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2 | FOCALSPOT.SPRING.2013
President’s LetterFirst let me take a moment to thank everyone for the encouragement and well wishes on my new promotion as President of RSTI. I am inspired by your enthusiasm. In my 23 years at RSTI I have found that the only thing that is constant is change.
When I first started working at RSTI, we were so proud of the fact that, included among the 12 imaging systems we had, there were two high-frequency X-Ray generators. We also had fluoroscopic systems that had General Electric TE40 cameras and L500 video controls and one lonely old CT. Today we struggle to keep a couple of 3-phase X-Ray systems in the mix of over 40 imaging systems. Back when I started I never would have imagined that we would have as many as 6 current CT systems available to train on, much less all the modern digital equipment we have to train on today.
TRAINING AND SALES COMPLIMENT EACH OTHERIt is no secret that for 28 years RSTI has had a very
strong training department. What has gone unnoticed is that for most of those years we have also had a pre-owned equipment sales component as well. It is the continuous cooperation between these two groups that has helped us to develop the technical capacity to identify high-quality pre-owned equipment the secondary market needs, test it, repair it, and certify its performance.
On the flip side, it is due to the support of a growing pre-owned equipment division that RSTI has been able to add so many great new systems to our training labs over years. Furthermore, repairing equipment for sales gives our instructors the opportunity to maintain their edge when it comes to troubleshooting.
WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?There is no doubt RSTI will continue to offer the
finest training courses available anywhere and we are always working on the next new offering. The relationship between training and sales will continue to strengthen both divisions. However, with the continued growth of our used equipment division we need to keep training’s focus and message from being blurred by our equipment sales and equipment marketing efforts. To that end we are proud to announce that RSTI’s pre-owned equipment division is being rebranded and will
now be operated under its new name, RSTI Exchange. The new web address www.rstiexchange.com is set to go online this Spring.
SOME THINGS NEVER CHANGEFor all my years at RSTI I have had the pleasure and
benefit of working with and around some of the most talented, self-motivated and pleasant people I have ever met. The staff I am currently blessed to work with is by far the best, and I regard them all as friends.
IN RETROSPECTWe are all molded in some way by the people we
surround ourselves with. Clearly our parents, spouses and friends shape our personal lives. One person who has helped to shape me professionally I have known since I was a teenager, Terry Speth. Terry taught me so much about the imaging industry and this business. It’s a shame I’ll never get a chance to thank him personally. I currently hold his position but do not claim to take his place. Recently the industry lost another individual, Ed Kohut, who had a positive effect not just on me but many in our field. I had the pleasure of working with him at RSTI. He too will be missed.
I look forward to the challenge of moving RSTI into the future, and with the help of my partners, staff and of course all of you, I’m sure we will have a significant effect on improving the diagnostic imaging service profession and reducing healthcare costs.
Dale Cover Dale Cover, President
WWW.RSTI-TRAINING.COM | 3
24 Years at RSTI...and Counting!Anna Morrison, Registrar
I can’t believe I’m approaching my Silver Anniversary here at RSTI. One of the best things about working here is forming friendships that last decades.
It’s not unusual for our students to return for training after having completed their last course 10, 15, even 20 years ago. It’s always nice to catch up, see how we’ve changed, and chat about how our children have grown and our families have changed.
We recently had the pleasure of welcoming back two such students, Scott Slater and John Noel. Both are still gainfully employed in diagnostic imaging service, Scott at the same hospital where he’s worked for almost 30 years and John with a successful service group in Canada.
John was here in the early 90’s for numerous classes, including Phases I-III, Advantx and CT. We saw him again after nearly 20 years for the Proteus class that ran in February. When John originally came to RSTI, he was working for a hospital in Newfoundland, Canada. Now, he is working for an independent service company based out of Mississauga, Ontario. I remember student night out with his Phase I class back in March of 1990 and how young and carefree we all were. Now we have children of similar age and all the responsibilities that come with raising a family.
The last time we saw Scott was also back in the early 90’s for Phases I-IV. What I remembered most about Scott was his passion for Nascar racing, not surprising as he lives near Winston-Salem, NC. He recently returned for the bone densitometry class, and has not changed a bit, seriously. We should all be so lucky!
The bottom line is, “You’re never to old to learn.” Coming back to RSTI for the newer technology is a great investment at any age.
The best part is, we have the pictures to prove it!
