Why Do Flat Panel Detectors Break? Part I

Upgrading to digital x-ray is a significant investment which can become even more expensive when the panel breaks. It’s important to clarify that flat panels rarely break but, when they do, they usually break completely. The panel can be sent to the manufacturer for possible repair but, more often than not, repairing the panel is not financially worthwhile.

The sudden failure of a flat panel detector typically falls into one of a handful of categories: outside impact, bad voltage, loss of internal ground, power/interface box failure, and cable failure. Of these, the number one reason for sudden damage is outside impact.

A panel’s internal elements are built on glass with the actual x-ray detection portion of the panel laid down on the glass. If the glass cracks, the panel is not likely to be repairable at a reasonable price. In addition to these elements, connectors and electronics inside the panels are also potentially vulnerable to breakage because of impacts. The busier your office or hospital, and the more the panel is moved during use, the more likely there will be an impact that damages the panel.

The next offender is an abnormally high or unsteady voltage being fed into a panel. This issue most commonly occurs with older, externally-triggered panels or that are not on battery backup/surge protectors. When this particular issue strikes there will be no external damage but panel will not connect or expose properly. Being very careful what voltages can be input into the panel and using battery backups to protect against power surges is the only way to protect against this.

Another way in which a flat panel can break is through the loss of a steady internal ground voltage. If the ground in the panel goes bad, a great deal of noise will be generated in the image, making them unusable. While this issue may be solved temporarily through calibration, it is a fix that will last only a few days or even minutes. While it can be caused by a bad voltage source, it is more subtle than the results of simply burning out a component with excessive voltage and may take weeks or months to notice after the damage is first done.

One of the few repairable problems encountered with panels is the failure of the power or interface box. When this occurs, a panel will either not turn on, not connect, or loses power/connection at random. While some issues are irreparable, this issue simply requires swapping out the interface box. While sometimes expensive, it is nowhere near as expensive as the panel itself.

Lastly, with regard to possible panel issues in the sudden damage category, cable failure can also occur. This is the result of accidental damage or being worn down by repeated flexing. Signs of cable failure are similar to those encountered with power/interface box issues. Also, not unlike problems with the power/interface box, a panel with a cable issue has a simple fix of replacing the damaged or faulty cable.

While some of these issues are easier to avoid than others, problems, especially those due to accidental damage, underpin the importance of having a hardware warranty and drop coverage. If you’re a dealer or healthcare professional and would like to learn more about JPI’s 5-5-5 Coverage Program, our Account Managers are happy to discuss our solutions and coverage options with you. Please complete the simple form below.