Preventive maintenance is the single most effective strategy for maximizing imaging equipment uptime and extending asset life. This guide provides modality-specific PM checklists that biomedical engineering teams can adopt immediately.
Why Preventive Maintenance Matters for Imaging Equipment
Unplanned downtime on a CT or MRI scanner can cost a facility $5,000–$20,000 per day in lost revenue and patient diversions. A structured preventive maintenance program reduces unplanned failures by up to 70%, according to ECRI Institute research.
Beyond uptime, PM programs ensure regulatory compliance with JCAHO, state radiation safety, and OEM warranty requirements. Elesonic Group provides multi-vendor PM services across Africa, India, and the Caribbean — the checklists below reflect field-proven best practices.
Daily Operator Checks (All Modalities)
1. Inspect room temperature and humidity — verify HVAC is operational and within OEM spec (typically 18–24 °C, 30–60% RH).
2. Check for error codes or warning messages on the system console at power-on.
3. Verify chiller water level (MRI) or coolant level (CT X-ray tube) — top off if below minimum.
4. Wipe down patient table and gantry surfaces with manufacturer-approved disinfectant.
5. Confirm UPS and power conditioning indicators are green — log any anomalies.
6. Run a warm-up scan or air calibration per OEM instructions before the first patient.
Weekly PM Tasks
1. Inspect power cables, patient positioning aids, and mechanical stops for wear or damage.
2. Clean air filters on the gantry, cabinet, and chiller (CT and MRI).
3. Check emergency stop buttons — test activation and reset on each control point.
4. Verify backup battery status on the console workstation and image archive.
5. Review system error logs from the past 7 days — escalate recurring codes.
Monthly PM Tasks
1. CT scanners: Run phantom image quality tests (CT number accuracy, uniformity, noise, spatial resolution) and compare to baseline.
2. MRI systems: Perform center frequency check, gradient calibration, and SNR measurement using the vendor's QA phantom.
3. X-ray & C-arm: Test kVp accuracy, mA linearity, and HVL using a calibrated dosimeter. Check collimator alignment and beam limitation.
4. All modalities: Inspect grounding and bonding connections. Measure ground impedance — must be < 5 ohms.
5. Lubricate mechanical components (table drive, gantry bearings) per OEM schedule.
6. Verify DICOM connectivity to PACS and RIS — test store, query, and retrieve operations.
Quarterly & Annual PM Tasks
Quarterly: Replace air filters, test automatic exposure control (AEC) calibration, inspect high-voltage cables and connectors for arcing or discoloration, verify radiation shielding integrity.
Annual: Full OEM-level PM including X-ray tube output evaluation, CT tube arcing test, MRI magnet homogeneity mapping, and software/firmware updates. This is also the time to recalibrate dose display (CTDIvol) and perform a comprehensive electrical safety test (leakage current, ground continuity).
Elesonic Group offers annual PM contracts that include all quarterly and annual tasks, genuine OEM parts, and 24/7 remote diagnostic support. Contact us for a customized PM proposal.
Documenting PM Compliance
Every PM event should be logged with: date, technician name, tasks performed, test results (with pass/fail against baseline), parts replaced, and any follow-up actions required.
Digital CMMS (Computerized Maintenance Management System) platforms are ideal, but even a well-maintained Excel log with timestamped entries satisfies most accreditation bodies. The key is consistency and traceability.
Elesonic Group can provide PM documentation templates and CMMS integration guidance as part of our service agreements.