Horizon Service Manual

System Installation

Note 1. If the Horizon being installed is to replace an existing QDR fan beam
system or if the customer has multiple systems, then a cross calibration
must first be performed to ensure that any longitudinal studies begun on
the QDR being removed can safely be continued on the new Horizon. Refer
to the cross-calibration procedure in Section 3.12 Fan Beam Cross-
Calibration Gold Standard System on Page 167 before uninstalling the
existing QDR. The Cross-Calibration procedure applies to fan beam
systems only.
2. To ensure stability, the instrument must be completely powered up for a
minimum of 30 minutes prior to running any of the following tests. Also,
because the tabletop pad will have a slight affect on the test results, all scans
must be performed with the tabletop pad in place.

Warning: X-rays are produced during most of these tests. Keep hands, head and other
body parts out of the X-ray beam path. The tester should also be wearing an
approved radiation dosimetry badge.

3.11.2 Check Phantom Values

1. From the Horizon Main Menu screen, select Utilities > Service Utilities > Field Service
Calibration.
2. Click the Number button.
Figure 171 Field Service Calibration Dialog Box

3. Compare values displayed with actual values printed on the phantom. If there is a discrepancy,
check to make sure you have the phantom that shipped with the unit. Check with Hologic Technical
Support if needed.

3.11.3 Perform BCA Calibration Scans and Table Top Radiographic Uniformity (A, W
and Wi)
This procedure verifies proper X-Ray beam alignment and the uniformity of the X-Ray transparency of
entire tabletop in a manual process (for Horizon A, W and Wi models). BCA Calibration Scans must be
performed on the system prior to verifying the uniformity test scan.

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System Installation

Note On Models A, W, and Wi, after Flattening is performed and 30 minute cool
down is expired, perform a Daily QC scan. Automatically the system will
perform BCA calibration scans on the QC Phantom. After the calibration scans
are complete the system will inform you to remove the QC Phantom and clear
the table to perform the Table Top Uniformity Scan test. This test will report the
results automatically and must pass with the Hi and Low Air SD of less than
2.0.
If the system is passing normally, skip to next step.
If the system is not passing with less than SD 2.0, verify that table alignments
and beam alignments are correct, adjust as necessary and run Flattening again.
1. If necessary, restart the software in Service Mode.
2. Type WBAIRQC in the Patient Biography. Enter the serial number of the unit in the Patient ID field.
Make sure that only the pad is on the table. Clear the table of anything else.
3. Perform one Whole Body air scan (a scan with nothing on the table). Do NOT interrupt the scan for
any reason. When the scan completes, select Exit Exam. Do not analyze the scan that was just
performed.
4. From the Main Menu screen, select Utilities > Service Utilities > Table Top Radiographic
Uniformity.
5. Select the Whole Body scan and click the Next>> button.
6. Table Top Radiographic Uniformity results tabs are now displayed. Select the Low Air Tab.
7. If the Global Stats S.D. (2) is less than 2.0, the instrument is properly aligned. If the Global Stats S.D.
is greater than or equal to 2.0, then the machine is not aligned properly. Check the following:
• If the image appears “streaky” or “banded”, check for loose wires or other debris between the table
and the tank.
• Check the Aperture Calibration.
• Check AC Line voltage.
• Check +/- 15 V Power Supply.
• Check for a dedicated line.
• Check Detector Flattening.
• Re-run daily QC (detailed in MAN-03644 Horizon QDR Series User Guide).
Print a copy of the test results and include it with the other paperwork being returned to Hologic.
After realignment, repeat the Table Top Radiographic Uniformity test. If the global S.D. is less than 2.0,
you are done. If the global S.D. if equal or greater than 2.0, print a copy of the test results and include it
with the other paperwork being returned to Hologic.
If the global is equal to or greater than 2.0, the non-uniformity may be attributed to the table itself. If so,
continue with this procedure. Make sure that the machine has body composition loaded. If it does, then
follow the appropriate procedure in Section 3.11.3 Perform BCA Calibration Scans and Table Top Radiographic
Uniformity (A, W and Wi) on Page 158.

3.11.4 Scan Thickness Measurement and Calibration

(C/Ci and W/Wi)
1. Press the Center Table button.
2. Turn on the laser.
3. With the laser on, place the phantom so that the laser dot is on the centerline of the phantom, 1/2 in.
from the left end, shining on the phantom target. The sides of the phantom should be aligned
parallel to the table, using a ruler if necessary.

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4. Be sure the spine phantom has been entered in the patient database in the form of “Spine Phantom
#nnnn” (where nnnn is the number of the phantom) so that the QC plot program can identify it
properly.
5. From the Main Menu screen, select Perform Exam, select the Spine Phantom, and click the OK
button at Patient Information dialog box.
6. Select AP Lumbar Spine, uncheck default scan check box, and click the Next>> button.
7. Select Array, click the Next>> button, set the scan length to 6 in., and start the scan.
8. Analyze the scan and click the Close button to exit the Analysis screen.
9. Start the Field Service Calibration program by selecting Utilities > Service Utilities > Field Service
Calibration from the Main Menu screen.
10. Select the Spine Highs/Lows for Array Spine phantom option to automatically calculate the new
thickness indicators for array spine.
11. Select the Spine Phantom scanned in step 7 from the list of Analyzed Scans and click the Next>>
button. Click the Continue button on the Successfully Calculated message box.
12. Click the Temp Write button and click the Continue button on the Successfully Wrote message box.
Exit Field Service Calibration.

3.11.5 Scan Thickness Measurement & Calibration (A)

DXA Quality Control Phantom Procedure
1. Login into the system as user Field Service.
2. Start APEX software in Service Mode (with service dongle if required).
Note Be sure the DXA QC phantom has been entered in the patient database in the
form of “Spine Phantom #nnn” (where nnn is the number of the phantom) so
that the QC plot program can identify it properly. This should be the phantom
shipped with the machine.

3. Center the table, place the phantom on the table and align with the laser. The sides of the phantom
should be parallel to the table. Use a ruler if necessary.
4. Click Perform Exam from the application main screen.
5. At the Select a Patient for this Exam window, select the phantom, and click OK.
6. At the Patient Confirmation screen, click OK.
7. At Select Scan Type screen, select AP/Lateral, uncheck Use Default Scan Mode, and click Next>>.
8. At the Select AP Lumbar Spine Scan Mode for AP/Lateral Exam screen, select Array (a), and click
Next>>.
9. At the Select Lateral Scan Mode for AP/Lateral Exam screen, select Fast Array (f), and click Next.
10. Recheck phantom alignment with laser.
Note Do not move the arm or table, otherwise the test will have to be started over.

11. Place two sheets of paper against the left and right edges of the phantom (Figure 151) When done,
click Continue.
12. On the Scan Parameters screen, set the scan length to 6.0 in., click Enter and click Start Scan.
13. When scan has finished, select Spine as the analysis method, and click Next>>.
14. Analyze the scan and click Start Position.
15. Refer to Figure 172 Verify that the angle displayed under the image (near the bottom of the screen)
is less than ± 2 degrees.

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