CT Service — Level 2: Fault-Finding
From the error or artefact to the failed subsystem: tube, generator, detector, gantry, reconstruction
Part of the program: CT Service Engineer — full program (13 h) →
Level 1 taught you to keep a CT scanner safe, calibrated and maintained. Level 2 starts when it stops anyway. This course teaches the engineer to read the error log for the first error rather than the loudest, place the failure in the scan sequence, and follow it through the tube, the high-voltage generator, the slip ring, the detector, the gantry, the table and the computers to the subsystem that has actually failed - and then prove the repair with the calibrations, phantom tests and records the manufacturer requires.
The JEDI was replaced twice. The tube was arcing all along.
- Expensive modules are replaced because they reported the error, while the real cause - a weak mains supply, a dirty brush, an arcing tube - sits one step upstream and kills the new part too.
- Intermittent faults are 'fixed' by a reboot and come back on a busy Monday, because nobody recorded when, at what angle, at what kV and at what temperature they happened.
- After a tube or detector job the scanner goes back to patients without the full calibration sequence and phantom checks, and the next engineer inherits rings, wrong CT numbers and no baseline.
After the course you can
Curriculum
Find the first causal error in a CT log, place the failure in the scan sequence, choose a test scan, phantom or swap that separates two suspects, and know what you are and are not allowed to change.free
22 min02The X-ray tube: anode, bearing, filament, arcs and oil
Recognise the fault patterns of each part of a CT tube assembly, separate tube faults from cable, generator and cooling faults, and build an evidence-based case for or against tube replacement.24 min03The HV generator and power: inverter, tank, kV and mA, mains and UPS
Follow a generator error from the mains through the power distribution, slip ring, DC link, inverter and HV tank to the tube, interpret kV and mA regulation faults, and recognise when the supply, not the generator, is the cause.24 min04Slip ring and data transmission: brushes, contactless link, noise and intermittent errors
Separate slip ring power faults from data link faults, map intermittent errors against angle, speed and exposure, use the manufacturer's link tests to locate the fault, and inspect and clean the slip ring safely by procedure.23 min05Detector and DAS: modules, temperature, channels, rings and bands
Link ring, band and streak patterns to channels, modules, rows, temperature control, power or contamination, locate the failed part with channel maps and swaps, and understand what module replacement and its calibrations involve.24 min06Gantry mechanics and cooling: rotation drive, bearing, tilt, collimator, climate
Fault-find rotation, tilt and collimator errors in a fixed order from safety chain to motor, recognise the role of encoders, brakes, braking resistors and balance, and separate a gantry cooling fault from a room climate problem.24 min07Table and patient positioning: drives, encoders, brakes, lasers, collision sensors
Fault-find table movement and position errors from safety sensors to drive, encoder and brake, check laser and table position accuracy, and keep patient safety functions intact through every repair.23 min08Calibration and image quality: the calibration chain, phantoms and the artefact atlas
Explain the order and purpose of the CT calibration chain, measure CT number accuracy, noise and uniformity against a baseline, link each common artefact to its likely cause, and recognise when a calibration is hiding a hardware fault.25 min09Reconstruction, computers and software: host, recon, disks, networks, reloads and licences
Fault-find start-up, reconstruction, storage and network problems on the CT computer side, restore software only by the manufacturer's procedure with configuration and calibration data preserved, and handle licences and patient data correctly.24 min10Complex cases and return to service: intermittent faults, several causes, tests and records
Work methodically through intermittent and multi-cause CT faults, find the root cause behind a failed part, and return a scanner to clinical use after a major repair with the required calibrations, constancy and safety tests and a complete written record.25 min—Exam
25 · 40 min · 75 %
The certificate
Pass the exam and get a certificate of course completion with your name, hours and score. Every certificate has a unique number and a public verification page, so an employer or a customer can check it in one click. It confirms completion of the course; it is not an educational document (diploma) and not a manufacturer authorisation.
Who it is for
Who it is for
- Engineers who have completed CT Service — Level 1 or have equivalent experience
- Field engineers in independent service companies
- Hospital biomedical / clinical engineering teams that diagnose and repair CT scanners in-house
Who teaches
Written by a service engineer working with medical equipment since 2014, including 6.5 years at GE Healthcare and service supervision at Mindray, together with the engineers of Service Engineer.
FAQ
Is this manufacturer training?
No. It is independent, vendor-neutral training. It does not replace the manufacturer's service procedures, does not grant authorisation or access to service software, passwords or licences, and every repair must still be followed by the calibrations and checks the manufacturer requires.
Do I need Level 1 first?
Level 1 is the prerequisite: the power and radiation safety sequence, tube warm-up and conditioning, operator calibrations, cooling loops, planned maintenance and the ACR phantom are assumed here and not repeated.
Does it teach board-level repair?
It teaches fault-finding to the subsystem and the replaceable module. Component-level repair of boards and power supplies is covered in the Repair Fundamentals course on electronics.
Will I work inside a live gantry?
The course explains which tests on an energised, rotating or exposing scanner exist and why they are reserved for trained, authorised personnel following the manufacturer's documentation and local radiation rules. It never asks you to bypass interlocks, licences or safety measures.
What does the certificate say?
Your name, the course, the hours, the date and your exam score, with a unique number and a public verification page.
Can my company buy seats for a team?
Yes: five seats and a progress overview for the manager.
Languages?
English and Russian.