Sigma projetor manual Daily Inspection of the Source Guide Tubes

DAILY INSPECTION INSTRUCTIONS

2Inspect the labels on the exposure device or the transport case to ensure they are legible and securely attached to the unit. The warning label containing the trefoil should be legible from a distance of at least 3 ft (approximately 1 m). This label warns the individuals in the immediate vicinity of the presence of radioactive materials and permits them to take measures to minimize their exposure to radiation. The printed verbiage and the radiation symbol must be legible. The trefoil symbol becomes the warning for those individuals who cannot read or understand the written warning, ‘Caution or Danger, Radioactive Material’. Inspect the legibility and attachment of the source identification tag that describes the radioactive source contained within the exposure device.

3Inspect the exposure device’s locking mechanism to ensure the protective covers are installed over the source assembly connector. Inspect the plunger lock to ensure the lock will engage when the plunger is depressed and the key is removed. Grasp the entire locking mechanism with one hand and try to move the lock to determine that the screws have not loosened due to vibration. Unlock the plunger lock and remove the protective cover. Push the protective cover into the plunger lock housing for storage during use of the device.

4Inspect the outlet port for damage and for smooth operation by operating the outlet port cover. Verify that the outlet port cover rotates smoothly and that the mechanism is not clogged with dirt, grease or sludge.

Daily Inspection of the Source Guide Tube(s)

1Remove the protective covers from the swaged fittings on the source guide tubes. Inspect both swage fittings to ensure the threads are not stripped or clogged with dirt, grease or sludge. Inspect the ears on the bayonet fitting to ensure they are not bent, broken or excessively worn.

2Inspect each length of source guide tube(s) that will be used for cuts, inward dents and heat damage. The inspection is primarily a visual one, but it should include the radiographer using his hands to feel for the inward dents. This is necessary due to the fact the outer material of the source guide tube is a flexible waterproof material that can mask dents. During a visual-only inspection, a dent in the source guide tube may retain a circular appearance on the exterior, while having an inward dent in the metallic conduit directly below the waterproof material. This type of masked dent can be felt by the radiographer's hands. Dents in the source guide tubes are the major cause of source hang-ups.

3Inspect the source stop (exposure head) to ensure there are no dents, perforations or excessive wear.

4Inspect the attachment of the collimator to the source stop (exposure head) if used during radiography. If collimator utilizes a set screw to affix the collimator to the source stop, hand tighten only. The use of tools may damage the source stop.

Daily Inspection of the Remote Controls

The remote control consists of a control crank, a control cable with a connector swaged at one end, two control cable conduits and a connector plug assembly.

The control crank contains a diagonally cut, geared drive wheel that matches the outer helical winding of the control cable. This worm-gear arrangement of the control crank drive wheel and the control cable provides the radiographer with a reliable means to project and retract the source assembly from and to the exposure device. The control crank is equipped with a lever brake that retains the source assembly while in the exposure head. Beneath the control crank is a label that indicates the direction for EXPOSE and RETRACT during use in addition to ON and OFF positions for the brake. Control cranks are available with an odometer to provide the radiographer with the approximate travel distance of the source assembly. The travel distance is indicated in increments of feet and tenths of a foot. Radiographers can count the number of rotations of the crank handle when using control cranks that are not equipped with

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