PRODIGY

Service Training

Theory, Hardware, and

System Overview

Rev E (SW ver 2.15) – 1-4-2000

 Prodigy consists of 3 Sub-
systems
• X-Ray Generation
– Tube
– Power Supplies
• X-Ray Detection
– CZT Detector
– Detector Electronics
• Scanner Control
– Motion Control
– Error Detection
– Communications with Host
PC / Detector
 Prodigy AC Entrance: Power Distribution
• AC Isolation Transformer and configuration
– Protects Unit from Voltage transients
• All power supplies fused individually
• All systems alike - jumpers on terminal blocks
configure the unit to the regional AC voltage
– All systems are shipped configured to 115 VAC
– Scanner and PC controller draw 12.5 A max
(120V)
• Power Supplies (7 Separate Power Supplies)
– +26 VDC (mechanics)
– + 5, +/-12 VDC (2 - Detector and
Electronics pan)
– +28 VDC (tube head filament)
– 2 High Voltage (X-Ray Generator)
– 1 High Voltage (X-Ray Detector)
 Prodigy AC Power is configurable
at the Terminal blocks
• AC Input
– 12 settings
– Read wall voltage
– match scanner jumper
settings
– +/- 10%
• Isolated AC output
– 3 settings
– match to Host PC’s AC
input
• Note the UL/CE Mark
requirements for using
Isolated Power Before
using
 +5 and +/-12 VDC Supply #1: Detector
control and Communications
• This power supply drives
– Detector Mother Board
• Logic circuitry (+5)
• Communications (+12) This graphic represents
– between the SBC and the Detector the Prodigy Electronics pan,
Mother Board here to illustrate component locations.
– Provides +12 to the Detector HVPS The white circle is the Tauroid,
the gold boxes are the HV power
• Indicators - +5, +12 and -12 LED’s Supplies
on the Detector Mother Board
• Low failure rate on this part
 NTC Thermistors protect
Scanner Electronics
• Prodigy electronics use Negative Temperature
Coefficient (NTC) thermistors
• limit the in rush current of the AC isolation
transformer and the Detector Mother Board.
– The NTC devices have a high resistance
when cold and decrease in resistance when
warm • Note: The NTC’s can get hot -
they are located on the AC terminal
– A cool down period of 30 seconds is required
before power is turned on on the system.
block and on the DC terminal block
be careful when servicing these
– Failure to allow the system to “cool down” areas of the scanner
may cause the circuit breaker for the AC line
to trip and / or the + 12VDC for the Detector TROUBLESHOOTING TIP-
Mother Board (DMB) will not come up to +12 If the operator receives communications
failures - the very first thing to try is to power
VDC.
down wait 30 sec and power back up
- dips in the regional AC power may cause the
NTC’s to prevent the +12VDC power supply to
come up to 12 VDC
 Detector bias supply:
Detector HVPS
• Dedicated to power the
detector
• Voltage Potential to 1000 VDC
• Fixed at 450 VDC
• Bias on demand
– Detector life is decreased by
bias at all times
• + 12 VDC input from +5, +/-
12VDC Power Supply #1
• Very low failure rate on this
part
 +5 and +/-12 VDC Supply #2: Scanner
control and Communications
• Power supplied to the Electronics Pan
– SBC
– FOINK
– MAX
– XORB
– Logic circuitry (+5)
Communications (+12)
• between the SBC and the Host
Computer
• Indicators - LED's on the SBC

Remember that there are two of these

DC supplies - the LED’s on the SBC are
only for supply #2
 +26 VDC: Drives Scanner
Mechanics
• Powers Tube Head Fans
• Powers Mechanics
– Transverse Motor
– Longitudinal Motor
– Shutter Solenoid
• Green light on scan arm is lit
when this power supply is on
• Low failure rate
 X-Ray Production: + 28 VDC Power
Supply
• Dedicated to the X-Ray Tube
Head Filament
• Solid State Relay enables
Power Supply and Tube Head
Filament Transformer
– Controlled by SBC - Host PC
– Presence (X-ray on) sensed by
FOINK
• Only on when X-Ray Tube
Head is being ramped up
– Red LED on MAX Board indicates
the presence of +28 VDC
• Low failure rate
 Positive and Negative HVPS: create the
potential for the generation of X-Rays
• Dedicated
• Input from AC line (120 VAC - stepped up or
down)
– Solid State Relay switches supplies on
• Create 76KV potential across X-Ray Tube Head
insert
• As soon as 76 KV potential exists - X-Rays exist
– Filament Current (from MAX) is not necessary
• Spellman or Bertan
– 5.0 mA Maximum Current
– 38 kV per Supply
– Low failure rate - arcing is usually within the x-ray tube
 Production of X-Rays - an Overview

• Tube Head Insert

– fixed anode
– Filament
• Warm it up - low current from Filament
Transformer
– 76 KV Potential across Insert (0.150mA to Fil TF
4.750mA)
– Electrons (-e) “boil off of filament” (Cathode)
• -e Accelerated across 76 KeV potential strike
Tungsten Target (Anode) knock an -e off of
target, as another e- falls into the orbit an X-
Ray (Photon) is produced 76 kV