Basic X-Ray Phase III April 18-29, 1994
C.T. Level I May 16-27, 1994
GE ProteusFeb 25-Mar 1, 2013
Bone Densitometry
March 4-8 , 2013
4 | FOCALSPOT.SPRING.2013
Monro’sMinuteCompetition is CertainMost of my business life I have been in competition in one form or another. I have competed with other employees for promotions, I have competed with other buyers when I was a buyer, and finally, with other businessmen, bankers, lawyers, accountants and the like…
Along the way during my 40 plus years in the business world, I have experienced just about everything good and bad that comes out of this chosen career.
While the good certainly outweighs the bad, when I look in the rear view mirror I see a trail of broken businesses that I had the pleasure of assisting in turning around, from high-end retailing to the company that has occupied my time for the last 12 years, RSTI. If you do the math, I spent 28 years in “big business” traveling the globe, hiring and firing, all the while blithely donating my taxes to federal and local governments as they picked my pockets for Medicare, Medicaid and Social
Security. By the way, those are the same programs that are now commonly referred to as “entitlements.” How can any politician say that with a straight face? But I digress, there are no complaints here however, because I have been able to re-unite with my family and my God.
If I said it all went by fast, it would just sound like another individual crying over “spilt milk.”
My life is just like the Hurst shifter that my friend Terry Speth has in his red Stingray with one dramatic difference. In a world of automatic, including transmissions, many of you might not get this analogy, but here goes. Did you ever not hit the right slot on your manual transmission and hit 3rd or 4th gear when starting out? My early years were like that…No matter how much I pushed on the accelerator, the car just moved forward at a snail’s pace until I realized what was happening. It was especially hard to cover up if you were on a date trying to impress a certain young lady. When you are young you want to be older. When you are middle age, you want to be younger. When you are soon to be 64, you wonder how you could have been so damn stupid for so many years.
Change is ConstantRSTI is a unique environment of less than 20 people all pulling together to provide the finest diagnostic imaging training on the planet. Over the last 12 years, we have fine tuned this educational machine with constant re-investment, so that we house an appropriate mix of analog and digital equipment. We have added to the labs every year, and we have altered the curriculum and instructor duties to keep pace. Those making it through the multiple transitions have now earned more responsibility, and from where I sit are now enjoying the first fruits of their diligent combined efforts.
Dale Cover has been at RSTI for 24 years plus or minus a few here or there. He started in the labs with a Mullet hair style that we still kid him about to this day. Now he is what is called, “high and tight.” Dale was elected on January 18th this year and will spend much of 2013 easing into the role of president of RSTI. The major shareholders are happy to have his imaging experience and teaching savvy at the helm. He has many ideas for improvement in his arsenal, so be sure to keep up with
WWW.RSTI-TRAINING.COM | 5
what we do next. To avoid any confusion, it should be stated clearly, that Dale is in control.
Todd Boyland was promoted to SVP of RSTI and Training Manager, reporting directly to Dale. Todd runs training, top to bottom and there are many reasons why, so I will only hit the highlights of this gifted young man. When Todd graduated from Alfred University in New York, he was hired by Terry Speth, Sr. to be an instructor at RSTI. Todd had computer science as his background and knew nothing of X-Rays and/or electronics when he began 11 years ago. Being a self-starter and independent thinker, he quickly rose through the instructor ranks, but not until after he took an electronics course on his own. Today he represents the future of our training department by maintaining the leading edge education needed in today’s digital environment.
John Drew was promoted to SVP of Sales & Marketing, also reporting directly to our new President. John takes great pride in the creation of a unique identity for RSTI called branding. He put together our updated look in all of our advertising, so that it is coordinated with everything we do as a company. Our newsletters, logos, and internet identity today are due to his diligent effort. Additionally, all the web design changes, including the new one for used equipment has all been under his tutelage. And finally, John was given the added responsibility of the RSTI used equipment business.
Lastly, I would be remiss if I did not express my condolences to the Kohut family. DITEC lost a committed and astute educator, and his family lost their leader, I am sure. Not knowing Ed personally does not stop me or RSTI from expressing our feelings about a fellow instructor, husband, son and brother. Having been steeped in the imaging training business for a long time, I know that Ed Kohut taught, helped, and mentored many of the service engineers in the field today. The untimely passing of anyone at such a young age is tragic. Our prayers go with Ed’s family in their time of great need.
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RSTI Used EquipmentAt the end of a fiscal year money is always hard to come up with. When it comes to training dollars, especially, engineers are on the back burners of budget meetings. It’s easier than you thought to find your way to the training center.
