Quality control measurements for mobile X-ray unit through a solid state detector

Abstract

The tests of quality control for equipments used in radiology departments are essential both functionality of the equipment and for accuracy dose in the patient. The mobile digital x-ray equipment has as one of its main benefits its mobility, which allows the carrying out of examinations in the patient’s bed that has certain physical limitations. It should be taken into account, however, that hospital beds were not normally designed with the necessary details to protect the radiological environment from where radiography procedures are performed. Therefore, the need for an efficient quality control of the equipment is justified, the preliminary measurements of the present work were based on ANVISA’s guide 453 from Brazil, regarding conventional radiography equipment. Thus, some quality control tests were determined using the solid state dosimeter. For the accomplishment of this study, the tests of tube voltage accuracy and reproducibility, half valuelayer (HVL) and effective energy, air kerma and air kerma rate were performed, with their associated errors calculated. The tests were performed with the aid of the black piranha apparatus to obtain the values of tension, dose and HVL. The obtained results from the performance of each test showed that all are in agreement withthe ANVISA’s guide 453 recommendation, and could be applied in a possible development of a quality control guide specific to the characteristics of a mobile radiograph.