Portable X-rays are exposed to more problems than the average machine because they’re more likely to be transported, dropped, or exposed to the elements. Although they’re made to withstand day-to-day wear, hospitals can extend the life of their equipment by taking some precautionary measures. Bob Burbury, owner of MinXrad; and Jerry Palmese, director of sales and marketing at Source-Ray offer some tips.

• Clean switch contacts to avoid dirt build-up, which can cause poor contact operation and excessive wear. In most cases, spraying with a contact cleaner will restore function. NEVER spray cleaner on the machine while it’s energized.


• Stock up on parts that tend to wear out quickly to guard against the added the expense of rush ordering a part, or worse—not being able to find it at all.


• Avoid magnetic lock dysfunction by cleaning off dirt and oil build-up on the pole-piece with a piece of cardboard soaked in denatured alcohol. Place the cardboard between the pole-piece and the brake plate and wipe slowly back and forth.


• Periodically tighten and adjust any loose or moving parts in the machine, including external plugs and sockets. This will increase the machine’s lifespan and durability.


• Remove metal jewelry or wristwatches when replacing a motor drive battery. While 24 volts is too low to cause a shock, the battery can cause serious electrical burns if a short circuit occurs across a ring.


• Proper charging of the system prevents inaccurate output of Kv/Ma settings, which can degrade the quality of the X-ray image.


• All equipment should be recalibrated and checked once a year by local X-ray professionals.