+ HVPS - HVPS
 Components of the Prodigy
•
Tube Head
Oil Filled Metal Housing
• Fixed Anode X-Ray Insert
• Lead Shielding
• Filament Transformer
• Potential Failures
– Beam Hardening - Tungsten is boiled off of Anode (pits) and collects on the glass of the
insert - absorbs X-Rays
• Pitting due to high temperature - damages Anode focal Spot
– Filament can burn out
– Oil leak - arcing / air in tube
– Ramping failures - short in tube
• Prodigy Tube = DPX Series Tube
– Slightly larger bore (wider beam) - new tube will work for either system
– Older DPX Tube not Prodigy Tube
 X-Ray Production in the Prodigy
Tube Head

• X-Ray Tube Ramped up to

proper operating voltage and
current (HVPS)
• Current applied to filament
• Anode / Cathode potential
and current to insert
• X-Ray Insert Converts
current into X-Rays Unfiltered X-Ray Spectrum at
80 KV
• Produces broad spectrum of
photon energies (15-80KeV) The small peaks are
characteristic of the tungsten
target used in the tube head
insert
 Requirements for Accurate
Determination of Bone Density
• Two Unknowns in Image
– Tissue
– Bone
– Requires two measurements be made of the same
area and compared
– Unfiltered Spectrum has single Peak - can only
measure attenuation of single uniform substance or
an object containing two substances where one of
the two has a known value

– K-edge filter: Cerium (Ce) Unfiltered X-Ray Spectrum at 80 KV

• Ce has a K-shell Absorption Edge at 40
KeV
• Filters both low and high energy photons
 K-Edge Filtration of the X-Ray
Spectrum Creates two Peaks
• K-edge filter: Cerium (Ce)
• Ce has a K-shell Absorption Edge at 40
KeV
• Filters both low and high energy photons
• Prodigy Tube Head contains a Cerium
Filter
• Two peaks are visible after the X-Ray
beam has passed through the Cerium
filter
– 38 KeV
K-edge filtered spectrum
– 70 KeV
at 80 kV
• Note the relative numbers of counts for
the two energy peaks
 Collimator: control of X-Ray
Exposure
• Beam on controlled by rotary solenoid and spring
– Shutter
• blocks beam
• Paddle
• Tantalum attenuates X-Rays keeps them contained
prevents exposure during ramping and patient positioning
– Collimator
• Determines Beam size
• single aperture
– Optical sensor for shutter position
• Like DPX OMI
• IR Beam - if beam is broken = shutter open
• Fail safe - if beam is broken assume shutter open - sensor
can only tell if shutter is closed
 Components of the Prodigy
Detector
• The Prodigy detector is
made up of four
components 4
3
– 1 Detector
– 2 Detector Motherboard
– 3 Detector Daughter
Board 2
– 4 Detector HV power 1
Supply
 X-Ray to Pulse: Prodigy X-Ray
Detection Overview
• 16 individual CZT (cadmium zinc telluride) crystals which
convert X-ray energy directly to electrical charge
• The charge pulse generated by the individual detectors is
directly proportional to the photon energy that generated
the charge pulse
• The array of 16 CZT crystals each act as pixel detectors,
from which the data is combined to form the densitometry
data set.
• The Detector electronics amplify, discriminate and counts
x-rays for all 16 detector elements.
• The detector communicates with the SBC.
• The Detector has 5 PCB associated with it, the Detector
Mother Board (DMB) and 4 identical Detector Daughter
Boards (DDB’s).
• The detector has its own dedicated High Voltage Power
Supply, used for supplying detector bias .
 Overview of Prodigy Detector
Function
• Before a scan starts the Detector is brought to
450 VDC bias.
• When a X-ray strikes the detector an electron
pair is created (small black arrows in the block
diagram).
• This charge pair induces a small amount of
current in the CZT crystal.
• A charge sensitive pre-amp then converts the
current to voltage and passes the signal along
to the Detector Daughter Board for processing
and analysis.
• The signal out of the pre-amp is a +5 to +10 eV Products