Give us a call about your used equipment that is for sale. If you are disposing of any equipment now or in the next few weeks, we can give you training credits toward a new class! It’s easy… fill out the short questionnaire to the right, and fax it back to one of us: Terry Speth, or Darrel Kile. We handle the purchasing of equipment, and we can give you a good idea of the value of the equipment over the phone. It’s that simple!
You Said “We Have HOW Much!?”Extensive Inventory of Imaging Systems
Matt Mondello, RSTI Instructor
In an age of exponential advancements in technology and the progress we’ve made with our medical imaging systems, it would only make sense that our test equipment would have to advance as well and it has, drastically! The days of having to cart around your old Hameg O’Scope are nearly extinct but the skills to use an o’scope are still a necessity.
Part of our mission here at RSTI is to provide a well-rounded, solid base to build off of for the entry level technician and the ability to provide an accurate representation of what the service professionals that have been in the industry for many years see on a regular basis.
RSTI is proud to boast about our extensive inventory of test equipment and lab support both new and old to not only keep up with the trending technological advancements but also keep in touch with the origins of testing and troubleshooting with the older analog units.
During our latest facility inventory, my final tally on test equipment and training aids for the student labs and classrooms was nearly half a million dollars, $471 thousand worth of new and old test equipment from multiple manufacturers and spanning the full spectrum of gear needed to perform every test that can be performed on the newest and oldest of medical imaging systems in our facility and the industry as a whole.
To put this into perspective, most service professional share equipment with an entire shop or site and there are usually only a few systems to go around.
Whether or not you have one unit, prefer one manufacturer, or have no idea what you use or need, we probably have it here. Part of the Basic X-Ray
Phase 1 course is going through several different manufacturers and models of test equipment. This not only demonstrates the variations in equipment and their measurement abilities but also gives the service professionals experience with handling them and enables them to make informative decision and provide valuable feedback to their purchasing departments when they return to their facilities.
And an added bonus to our close relationships with the test equipment vendors is that many of manufacturers provide RSTI students with a discount when making their test equipment purchase.
Come to RSTI, get some great training on the X-Ray equipment, get some great hands on experience with our plethora of test sets and leave RSTI with peace of mind that we are here to support you and the entire industry and that you have the skills you need to be successful!
Philips Integris Cath Lab System (Includes Generators)
Analog Multi-‐Vendor Mammography (GE, Lorad, Siemens)
Lorad Multicare PlatinumBreast Biopsy System
May 20-‐24
July15-‐19
Oct 28-‐Nov 1
GE Digital Mammography Family(2000D/ DS/ ESSENTIAL)Digital Mammography
(Hologic Selenia)
Lorad MIV Platinum and ACRJuly11-‐15
Nov11-‐15
Multi-‐Vendor Bone DensitometryJuly8-‐12
Oct21-‐25
Dec16-‐20
ULTRASOUND Multi-‐Vendor Ultrasound
Principles of Servicing Computed Tomography Systems (Phase I)
Advanced Computed Tomography System Maintenance (Phase II)
GE BrightSpeed & LightSpeed CT
GE VCT Oct21-‐Nov3Nov4 -‐ 8
VIPMay 14-‐17
FBS Oct 31 -‐ Nov 3
NCBASept 3-‐6
NEW YEARS
CT
CHRISTMAS
Oct 7 -‐ 18
Exhibits, PresentationsAnd Special Notes
INDEPENDENCE DAY
Oct 21-‐Nov 1
Dec2-‐13
THANKSGIVING
June17-‐28
Aug19-‐30
Dec9-‐20
Nov11 -‐ 22
Oct7-‐18
June17-‐28
Dec2 -‐13
PORTABLES
MANAGEMENT
WOMEN'S HEALTH
CARDIAC
NETWORKING &DIGITAL
INFORMATION
Dec2-‐13
Dec9-‐20
Sept 30-‐Oct 11
Sept9-‐20
Oct 28-‐Nov 8
X-RAYCERTIFICATE
SERIES
June 17-‐28
July 29-‐Aug 9
Sept 23-‐Oct 4
Sept 23-‐Aug 4
July 29-‐Aug 9
June 3-‐14
June 3-‐14
Dec2 -‐ 13
Nov11-‐22
Nov4 -‐ 15
May 6-‐17
Aug12-‐23
LABOR DAY
Aug12-‐23
Sept9-‐20
Oct 21-‐Nov 1
July15-‐26
September October
Oct 14 -‐ 25
May 13-‐24
Aug19-‐30
June 3-‐14
May 13-‐24
MEMORIAL DAY
August
June 17-‐28
Aug19-‐30
July 15-‐26
TRAINING COURSE TITLEDecemberMay JulyJune November
C-ARM
Apr 29-‐May 10
PRODUCTSPECIFIC
Sept9-‐20
Sept9-‐20
Oct 28-‐Nov 8
July 29-‐Aug 9
AAMI June 1-‐3
July 29-‐Aug 9
10 | FOCALSPOT.SPRING.2013
Tube Spits & Arcs
By Dave Domanski RSTI Instructor
Many service engineers are unaware of the dangers of tube arcs in high frequency systems. During a normal X-ray exposure the amount of conduction, or current, that passes through the X-ray tube is closely controlled by the amount of space charge that we develop at the cathode. We know that the application of sufficient current to the selected filament will generate a cloud of negatively charged electrons and the quantity of those electrons will determine the amount of tube current and hence the quantity of radiation produced by the tube. A tube arc can occur due to tungsten deposits building up on the inside of the glass envelope or a “gassy tube” when there is infiltration of gasses through the glass envelope, both of which can provide an alternate and uncontrolled path for conduction. The term “runaway conduction” is sometime used to describe this phenomenon because we are no longer in control of the conduction path as well as the amount of conduction that occurs.
