[Intl_DxMedPhys] [External] Re: OEC 3D C-arm Testing

Mon Aug 24 15:15:27 EDT 2026

Thanks to all who responded.

As Steven mentioned in California, we are required to do weekly fluoroscopy checks evaluating kVp & mA, against a baseline determined at the last physicist test.  That is all I usually require if a C-arm is transported.  The FSE told the tech other testing is required per the manual, but I can’t locate it the manual and he wasn’t able to give me the section in the user manual referencing that requirement or the tests that are required.  This causes the tech to pretty much refuse to use the unit, even when the sites leadership told her I did the full annual testing on the unit.    I did a full test on the C-arm the other day and my measurements were almost identical to when I tested it in March.

My concern is FSE telling the staff it isn’t safe to use, and then not giving any references as to why.

Steve

Stephen Steuterman, M.S.
Director of Medical Physics & Radiation Safety
System-Wide Radiation Safety Officer

Scripps Clinic Green Hospital
10666 N. Torrey Pines Road
Mail Drop: MS-124
La Jolla, CA 92037

619-260-7283 (Mercy SD Office)
858-554-5010 (Green office)
619-709-1546 (cell)

Steuterman.Stephen at scrippshealth.org<mailto:Steuterman.Stephen at scrippshealth.org>

From: Intl_dxmedphys_wd_osu_list <intl_dxmedphys_wd_osu_list-bounces at lists.osu.edu> On Behalf Of Steven LaFontaine via Intl_dxmedphys_wd_osu_list
Sent: Monday, August 24, 2026 10:55 AM
To: Gary <garyi at paxradia.com>
Cc: Bob Kobistek via Intl_dxmedphys_wd_osu_list <intl_dxmedphys_wd_osu_list at lists.osu.edu>
Subject: [External] Re: [Intl_DxMedPhys] OEC 3D C-arm Testing

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Steve, I have not heard of this being an issue as well, but I imagine in CA the tech could always perform the State required weekly QC after transport and delivery for peace of mind. For those unaware, a phantom, likely a metal plate, is imaged,
Steve,

I have not heard of this being an issue as well, but I imagine in CA the tech could always perform the State required weekly QC after transport and delivery for peace of mind.

For those unaware, a phantom, likely a metal plate, is imaged, and the kV amd mA must be within a certain range, given by a dose ratio calculation against a baseline (i.e. kV^2 * mA). For those who don't want to do a clunky calculation, the units report dose rate. The idea is for the dose rate to be within 25% of a baseline.

Steven

Steven M. LaFontaine, M.S., DABR
Certified Medical Physicist
Therapy Physics, Inc.
2501 Cherry Ave, Suite #270
Signal Hill, CA 90755
562-317-0650 (office)
310-720-5899 (cell)
Steven at therapyphysics.com<mailto:Steven at therapyphysics.com>

On Sat, Aug 22, 2026, 5:09 PM Gary via Intl_dxmedphys_wd_osu_list <intl_dxmedphys_wd_osu_list at lists.osu.edu<mailto:intl_dxmedphys_wd_osu_list at lists.osu.edu>> wrote:
Excellent point.  After all, it is portable.
OTOH, all that packing moving and unpacking is bound to jiggle something.  Might be smart for the RSO of that outfit to require some basic daily QC before clinical use.

---
Thanks,
Gary Isenhower, MS

On Sat, 22 Aug 2026 19:22:46 +0000, Bob Kobistek via Intl_dxmedphys_wd_osu_list <intl_dxmedphys_wd_osu_list at lists.osu.edu<mailto:intl_dxmedphys_wd_osu_list at lists.osu.edu>> wrote:

>One of my clients is a mobile lithotripsy company. They have 9 units
>that go out every day in the Northeast Ohio area. The units are
>brought into the client hospital’s surgery department, not left on the
>truck. At the end of the workday, the units are returned to the
>warehouse and readied for the next day. It would be totally
>impractical for them to have a physicist follow each of those units
>every day. We have to weigh the cost against the benefit.
>
>
>Robert J. Kobistek, MS, FACR, DABR, MRSE(MRSC™)
>Medical Physicist
>RJK Medical Physics, Inc.
>440-463-7879
>
>From: Intl_dxmedphys_wd_osu_list
><intl_dxmedphys_wd_osu_list-bounces+bob=rjkmedphys.com at lists.osu.edu<mailto:rjkmedphys.com at lists.osu.edu>>
>On Behalf Of Nicole Ranger via Intl_dxmedphys_wd_osu_list Sent:
>Saturday, August 22, 2026 10:44 AM To: Stephen Steuterman
><Steuterman.Stephen at scrippshealth.org<mailto:Steuterman.Stephen at scrippshealth.org>> Cc: DxMedPhys List
><intl_dxmedphys_wd_osu_list at lists.osu.edu<mailto:intl_dxmedphys_wd_osu_list at lists.osu.edu>> Subject: Re:
>[Intl_DxMedPhys] OEC 3D C-arm Testing
>
>My policy at a former facility in WI was that a portable device
>transported within the facility only had annual testing but if that
>device was transported offsite, it needed to be tested before use at
>that new location. A device in a permanently My policy at a former
>facility in WI was that a portable device transported within the
>facility only had annual testing but if that device was transported
>offsite, it needed to be tested before use at that new location.  A
>device in a permanently fixed and secured position in a truck and
>operated at a new location, would be different though arguably one
>might want to perform more daily QC testing.
>
>Nicole
>
>
>Sent from my iPhone
>
>
>On Aug 21, 2026, at 1:23 PM, Steuterman, Stephen via
>Intl_dxmedphys_wd_osu_list
><intl_dxmedphys_wd_osu_list at lists.osu.edu<mailto:intl_dxmedphys_wd_osu_list at lists.osu.edu><mailto:intl_dxmedphys_wd_osu_list at lists.osu.edu<mailto:intl_dxmedphys_wd_osu_list at lists.osu.edu>>>
>wrote:  Hello all, Portable C-arms are transported to multiple
>locations frequently by lithotripsy companies. Typically, they have
>their annual physicist testing, and I don't believe they do any
>additional testing after each move. Are there different Hello all,
>
>
>Portable C-arms are transported to multiple locations frequently by
>lithotripsy companies.  Typically, they have their annual physicist
>testing, and I don't believe they do any additional testing after each
>move.   Are there different requirements for a 3D C-arm?  I have a
>friend at an imaging center, who has a tech who wouldn't use a OEC 3D
>C-arm after it was returned from another location.    The tech said
>the FSE told her a EPE eval was required after transport and prior to
>patient use.   I wasn't able to find that requirement in the user's
>manual, and the FSE didn't give me the reference either.
>
>Do you do a full physicist test every time the 3D C-arm is transported?
>
>Thanks
>
>Steve
>
>
>Stephen Steuterman, M.S.
>
>Director of Medical Physics & Radiation Safety
>
>System-Wide Radiation Safety Officer
>
>
>
>619-709-1546 (cell)
>
>
>
>Steuterman.Stephen at scrippshealth.org<mailto:Steuterman.Stephen at scrippshealth.org><mailto:Steuterman.Stephen at scrippshealth.org<mailto:Steuterman.Stephen at scrippshealth.org>>
>
>
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