millivolt DC signal, each event on each

channel (detector) creates a small “blip”.
 Overview of Detector Mother Board
Function
• Contains 4 slots for the DDB’s (2)
– Provides +5 V, ±12 V plus digital and analog
grounds to the Detector Daughter Boards.
– Programs all 4 Daughter boards
• Has its own Firmware
• Sets windows for event counting
• Design based on PIXI CUB
• Communicates with the SBC via an RS-422 link.
• DMB must be communicate with SBC and be
error free before x-ray generation is allowed
• The patient positioning laser is controlled by the
SBC via the DMB (3)
• Contains a slot for the Test Point Board (1)
(optional part of the Prodigy tool kit
 Operation of the Detector Mother
•
Board
The Detector Mother Board (DMB) contains a processor and Flash RAM
– supplies programming data to the detector subsystem.
• Comparator settings for AGS windows (set values)
• Detector Bias programming data
• Firmware to program the PLD’s of the 4 DDB’s
• the algorithm for Peak value calculation operation for the individual
detector elements.
• If the Flash RAM is corrupt, the DMB will read from the Firmware on the SBC.
– The Flash RAM can be reprogrammed from the Host / SBC.
• The DMB has a processor
– responsible for Error Conditions of
• performing the Peak calculation during a Secondary Calibration the DMB sensed by
(QA), the SBC:
• programming the 4 DDB PLD’s PLD programming failure
• all communications with the SBC. Loss of +5 or +12 VDC
– The DMB processor sends the SBC status reports and echoes Loss of Communications
back all commands that are sent to it. with SBC
• The DMB will reset the SBC if it detects an error . Corrupt FIRMWARE
FLASH RAM Failure
DTR Reset button on the
DMB is pressed
•
Troubleshooting the Detector Mother
A - (Green) Power +12 VDC Present
•
Board
B - (Green) Power - 12 VDC Present
– If the 12 VDC power LED’s are not illuminated power down the scanner, wait 30 seconds and power back up
– Check +5, +/-12 VDC Power Supply 1
• C - (Green) DMB PLD Programmed and ready
– If the DMB PLD LED is not lit verify FIRMWARE version with the Service Software (Tools/Set Download Parameters
/ Query), if necessary download to the DMB.
• D - (Green) DDB 1 PLD Programmed
– Verify the DDB card is seated in its socket
• E - (Green) DDB 2 PLD Programmed
• F - (Green) DDB 3 PLD Programmed
• G - (Green) DDB 4 PLD Programmed
• H - (Red) Data Sent to SBC (should flash when acquiring data)
• I - (Red) Data Sent to SBC (should flash when acquiring data)
• J - (Green) Detector Reset
• Verify Communications with the SBC
• Verify All DC voltages are Present on the DMB
• K - (Green) +5 VDC present
• Check +5, +/-12 VDC Power Supply 1
• L - Detector Mother Board Reset Button
 Overview of Detector Daughter
Board Function
• Each DDB processes the data from 4 of the
16 detector elements simultaneously.
• Each detector element is handled as a
separate channel.
• Each DDB is responsible for:
– Pulse Shaping

– Gain Adjust

– Energy discrimination (high or low energy)

– Event counting

• Each DDB is electronically identical

Remember:
This happens
for 4 Channels
on each of the
4 DDB’s
 Detector Daughter Board - Gain adjust
and Event sensing
• Shaping Amplifier
– Amplification of charge pulses
from the Detector
– Gain of approximately 240
– Shape signal into a stable bipolar
pulse
– Fine gain Adjust applied here
– Peak correction applied
• Comparator Bank
– DAC’s set by PLD’s
• Fine gain Adjust
• Event Sensing
– PLD’s
• Programmed by DMB
 Overview and Function of the
Detector Daughter Board AGS
System
• AGS (Automatic Gain Stabilization
System)
• 2.4 VDC bipolar pulse carrying both high
and low energy signals
• AGS adjusts gain on High energy signal
from input from AGSDCA
• OP / CAL Signal - DMB - disables the
AGS during the system QA so that the
Detector can be peaked correctly
 Single Purpose of the AGS
Subsystem: Where is the Pulse?
• Comparators (set by PLDs via DACs)
check the voltage of High Energy
Pulses to set limits (from DMB)
• Send logic signal to a DAC that
Amplifies or Attenuates the incoming Out of Range
signal from the Detector
2.8
• Gain is constantly adjusted to keep the ATTENUATE
high energy peak within a preset window 2.5
– (~2.4VDC)
2.4
• By stabilizing the gain on the high signal
the low is stabilized as well 2.3
– Adjustment is to raw Data AMPLIFY
2.0
• Both High and Low Energy Out of Range
Pulses
 Troubleshooting the DDB

• Suspect a daughter board when:

– single element is failing
– two or more elements next to each
other are failing
– intermittent failures
• Troubleshooting Procedure
– switch daughter boards between
slots - exchange suspect board with
a “good” board
– If the failure moves with the board -
replace board
– If the failure is still occurring for the
same detector element - suspect
the detector mother board or the
detector
 MAX Board enables X-Ray
Source
• MAX and Filament Transformer in the Tube
Head work with the 28 VDC power supply
• MAX regulates X-Ray Insert Filament current
by controlling the filament temperature
• As filament temperature increases the
number of electrons “available” for X-Ray
production increases
• FOINK enables the +28 VDC power supply
and the High Voltage Power Supplies
through the solid state relays
• SBC reads feedback from power supplies
and adjusts HV supplies and MAX
accordingly
 Troubleshooting the MAX
•
• Board
Green - Fuse is good
Red - + 28V DC present
• LED’s will only be lit during X-
Ray generation
• Troubleshooting tip - TP4, TP5
and TP13 should be continuous
when the Tube Head control
cable is hooked up
Test Point Signal Expected @
– Indicates TH Filament is 76kV / .750mA
good
TP 3 Ground 0.000 VDC
– Don’t forget the MAX is
switched on by the FOINK TP 4 Q1 Output (Filament ~ 16 VDC
via the Solid state relays Drive Signal)
turning on the 28 VDC supply TP 5 Q2 Output (Filament ~ 16 VDC
Drive Signal)
TP 6 + 12 VDC + 12 VDC
TP12 + 28 VDC +28 VDC
TP 13 Filament Drive Signal ~16 VDC
TP 14 - 12 VDC -12 VDC
 XORB function - Transient
Suppression
• XORB is short for tranzorbs
• XORB’s primary function is
to ground out high voltage
transients or “spikes” in the Test Point Signal Expected @ 76kV
X-Ray generation system and .750mA
(logic circuit protection) TP1 -uA Monitor .750 VDC
• All X-Ray Generation
system power flows TP2 -kV Monitor 3.800 VDC
through the XORB - good TP3 -kV Programming 3.800 VDC
place to check signals and
power TP5 +uA Monitor .750 VDC
• TIP: TP4 and TP8 normally
TP6 +kV Monitor 3.800 VDC
reads +5VDC - if fuse at AC
entrance of HV power supply TP7 +kV Programming 3.800 VDC
blows this will be -5 VDC
 Troubleshooting with the XORB
• If ramping trouble exists TP 1, 5, 2 and 6 are FLUKE o-scope
good troubleshooting guides
• Errorlog will show Program, Feedback and
Tolerance data
– Most ramping failures are x-ray tube
– Disconnect HV supplies from x-ray tube -
attempt to ramp to 41kV - if system ramps
- supplies are not at fault
– WARNING: DO NOT RAMP HIGHER THAN
41kV WITHOUT X-RAY TUBE CONNECTED
• voltage ramping signal
– ~ 2 sec after SBC receives command to
Test Point Signal Expected @ 76kV
generate x-rays
and .750mA
• current ramping signal TP1 -uA Monitor .750 VDC
– ~ 3 sec after SBC receives command to
generate x-rays (small amount of TP2 -kV Monitor 3.800 VDC
current exists when voltage has been TP3 -kV Programming 3.800 VDC
applied)
TP5 +uA Monitor .750 VDC
TP6 +kV Monitor 3.800 VDC
TP7 +kV Programming 3.800 VDC
 FOINK Board Functions
• The FOINK Board optically isolates control circuitry
(SBC) from the rest of the scanners electronics.
– Shutter solenoid
– Scanner Motor Controllers
– Display Panel indicators and controls
– Monitors 5 different interrupts, all of which are capable of
resetting the SBC (shutting down x-ray production)
• Emergency Stop Switch - open circuit - (loss of signal -
failsafe) - normally closed circuit
• Tube Head Thermocouple - circuit open (loss of signal -
failsafe) - normally closed circuit
• Longitudinal Motion Interrupt - source open no movement
(OMI) 0.25 sec timeout
• Transverse Motion Interrupt - source open no movement
(OMI) 0.25 sec timeout
• Failure of the +28 VDC Power Supply
– FOINK excites the relays for the +28 VDC supply and the
HVPS

Control signals ARE NOT generated here -

this is a way point where control signals
generated by the SBC are Optically
Isolated
 Motor Control: Moving the
•
Scan Arm
SBC sends commands to FOINK - FOINK
FLUKE o-scope

routes to CENTENT
• Commands - Run / Hold and Direction
– CENTENT - motor controller
• Drives Stepper motors
• Relative position is determined by the SBC
– SBC counts the number of steps sent to
each motor and calculates the relative
position of the tube head
Stepping Pulse
•Sent By SBC
•Measured at OINK TP6
(Transverse) or OINK TP
12 (Longitudinal)
Joystick Speed (positioning switch) speed
adjustment
•User Options / Measure Tab
•User can modify joystick
speed for both transverse
and longitudinal controls.
•May be set for the users
preference
•Nice addition for setting
limit switches and
troubleshooting
•Speeds to avoid because of
resonance
•7.75 - 11 mm/ sec
•15.25 - 20.25 mm/sec
•24.25 - 28 mm/sec
 User Interface: What’s the scanner
• Four indicators display system status. doing?
– Green Light Emitting Diode (LED) indicates power-on
• +26VDC power supply comes on.
• Power on LED is lit whenever scan table power is on.
• Yellow LED indicates laser is on
– The laser on LED is lit when the SBC signals the DMB to turn the laser on, the
LED is switched on by the DMB.
• An amber X-ray On LED indicates x-rays are being produced (turned on by
a gate on the FOINK)
• The yellow Shutter Open LED indicates Shutter open
– shutter open indicator is also on the PC controller screen).
• Rocker switches (joystick) on the panel allow operator control of the beam
position.
– The Rocker switches are enabled by the SBC via the FOINK. It is not recommended that
• The Emergency stop button (red), halts x-ray production. scanner operation be
– The FOINK detects if this normally closed circuit is opened (fail-safe operation). continued if These LED's
• An audible signal notifies the operator when the Shutter is closed signal the operator of
exposure to x-rays and
must be replaced as soon
as possible.
 Control and Sensing of the
Shutter and Collimator
• The Shutter is actuated by a rotary solenoid
using +26 VDC, the voltage is reduced to a
holding voltage of 12VDC after the shutter is
opened.
• This solenoid is controlled by signals
generated on the SBC, and optically
isolated through the FOINK board.
• An optical interrupter detects the shutter
open condition (IR beam broken) and
reports shutter position information back to
the SBC.
• This assembly is located on top of
the X-ray Tube Head.
 OMI Function: Motion Detect
• There are 2 OMI’s on a Prodigy series scanner
– longitudinal
– transverse
• These boards have 2 infra-red beam emitters /
detectors
• A slotted wheel which rotates while the
mechanics are functioning breaks the beam
– When a beam is broken the OMI sends a pulse
to the FOINK
– FOINK has a watchdog timer that sends an
interrupt to the SBC if it is not reset by a pulse
from an OMI
• Time out is about 0.25 sec
– The OMI’s - and watchdog timers are always
on the SBC chooses when to acknowledge
the interrupt signals
 FOINK Troubleshooting LED’s illustrate
Errors sensed by the FOINK
FOINK LED’s:
– A - (D10) Longitudinal OMI, when this LED flashes, the
Longitudinal OMI infrared beam is “seen” by the IR detector

