• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Medical Physics Conference
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• 2004.11a
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• pp.158-161
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• 2004

In order for better management of a medical linear accelerator, the records of the operational failures of Varian CL2100C over ten years were analyzed. The failures were classified according to the involved functional subunits and each class was rated into three levels depending on operational conditions. The relationship between the failure rate and working ratio was investigated. Among the recorded failures ( total 587 failures), the most frequent failure, which was 20% of the total. was observed in the parts related to the collimation system including monitor chamber. Regrading to the operational conditions, the 2nd level of failures, that temporally interrupted treatments, was the most frequent. The 3rd level of failures, that interrupted treatment for more than several hours, was mostly caused by the accelerating subunit. The average life-time of a Klystron and Thyratron became shorter as the working ratio increased, which was 42 and 83% of the expected values, respectively. Recording equipment problems and failures in detail over a long period of time can provide a good knowledge of equipment function as well as the capability to forecast future failure. More rigorous equipment maintenance is required for old medical linear accelerator to avoid the serious failure in advance, and improve the patient treatment quality.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.186-193
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• 2005

Purpose: To improve the management of a medical linear accelerator, the records of operational failures of a Varian CL2l00C over a ten year period were retrospectively analyzed. Materials and Methods: The failures were classified according to the involved functional subunits, with each class rated Into one of three levels depending on the operational conditions. The relationships between the failure rate and working ratio and between the failure rate and outside temperature were investigated. In addition, the average life time of the main part and the operating efficiency over the last 4 years were analyzed. Results: Among the recorded failures (total 587 failures), the most frequent failure was observed in the parts related with the collimation system, including the monitor chamber, which accounted for $20\%$ of all failures. With regard to the operational conditions, 2nd level of failures, which temporally interrupted treatments, were the most frequent. Third level of failures, which interrupted treatment for more than several hours, were mostly caused by the accelerating subunit. The number of failures was increased with number of treatments and operating time. The average life-times of the Klystron and Thyratron became shorter as the working ratio increased, and were 42 and $83\%$ of the expected values, respectively. The operating efficiency was maintained at $95\%$ or higher, but this value slightly decreased. There was no significant correlation between the number of failures and the outside temperature. Conclusion: The maintenance of detailed equipment problems and failures records over a long period of time can provide good knowledge of equipment function as well as the capability of predicting future failure. Wore rigorous equipment maintenance Is required for old medical linear accelerators for the advanced avoidance of serious failure and to improve the qualify of patient treatment.