DEFECT & INVESTIGATION

CENTRE
Stoney Road Dundonald Belfast
Northern Ireland BT16 1US

FOR ACTION BY:

Chief Executive of each HSS Trust
General Manager/Chief Executive of each HSS Board
General Manager/Chief Executive of each Agency

Telephone 01232 523714

Facsimile 01232 523900
GTN Code 440

SAN(NI) 98/60
Date:18 November 1998
TITLE:

X-RAY TUBE ANODE STARTER: COMET HS150

HIGH SPEED STARTER USED WITH PICKER
GENERATORS INCLUDING TRANSIX 800s, R703,
R500 AND R501
1.

SUMMARY
An incident has been reported in which an HS150 anode braking timer failed, causing the braking
relay to remain closed as long as the unit remained switched on.

2.

ACTION
The following information should be brought to the attention of all who need to know or be aware of
it. This will include:
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
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Directors of Radiology
Radiologists
Superintendent Radiographers
Directors of Nursing
Radiation Protection Advisers
EBME Departments
Supplies Officers
Safety Liaison Officers

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M
M
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M
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A&E Directors
Radiology Business Managers
Radiographers
Radiation Protection Supervisors
Medical Physicists
Works Staff concerned with maintenance of equipment
Estates/Facilities Managers
Risk Managers

Comet HS150 high speed starters fitted to Picker equipment (formerly GEC Medical) suffer from a risk of
the X-ray tube overheating and oil leaking from the expanding bellows if there is a failure in the anode
braking timer. If this happens the equipment will not function and the following action should be taken:
l

A note should be taken of all settings and read-outs on the control panel, paying particular attention
to any error codes.

The unit should be powered down and those responsible for servicing the equipment should be
contacted.

As a general safety precaution:

l

If any fault has developed the equipment should not be left powered up.

If the unit is to be left unattended for any length of time it should be powered down.

Boards/Trusts should ensure that if appropriate, this information is passed to ALL persons
having the responsibility for premises registered under THE REGISTERED HOMES (NI)
ORDER 1992.
An Executive Agency of the Department of Health
and Social Services
SAN(NI)96/9
v

Boards/Trusts should ensure that if appropriate, this information is passed to ALL persons
having the responsibility for premises registered under THE REGISTERED HOMES (NI)
ORDER 1992.
An Executive Agency of the Department of Health
and Social Services
SAN(NI)96/9
v

3.

BACKGROUND
The HS150 anode starter was manufactured by Comet and supplied by Picker with their range of generators.
An incident was reported to the Department in which an HS150 anode braking timer failed, causing the braking relay to
remain closed as long as the unit remained switched on. Instead of the usual three seconds of dynamic braking, the
supply was continuously applied to the X-ray tube stator.
With the non-functioning unit left powered up, the supply from the braking relay heated the tube. Over a prolonged
period the oil in the tube expanded sufficiently to split the rubber diaphragm in the bellows, allowing hot oil to leak from
the tube.
The tube involved in the incident had a thermal cut-out intended to prevent excessive pressure in the tube housing. This
enabled the not ready signal to the generator, inhibiting further exposures. However, it did not cut off the supply to the
anode, so the temperature and pressure continued to rise.
These units do not comply with TRS89, which requires that any source of electrical energy must be disconnected, if the
continued application of that energy could result in an excessive pressure in the tube housing. Some of these generators
are wired in such a way that further exposures are prevented in an over pressure situation, but the anode braking supply is
not cut off.
Picker has been unable to provide a solution that resolves this problem but has been working with Comet on a
modification. This monitors the time that braking is applied and cuts off the supply if the braking relay does not release.
Picker will not provide this free of charge but intend to offer it at cost.
Users should consider having the modification fitted to prevent recurrence. Those users who choose not to fit the
modification should attach a warning notice to the unit indicating that power should be turned off whenever the
unit is left unattended.

4.

ENQUIRIES
Enquiries to the manufacturer should be addressed to:
Mr C Bloomfield
Picker International
Longacres House
Norton Green Road
Stevenage
Herts SG1 2BA
Telephone:
Fax:

01438 311777
01438 311888

Enquiries for those units under service contract with IGE should be addressed to:
Mr J Lower
IGE Medical Systems Limited
352 Buckingham Avenue
Slough
Berkshire SL1 4ER
Telephone:
Fax:

01753 874000
01753 696067

Enquiries for those units under alternative service arrangements should be addressed to the appropriate service agent.
Enquiries in writing: regarding this notice should be addressed as follows:
NORTHERN IRELAND DEFECT & INVESTIGATION CENTRE (NIDIC)
Health Estates
Estate Policy
Stoney Road
Dundonald
Belfast BT16 1US
marked for the attention of Mr Brian Godfrey
Yours faithfully

BRIAN GODFREY
Defect Centre Manager
HOW TO REPORT DEFECTS
Professional Estate Letter PEL(93)36 issued by Estate Services Directorate, on 27th July 1994 advises Health and Social
Services Boards, HSS Trusts and Agencies how to notify HPSS about accidents with and defects in medicinal products,
buildings and plant and other medical and non medical equipment and supplies.

SAN(NI)96/9