– B - (D9) Transverse OMI, when this LED flashes, the

Longitudinal OMI infrared beam is “seen” by the IR detector

– C- (D8) X-ray on (28 VDC supply), when this LED is lit when the
+28 VDC power supply is on (both Solid State relays are excited)

– D - (D7) Mechanics engage, when LED is out the motor(s) are

enabled

– E - (D6) - Errors Clear, must be lit -

• out when FOINK detects an error (failsafe)

• If this light is out - check the error log -

– F - (D5) Reset when this LED is lit the SBC is in Reset

 SBC: Scanner Control and
Communication Functions
• Control Functions
– Control of x-ray source power supplies, and shutter /
collimator in a fail safe manner.
– Provides control signals for two external stepper motor
drives (Centent) to scan patient in a fail safe manner and
senses limit switch actuation at the limits of travel.
– Controls the detector array (communicates with the
Detector Mother Board).
– Responds to external scanner failure signals (interrupts
generated by SBC, FOINK and Detector Mother Board).
• Communication
– Communicates with PC host via an optically isolated RS-
422 interface.
– Collects data from the detector array - passes it on to host
PC.
 Errors cause SBC Microprocessor
Reset
– Loss of Communications with the Detector
Error Conditions of the DMB
Mother Board (DMB).
sensed by the SBC:
– Loss of Communications with the Host PC.
PLD programming failure
– Limit Switch tripped when shutter is open.
Loss of +5 or +12 VDC
– Limit Switch depressed when commands
Loss of Communications
are being sent.
with SBC
– Failure in x-ray source kV programming
Corrupt FIRMWARE
– Failure in source mA programming
FLASH RAM Failure
– Interrupt sent by FOINK
DTR Reset button on the
– The DMB will reset the SBC if it detects an DMB is pressed
error on the DMB or any of the DDB’s.
 Linking the scanner with the user:
SBC / Host PC interface
• The SBC communicates with the Host PC
via an RS-422 interface.
– This is a serial connection capable of
transmitting more data than a standard RS-232
port.
– As it is not a standard serial port a RS-422 card
must be installed into one of the Host PCs
expansion slots
– The port must be configured correctly for the
Prodigy to operate correctly (see DXPC2000,
Prodigy Service Manual chapter 5 appendices)
– SeaLevel RS-422 card is shipped with every
system
Troubleshooting the SBC with the
diagnostic LED’s
• Green LED (C) +5VDC.
• Red LED (A) +12VDC.
• Amber LED (B) -12VDC.
• Red LED (E) DTR reset line, when this LED is
lit, the Detector, FOINK, or SBC are detecting
an error.
When the DTR Reset Line is lit:
- Check the LED’s on the DMB
- Check the FOINK LED’s
- Check the Signal Cable
- Power down and back up (NTC)

• Red LED (D) scanner Reset, when this LED is

lit, the communications with the Host PC are in
Reset. (Communications failure)
• Green LED's (G and H) flash when data is
being received by the SBC (CTS - RTS)
Green LED (F) indicate that the scanner
mechanics are operating at maximum speed
 PRODIGY
Service Training

Installation
Overview, Daily QA
and Diagnostics
 Specifications for Prodigy
Host PC’s
• For customers located internationally, make sure
the computer is certified to local requirements
such as IEC 950. The computer must meet the
minimum requirements that follow:
– Greater than 266 MHz Intel Pentium II or 366 MHz
Intel Celeron
– 64 MB RAM
– Greater than 1GB Hard Disk
– Fast serial I/O board (Lunar Part Number 7151)
– 8X CD ROM
– 14” SVGA monitor with at least 800x600x16-bit
color (some languages may require 1024x768
resolution)
– Windows NT operating system (with service pack
4.0)

