2015 Issue

11 facture X-ray imaging components to meet evolving technology requirements for high-resolution imaging, faster patient throughput, longer tube life, smaller dimensions, and greater cost efficiency. Through a comprehensive R&Dprogram, researchers and engineers devote themselves to continuous improvement; an effort that has resulted in 150 U.S. and 30 foreign patents, withmany more patents pending. Resulting innovations have included the first anode- grounded tube for faster CT scanning, an air-cooled tube for safer mammography, and radiographic and dynamic digital detectors. While working at Varian for 45 years, I enjoyed the engineering culture there. The experience of working on X-ray tubes was personally fulfill- ing. I workedwith product develop- ment teams andwas fortunate to be the principle engineer in developing several products that are still being produced today. X-ray tubes are mainly heat gen- erating devices that produce a disproportionate amount of photon energy with respect to the energy applied to the device. Less than one percent of the energy applied to an x-ray tube goes to photon energy. That means that virtually all of the energy goes to producing heat. X- ray tube targets get as high as 800C (shown picture of hot target – (Glass tube on pump)) in operation and as high as 1200C during the production process. This being the case, engineers are constantly working onways tomore efficiently remove the heat from X-ray tubes. Varian provides a rich environment where an engineer can express and improve their technical creativity. It is also satisfying knowing that the products I worked on helped to improve health and safety. On occasion, I meet people who had a medical procedure per- formed that significantly improved their health and have found on several occasions that some of the Varian products I worked on were instrumental in that procedure. Varian Salt Lake manufactures over 400 different types of X-ray tubes. These tubes are built to handle virtually every application including digital angiography, cardiovascular procedures, and advanced CT scanning. In addition, the company manufactures industrial X-ray tubes for applications in non-destructive testing, X-ray inspection, X-ray bag- gage screening, and thickness gauging. The new industrial tubes developed for analytical and chemical analysis are being used to protect the public and allow consumer goods to be inspected for the presence of cadmium, lead, and other hazardous materials. Varian’s flat panel digital detectors are used to capture X-ray images and instantly display them on computer screens, eliminating the need for film and film processing. These panels can capture up to 60 images per second, which is fast enough to produce a moving image of a heart beating. Flat-panel detectors work by converting the X-rays that strike its surface into light, and then turning the light into electronic data that a computer can display as a high-quality digital image. The detec- tors present a uniform, undistorted, high resolution image that show smaller objects in great detail. Once an image is digital, it becomes more portable. The image can easily be made available inmultiple locations simultaneously. It can be digitally transmitted over long distances in real-time and can easily be linked to a patient’s electronic record. Flat panel detectors have emerged as the next generation digital X-ray technology. Engineers at Varian are responsible for all aspects of product develop- ment from the initial design through acceptance by the customer. The engineer gets needed support from multiple departments that team up to assure the proper support in helping the engineer along the development path. Material selection, all production processes, documentation, regulatory compliance, material and prototype testing, conformance to customer requirements, cost, project management, beta testing at customer sites, tooling and process equipment are all aspects of the engineer’s job. The technology of developing sophisticated medical equipment is an ever increasing priority. Varian engineers partner with their customers technical staff to develop designs which enhance the longevity and performance of system components, finding new ways of making X-ray technology that is safe, efficient, long-lasting, and cost-effective. Varian’s customer service commitment goes beyond the order and delivery and extends through the life of the product. As the industry starts to convert from X-ray film to digital radiography, Varian will see many more growth opportunities. The engineering opportunities at Varian are fulfilling and challeng- ing. The technology is ever evolving with the vision and talents of dedicated people. I did it for 45 years and have enjoyed the projects, people and culture at the Salt Lake Facility.