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Extend the Life of your CR System with Routine Preventative Maintenance Service

One of the greatest advancements in recent years for veterinary radiology was the development of portable digital radiology systems. Their ability to quickly and easily produce a quality diagnostic image in any room of the facility or in the field provides great diagnostic, time and money savings benefits.

The professional service staff at Diagnostic Imaging Systems, Inc., receives calls daily from veterinarians across the country that have portable CR systems in need of Preventive maintenance, cleaning and re-calibration. There are several reasons why a CR system may need service.  The riggers of the road, age of machine, wear and tear and state-mandated inspections.

The need to re-calibrate is often a direct result of the ease and use flexibility of the portable equipment. The portable units are often transported in vehicles across winding and bumpy roads and into dusty fields. Occasionally, it is the hazards of the environment they are exposed to, which can slowly lead to the deterioration of service.  Routine service will not only increase the life of your system but will also ensure that the most accurate diagnostic readings are possible.  

As the CR system is used, there becomes a noticeable drop in its output efficiency and image quality compared to where it was when new. This slowly occurring reduction in image quality may not be noticeable right a way. Reproducing the desired image detail and contrast will require Cleaning and re-calibration of the system. Using a system which is out of calibration can shorten the life of the system.

There are other factors which can cause a portable CR system to go out of calibration. Some causes can be simple, if detected and repaired in time while others could be catastrophic to the system. A good example would be dirt and debris inside arch drive and the laser assembly.  If the debris within the unit spreads the system will begin to not transport the plates properly or the HV assembly will begin to  arc which will lead to damage to the power board and the laser assembly.

All states require regular radiology system re-calibration to be performed with documentation provided to certified machines for use in the clinic. Failure to do so can result in revocation of the x-ray license plus fines imposed by the state. Some states will also require a history of records showing the machine has been calibrated regularly.

When regular maintenance  is necessary, clinics worry about being without this important piece of equipment. Luckily, the service team at DIS is prepared to meet the needs of the customer with unmatched speed and accuracy of service.  With overnight shipment of the unit to DIS, the service team can perform same day system preventive maintenance, cleaning and re-calibrate of the unit and overnight it back, having it operating at 100 percent, in a matter of just a few of days.

Purchasing expensive high quality Diagnostic imaging systems is a large investment for any clinic. Regular maintenance will ensure your investment lasts a long time.

Source: Diagnostic Imaging Systems, Inc