– Disk Defragmentation Software

 PC Setup for PRODIGY
• Modems are not shipped as standard items for
PRODIGY
– PRODIGY RS-485 card will typically be COMM 3
on PCs without a modem
– PRODIGY RS-485 card will typically be COMM 4
on a PC with a modem
– Software defaults to COMM 3
– Change the communication port in the software
• Tools / Service Options COMM tab
• If Communications fail -
– check the COMM port settings
– delete the drivers (Start / Control Panel / Uninstall
Programs / Advanced Ports)
– Remove the card
– Reinstall the drivers
– Check jumper settings on RS-485 card
– Reinstall the card
• RS-485 card set up is documented in
DXPC2000 - on the PRODIGY Service
Training CD-ROM
 Alignment: the most critical
step
• Dial Indicator Alignment
– Use measurement dial - rods to verify that the tube
and detector are staying lined up when the arm
moves
– The x-ray beam is very close to the size of the
PRODIGY detector
– Very slight deviations in movement can change the
beam illumination of the detector
– New test coming “Beam Wobble” - will replace
alignment test and make run out a procedure that is
performed only when “Beam Wobble” fails
 Source - Detector Alignment
The source is Top view
aligned with the of collimator
detector using
signal monitor

Why can’t you align to

the film only?
•The detectors are
not necessarily in
the exact location
that the film jig
shows
•We are examining
tightening our
tolerances with the
detector vendor
•The detector needs
to be aligned so we
are hitting the sweet
spot (maximum
flux) - visible only in
signal monitor
Primary Calibration
• Calibrates the scanner for BMD
and % fat determination
• Scan aluminum and lucite step
wedges in various combinations
– Draws reference curve
(calibration) different bone /
tissue combinations
– Each scanner has its own
calibration
• unique to that tube / detector
– If a detector or x-ray tube is
changed or if the scanner is
realigned, it must be recalibrated
• Calibration takes ~ 40 minutes
Systems Tab has Calibration Block
Selection
•This option is for new calibration
block batches.
•Currently we have two calibration
block batches available (1 and 2)
•Identify the batch by the 5th
number in the QA block serial
number
•EG: 2034 2 - batch 2
•If the wrong batch is selected,
the QA may pass but BM results
will be off by ~ 3%
•Verify correct batch with
Phantom scans
Daily QA: performed on table pad
•Select QA - arm moves laser
comes on
•Calibration block has cross hair
label on top
•Laser light is positioned on
calibration block crosshair.
•Table top will not have
silkscreen for block location
•This also applies for Primary
Calibration
•Position block to laser -
then place step wedges
 Daily QA / Secondary Calibration - insure the
scanner is operating within specification
• Daily QA (Quality Assurance) tests the integrity of the scanner so
operator knows it is operating within specifications.
– Daily QA (Secondary Calibration) adjusts the calibration of the
scanner to offset any changes due to the tube aging, temperature
varying, or when certain components are changed.
• Daily QA ensures the system is operating properly by running 3
types of tests:
– A peak test to adjust photon counting electronics.
– A functional test that checks the motion system, shutter, tube output,
and detector performance.
– A test that measures a secondary calibration object with different
bone chambers and tissue plugs which correct for system aging and
prevents long-term drifts.
• On many tests, the results must be calculated for all 16 detectors
separately. The display for the test will consist of the mean value.
 Initiating the Daily QA
• The scanner performs a scout scan to
find the block. If block is not properly
positioned, the scanner will prompt the
user to Reposition standard more
accurately.
• The software automatically finds
landmarks within the secondary
phantom. This reduces the need for
exact positioning on the table top.
• All tests are run all of the time. The tests
are executed and test results reported as
each test completes. Test results include
pass/fail and any quantitative information
when appropriate.
 Maximizing the Count Rates at
• Peak Test the Detector
– This test adjusts the sensitivity of the photon counting
electronics. The test determines the optimal voltage setting for
the detector amplifier so the maximum number of photons are
detected.
– During this test, the shutter opens with the x-rays on.

• The system acquires samples sweeping over a voltage range in

steps of 50 units for a full range of 500 units which is centered on
the last peak setting.
– The detector peak test then determines the optimal voltage
setting for the detector amplifier based on these curves.
– The actual peak setting is taken from the high energy count
rates, the low energy channel is essentially blocked by the
brass spillover piece in the QA standard.
 Functional Tests insure the
System’s Operation
• Functional Tests
• Beam Stop test
• Motor motion and limit switches
• Spillover test
• Spillover Stability test
• Reference Value measurement (like Air counts)
• Reference value measurements are be performed at 150uA
and 3000uA. These reference values will need to be stored
separately for all detector elements.
• Reference Value measurements for 3000uA are actually
made through Lucite sections of the secondary calibration
block. Only at 150uA is the Reference Value measured
through air.
• Reference value ratio test - The HE/LE ratio for each
reference value is calculated for each tube current tested in
reference value measurement. Limits
 Daily QA Tissue value calculation
• Tissue secondary calibration
– The system measures two tissue plugs (Lucite and Acetron).

– Store measured values for each chamber per element in QA

database.

– The system determines the %fat for two different materials with
different compositions.

– Three %fat values are displayed - lean, mid and fat

– These calculated %fat values are compared against expected

values and checked against limits for the mean, standard
deviation.