When an older single phase, three phase six pulse or three phase twelve pulse system experiences a tube arc there is often no damage to the high voltage control circuits because as the conduction runs away we see a spike in current and reciprocal drop in voltage, therefore the overall load on the generator remains the same. This is due to the fact that these types of generators clamp the primary voltage selection at the beginning of the exposure sequence thereby having no way to attempt to maintain the selected kV during the exposure.
The story is very different for high frequency/ constant potential generators. As they can adjust kV on the fly, with a response time as small as .1 millisecond in some cases, high frequency systems will attempt to maintain the selected kV causing an overcurrent condition to arise almost immediately. At this point the only limit to the amount of current flowing through the X-ray tube and generating circuit is any overcurrent protection built into the circuit and/or the mains fuses at the wall disconnect!
During an arc we could have 200 Amps of current flowing through a circuit designed to use less than
50 Amps! I think that you can imagine how this might be problematic. Thankfully, many modern systems monitor the high frequency inverter and will generate an error code when excessive current is detected.
Knowing what to do when this happens is the tricky bit.
T he most common cause o f a rcs i s the aforementioned gassy tube. The symptom of which is an X-ray unit that operates normally up to a certain kV, above which the tube arcs. This is not necessarily a death sentence for the tube, as performing a “tube seasoning procedure” or a “tube run in calibration” may be able to fix the problem by heating up the anode to a point where the offending gasses are burned off, restoring the tube’s vacuum. Every manufacturer has their own recommended method for performing this procedure and it can usually be found in the installation section of the service manuals.
The procedure may have to be repeated several times for an excessively gassy tube and some very old tubes may not survive the process at all, but it is an alternative to straight up replacement that could save your department tens of thousands of dollars, and that’s nothing to sneeze at!
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Over the next few issues, I will be discussing motion control in imaging systems (or any motion control system for that matter). Positioners, automatic collimators, buckys, wall stands, and patient tables can all use different types of motion control. Many different motor types and motor control systems can be used to accomplish these tasks; servo, steppers, dc motors with Hall Effect sensor’s for positioning, among others. In this article I will be discussing servo motors.
Servo systems, in their most basic form, are a dc motor with a potentiometer attached to the shaft to indicate position to a control circuit. This is referred to as a closed-loop system. When a certain position is demanded from the servo it tries to drive to that position and the potentiometer sends back a reference signal giving the true location of the armature. If some outside force moves the shaft out of position, the control circuitry will resist and attempt to move shaft to its specified location.
Servo motors typically have a limited range of motion, usually between 90 and 360 degrees. So, devices that require a large range of travel will not be appropriate candidates for servo motor positioning. This type of positioning motor is commonly used in
automatic collimators, as blades require only a finite range of movement.
Typically servo systems are sent a demanded position signal that corresponds to a specific rotational location of the armature of the motor. The position control circuitry will then drive the inputs of the dc motor to achieve that position (A and B drive pictured above). When the armature is at the specified location the feedback potentiometer will send a reference to a comparator and control circuitry will hold the armature at that location.
Common problems with these devices are typically with the potentiometer, or drive side problems. A problem with the potentiometer can appear as “jitter” or the armature consistently passing the desired location and the location circuitry trying to go-back to the desired location, causing an oscillation with the armature. A symptom of drive side issues is the armature will drive in only one direction to a hard stop, causing a motor stall resulting in a blown fuse or power supply circuitry.
