane, is maintained constant, even if the F.F.D. is
modified.
When the operator press the Preparation pushbutton, the collimator will set the square shutters to the
selected film size and the iris shutter will be set at the external perimeter of the film.
The actual size of the primary beam, in the image plane, is shown on the collimator keyboard displays
13,14 and 15.
The accuracy of the actual irradiated area size is better than 2% of the displayed FFD.
NOTE:
The collimator grants and automatic collimation on the format of the selected image receptor.
It is in the operator faculty to reduce the collimator aperture in the way to reduce the irradiated area
(with consequent reduction of the dose irradiated to the patient).
It is not allowed to increase the collimator aperture over the size automatically set by the system.
Please refer to sections 7.2 and 7.3 for further details.
7.2 INTENTIONAL REDUCTION OF THE COLLIMATED AREA.
When not in radiographic mode, the X-ray beam size, automatically set as previous described, can be
reduced (undersizing) in any moment by the operator, pressing on the Remote Console, on the SFD or
on the Collimator Keyboards the following buttons:
Control Desk SFD Collimator

Keyboard Keyboard Keyboard
Closure of lateral shutters. 39 22 4

Opening of lateral shutters. 39 21 3
Opening of longitudinal shutters. 39 24 7
Closure of longitudinal shutters. 39 25 6
Closure of iris shutters. 24 27 8
Opening of iris shutters. 24 26 9
The size of the reduced area, in the image plane, is maintained constant, even if the F.F.D. is modified.
When the operator press the Preparation button, the collimator is automatically switched to the
Automatic mode; in order to maintain the reduced area during exposure release the operator must
select the Collimator manual mode as described in section 7.3.
The actual size of the primary beam, in the image plane, is shown on the collimator keyboard displayed
13,14 and 15.
The accuracy of the actual irradiated area size is better than 2% of the displayed FFD.
7.3 MANUAL MODE
The behaviour of Manual mode of the SUPERIX RL180N Automatic Collimator depends on the Image
Receptor selected by the operator, and in particular:
a) Using a Receptor internal to the SUPERIX RL180N table;
The Collimator Manual Mode is activated by the operator pressing button 19 on the Remote console,
button 19 on the SFD keyboard and button 1 on the collimator keyboard. The lamps 19 and 1 that flash
on the unit system keyboards indicate the activation of the manual mode.
When the manual mode is selected, the collimator maintains the modifications of the irradiated area set
by the operator during both fluoro and exposures release. If the operator replaces a cassette with a new
one of the same or bigger format, the collimator maintains the previous reduction of the irradiated area.
In case the new film is smaller, even in a single SID, than the film previously used, the collimator will
automatically reduce the irradiated area in that direction to the actual size of the film.
In manual mode, the size of the reduced area, in the image plane, is maintained constant, even if the
F.F.D. is modified.
To exit manual mode and return to auto mode is simply necessary to press button 18 on the Remote
console, button 20 on the SFD keyboard or button 2 on the collimator keyboard.
b) Using a cassette external to the SFD of the SUPERIX RL180N table;
The Collimator manual Mode is automatically enabled when the X-ray tube is not aligned with the spot
film device (i.e. when using a wall bucky) or when the operator has selected on the generator keyboard
the direct Technique to release an exposure on a film cassette placed outside the SFD.
In this conditions no limitations exist on the collimation of the irradiated area.
WARNING:
In manual mode the collimator can not determine the actual value of the FFD and the dimensions of
the image receptor. In this case the extension of the irradiated area is completely under the
responsibility of the operator. In case it is necessary to operate the collimator in this modality it is
necessary order and install the “Collimator manual operation kit” p/n CTA17.
Such kit, in conjunction with the use of the simulation light, allows getting correct informations about
the irradiated area at usually used FFD. In the Kit it is also included a measuring tape to determine the
actual FFD.
7.4 LIGHT FOR THE SIMULATION OF THE IRRADIATED AREA.
The collimator of this unit is equipped with a lamp that shows to the operator the actual irradiated area.
The insertion of this lamp can be obtained pressing button 16 on the Remote console, button 23 on the
SFD keyboard and button 5 on the collimator keyboard.
A built in timer will automatically switch off the lamp after about 30 sec.
For detailed informations concerning the collimator lamp please refer to the Unit Service
Documentation.
The light simulator also projects the image of the collimator reference axis and the centre of the
irradiated area in the image plane.
IMPORTANT NOTE:
If the Image receptors internal to the SUPERIX RL180N table are enabled, it is a good practice to use
the reference axis of the collimator to pre-align the patient with the x-ray beam
If an Image receptor external to the SUPERIX RL180N table is enabled, the Collimator reference axis
must be used to properly align the x-ray beam with the Receptor and to set the dimension of the
irradiated area.
7.5. USE OF THE MOTORISED BEAM HARDENING FILTERS
The SUPERIX RL180N automatic collimator can be equipped with motorised beam hardening filters
that increase the filtration limits imposed by IEC601-1-3 regulation.
The available filters are two and can be independently operated pressing buttons 50 and 51 on the
remote console.
When the filter is inserted in the beam, the correspondent signalling Lamp 50 or 51 is set on.
The 2 filters can be parked at the same time pressing button 64.
At power both filters are parked outside the beam and this condition is indicated by led of button 64
that is set ON.
The beam hardening filters assemblies available as standard are:
0.5 mm Al + 0.1 mm Cu
0.5 mm Al + 0.2 mm Cu
Using both filters the additional filtration possibility is
1.0 mm Al + 0.3 mm Cu
NOTE:
THE USE OF BEAM HARDENING FILTERS IS PARTICULARLY INDICATED IN

PEDIATRIC APPLICATIONS FOR DOSE REDUCTION

7 Collimation of The Primary Beam

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7 COLLIMATION OF THE PRIMARY BEAM

Control Desk SFD Collimator

Closure of lateral shutters. 39 22 4

a) Using a Receptor internal to the SUPERIX RL180N table;

b) Using a cassette external to the SFD of the SUPERIX RL180N table;

In this conditions no limitations exist on the collimation of the irradiated area.

The beam hardening filters assemblies available as standard are:

Using both filters the additional filtration possibility is

THE USE OF BEAM HARDENING FILTERS IS PARTICULARLY INDICATED IN

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