– A slope is calculated and this adjustment is used as a secondary

%fat calibration to offset long term drifts in system performance.
This adjustment is performed at the end of the%fat calculation .
 Bone Chamber Measurement
• BM Chamber Measurements

– The system acquires point measurements on the 3

bone chambers 10 times using the 3ma medium scan
mode. An image is created but not displayed.
Calculate measurements on an individual element
basis. The system determines the bone mineral BM
and width for three chamber with different sizes and
densities.

• Measured values for each chamber are stored

on a per element basis in the QA database.

• These calculated BM values are compared

against expected values and checked against
limits for the mean, standard deviation.

– A slope is calculated and this adjustment is used as a

secondary BMD calibration to offset long term drifts in
system performance.
 Results from the Daily QA
• Daily QA Results
• At the end of Daily QA, a report is automatically printed.
If printer is not on line or fails, post an error to screen.
• If Daily QA fails, post an error message that says
"Unsuccessful QA - Recommend repeating procedure."
– If a QA fails the error log will contain detailed
information on the failure.
• Test results are saved automatically to a database.
• Appropriate secondary calibration and Reference Value
information is recalculated from QA database using an
average of 5 previous passing test results. This
information is stored in each scan file.
• A view with plot of medium bone chamber is generated,
and user the user is allowed to manipulate data
interactively.
 Order of events in a Secondary
Calibration (Daily QA)
• Initialize QA / Find Block
– Home Scanner
– Move to block position - Laser On - Software
Prompt for the QA Standard
– Moves to back / Tissue Plug
– Ramp Source - Scout scans for Block - Shut down
X-ray
– Move to brass - Ramp Source - Open Shutter /
Peak Test - Close Shutter - Shut Down X-ray
– Ramp Source - Beam Stop Test - Shut Down X-
ray
• Mechanics Tests
– Home Scanner
– Count Transverse Pulses Front to Back at Head
– Count Longitudinal Pluses Head to Foot
– Count Transverse Pulses Back to Front
– Count Longitudinal Pulses Foot to Head
• Spillover Test
– Move to Brass - Ramp Source - Open
Shutter / Spillover Test - Close Shutter
• Reference Values
– Move to Lucite tissue Plug - open shutter /
3mA Reference counts - close shutter
– Ramp source to 0.15 mA - move to front of
standard (off standard) - open shutter and get
0.150mA reference counts - close shutter -
shut down X-ray
– Display Detector Status (Pass/Fail) - cool
detector
• Calibration
– Move to Large BM chamber - Ramp source to
3.00 mA
– Perform point measurements on calibration
objects
• Acetron / Bone / Bone / Bone / Lucite
• Close shutter - Move Open Shutter
– Ramp to 0.150mA - repeat calibration object
measurements - Shut down source
• Display Status - Print Report if Autoprint is on
 Sub-optimal Detector handling
• Prodigy software will fail individual detector elements
• If a detector is determined to be sub optimal in the daily QA
– The operator will be prompted to run another QA
– If the detector fails a second time, the Host PC will ignore its data
and average in the data from the two surrounding detectors
• Adjacent detectors failing will not be allowed
• Only 2 failing detectors will be allowed in the blocks 1-8 or 9-16
• If the detector “heals” it must pass 5 consecutive QAs before the
data it produces will be used
 Bad Detector Check in Analysis – If detectors are going bad
intermittently, or after a QA has been done, it may cause scans to
contain data with one or more bad detectors.
 The algorithm will look at the average difference in PBM across all
detectors.
 Any detector that is significantly different, will be marked as bad and
its data will be interpolated.
 zero tolerance for failing detectors at install
 “Under the Hood” QA changes with
version 2.05 software
• New current 0.75 mA (new scan modes)
– Check XORB test points for 0.75 mA at install
• New “virtual” detector combinations (preparation for new
scan types)
• Improved QA error handling -better, more detailed
information
– Example - mechanics - will display the number of
steps the scanner took, direction and the tolerance
in the error log upon a failure
– Detector pre-amp test has been added to reduce the
number of daughter board failures
– The 0.15 mA and 0.75 mA measurements have
been combined (saves time)
– QA runs faster (about 8 minutes now)
 QA Trend reports: More information
than you will ever need

• Can print / view a trend for

any of the QA tests
– nice for troubleshooting /
evaluating a detector
– best information on a
specific failure is still the
error log
• Only need 3mA and Misc.
reports for install paperwork
 Hacksaw test -
• Scanner measures its ability to
create a straight edge during a
scan
• Automated process
– Use Primary Calibration aluminum
wedge
– Scanner determines appropriate
correction factor to apply
• makes straight edges appear
straight
• Similar to aligning inkjet cartridges
in HP printers
Spine Phantom: three important
•Start Position
•Laser light should be positioned in the
center of L5. This location corresponds to
the “R” in LUNAR
•Return of the water bath
•All Phantoms will be water bath based
(unless the customer buys an encapsulated
one)
•IQ/MD will be shipping with water bath as
well
•Phantom will be classified as a “Service
tool”
•Its role will be downplayed - customers will
not be encouraged to scan it as part of their
routine operation
 Hardware events when
performing a patient scan
• Operator initiates scan
– Data Entry
– Patient on Table
– Position Patient
– Ramp X-rays
– Home scanner
– Move to start position
– Switch laser on
– Operator fine adjusts the start
position
– Move to offset - open shutter
engage mechanics - start scan
– close shutter - shut down source
– User homes scan arm
– User analyzes scan
 Error log: the best diagnostic the
scanner has
• Improved error logging of daily
QA
• Improved ramping error
messages
– gives kV / mA expected /
actual values
• Invalid error messages?
– Scanner is most likely arcing
• Report may be printed that
includes all errors from all
sessions
• If you experience a failure, fax
this - before you call
 Prodigy Error Logs - the best
Service Diagnostic
• The Prodigy will maintain an error log file whenever the scan
table is in operation.