Stay tuned for the next installment where I will be discussing stepper motors.
As you all may or may not know RSTI has been buying and selling pre-owned imaging equipment for the last 10 years. During this time we have learned a great deal about the pre-owned market. We have been able to grow not only our knowledge of the different manufacturers but also individual systems as well. We have learned to install and remove all types of systems both analog and digital.
We are currently looking for GE CT systems, which include anything from quads to VCT’s. We are able to offer cash and or training as payment. RSTI is able to professionally remove the systems from your facility as well. This may be new to some of you as we have been very involved with mammography over the years, so many of you may not realize this has become one of our specialties.
While I mentioned the GE systems we are not limited to them. We are looking for systems by every manufacturer and would be interested in hearing about any systems you may be willing to part with.
Please find a list of systems we are looking for below. If the system you own is not listed please contact me with some details and I would be happy to make an offer.
Any CT system
Digital Radiographic Rooms
Digital Mammography Systems
Portable Systems, including Analog and Digital
R/F Rooms
Bone Density Systems
CR Systems
Please keep in mind any systems you are using as trade-ins may be worth more by giving us the opportunity to make an offer. I look forward to hearing from all of you in regards to the systems you have either available now or becoming available in the future.
CONTACT: DARREL KILE AT [email protected] OR BY PHONE AT 440-349-4700
Got a Line on Used GE CT?Let us hear from you! RSTI
HOW TO REGISTER: PHONE 440.349.4700 • FAX 440.349.2053 • WWW.RSTI-TRAINING.COM/REGISTER MAIL COMPLETED FORM TO: RSTI 30745 SOLON RD. SOLON, OHIO. 44139
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Course Name Dates 1._________________________________________________________________ _______________________________ 2._________________________________________________________________ _______________________________ ________ Full Coverage Package (Yes or No) ___________________________________________________________________ Name of class attendee Title ________ Bill my organization P.O. ________ ___________________________________________________________________ Company/Organization Phone ________ Registration fee enclosed: $________ ___________________________________________________________________ Address Fax ________ Bill my credit card: _____MasterCard _____Visa ___________________________________________________________________ City State Zip _____AMEX _____Discover ___________________________________________________________________ Email Number: __________________________ Exp Date __________ Si t ( i d)
Course Index &
HOW TO REGISTER: Phone 440.349.4700 • Fax 440.349.2053 • www.rsti-training.com/register MAIL COMPLETED FORM TO: RSTI 30745 Solon Rd. Solon, Ohio. 44139
Cancellation Policy - Tuition is only refundable if cancellation is received in writing by RSTI at least 14 calendar days prior to the course or seminar date. Allow 30 days for receipt of the
refund. Registrants who cancel within 14 days of the course or seminar date will have the tuition transferred to another course or seminar on a space available basis. In the event that a course does not attain our minimum enrollment, RSTI may postpone it. Paid tuition will remain on account to be applied to the rescheduled class.
Payment Due Policy - Payment for all courses and/or seminars is due three full weeks in advance of the course start date. Purchase orders are accepted, but also must be paid one week
prior to the course start date. We also accept VISA, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover as a method of payment. All past due invoices will be assessed a late fee of 1.5% per month on any unpaid balances.
Schedule - Typically, courses run from 8:30 am-4:30 pm Monday through Friday. You will receive a detailed schedule when we confirm your registration. You should schedule your incoming
flight to arrive Sunday afternoon or evening. On the last Friday, class ends at 12:00 noon. You may schedule your return flight any time in the mid- to late-afternoon.
Full Coverage Package - You are responsible for expenses you incur while attending courses. However, RSTI has negotiated a reduced package rate that includes 12 nights hotel
accommodations, transportation between the hotel and training center, breakfast, and lunch. We will notify you of this rate when you enroll; if you wish, we can add the full coverage package cost to your tuition.
Course Materials - In addition to specially designed manuals and daily course handouts, you will also receive where appropriate: • Document package of the lecture • Troubleshooting charts • Class Photograph • Flow diagrams • Performance evaluation forms • Certificate of Completion
Due to copyright issues, some courses require that students bring their own manuals. These may include, but are not limited to, Operators Manual, Service Manual and Schematics. We will advise you of this when you enroll.
Make checks payable to: Radiological Service Training Institute (RSTI) • Tuition and Full Coverage Package rates are subject to change.