• All errors, fatal or nonfatal will be logged here.

• The Error log gives a brief description of the error and if

possible the origin of the fault.

– The error log is one of the best troubleshooting tools for

scanner malfunction.

– To aid in a quick and accurate response when requesting

assistance from LUNAR, please have an error log available
for review by LUNAR Customer Support
– The error log file is named errorlog.bin, this file is
the current error log session. Older sessions are
named errorlog.1, errorlog.2 and so on up to
errorlog.4.
 Printing the Prodigy Error Log
• The scanner does not have to be
in Service mode to view or print
the Error Log.
• The Error Log is located under
the Tools dropdown menu. Left
click on Tools / and then on Error
Log.
• Session - The Prodigy software will
maintain up to 10 “sessions” - each
session is up to 100 errors.
– A new session can be started by
clicking on the Unit Log button.

• The Error list may be printed

(click on print errors) or it may
be searched with the Find
Error button.
Decoding Prodigy Errorlogs
• The Prodigy Error log is very user
friendly
– Error log will list a specific fault
• Example - Negative HVPS
Ramping failure
• Errors will typically occur in a
cascade
– The initial event is the cause
of the fault
– The subsequent events (time
stamp is close to initial event)
are the scanners response to
the error
– The fault listed should be the first
item checked when fault isolating
 When to suspect arcing:
 Tube head sum current failures
 Scan aborts spontaneously (can be
primary calibration or any type of
scan)
 Scan turns white
 Multiple unexplained errors occur at
the same moment (see error log – Note this series of errors:
note identical time stamp for
multiple errors) - Emergency stop
 Error log indication of possible - Tube Head over temp
arcing
- 28 Volt supply fail
 Frequent unexplained lock ups of
the Prodigy software and a - Illegal motion
corresponding series of unexplained
errors in the error log. The time stamp for all errors is
the same 10:14:46 - these are
false errors induced by an arc.
 How to Diagnose Arcing
• Stability Run diagnostic tool
has proven to be the best for
diagnosing arcing and for
testing the detector
– Stability run shows us
how stable our count
rates are statistically for
each of our 16 detectors
on the Prodigy.
• Put the scanner in to service
mode
• Open up stability run (Tools\
Stability Run\New Stability
Run)
 Setting up a Stability Run
• The settings button allows control of the kV and mA, when
arcing is suspected run stability monitor at 3mA.
– When arcing is confirmed, stability monitor can be re-
run at .15mA to determine if the arcing is in the tube
head or in one of the high voltage power supply. If
deviations exist at 0.150 mA the arcing is most likely in
the tube head itself.
– When counting at 3mA an object of sufficient thickness
must be placed in the x-ray beam, the spine phantom
or the secondary calibration block works equally well.
• · Do not allow the scanner to be ramped to 3mA for more
than 5 minutes at a time or tube head damage may occur.
• · The stability run may have to be performed multiple times
before arcing is detected.
 Normal Stability Run
 An arcing scanner will show a
dramatic count rate fluctuation
in all 16 detectors at a
particular time.
 The easiest way to determine
the magnitude of the fluctuation
is by looking at the dotted lines
on the stability run print out, the
dotted lines represent 1 standard
deviation for the count rate data
collected.
A non-arcing scanner should be stable; all of the fluctuations
should fall within 2 standard deviations. An arcing scanner may
have deviations (in all 16 detectors at the same moment) larger
than 2 standard deviations.
Often arcing scanners will show a fluctuation of 4 or more
standard deviations.
 Identifying Arcing from
Stability Run
• This stability run shows
large data fluctuations in
all 16 channels, this
scanner is arcing.
• Note the magnitude of
the deviations, all
channels are deviating
significantly outside of
the 1 standard deviation
dashed lines
Backup Utility Provides Added Database
Security

•Rebuild from Backup if

Archive is unavailable.
•Stores database file,
QA file, and
configuration files.
•Easy PC swap -
Restore Backup, run
QA and Spine
Phantoms
 Desktop software setup
• The Prodigy ver 2.10 Desktop software
(Demo version) is on the Prodigy
Service Manual CD-ROM
• See Customer Support Bulletin Vol 6
and the readme file for setup
instructions
• An error message will be displayed
every time you start it with WIN 95 / 98
– New feature code: DF+72885-07691-
979707
– Select Desktop Prodigy from Tools / Select
Scanner type (must be in Service Mode)