Troubleshooting The Scanner

If someone comes out of the scanner

• Need to rerun localizers & field maps
• Field maps are required for resting runs, but not for structurals
• Go to dot cockpit and Ctrl + select + drag into protocol
• Remember to grab setter for structurals

Shutting down to the wall

Audio Not Working (NNL disconnected / forgets it has speakers)

1. Go to device manager
2. Scan for hardware
3. Reconnect to speakers

Common 3T Issues and Errors

How to Reboot the System

• Go to System > End Session > Shutdown System
• Wait for the console computer to shut down completely.
• The message “It’s now safe to turn off your computer” will appear on the monitor, at which time you can shut off the console computer using the power button on the tower.
• Once the console computer shuts down, shutdown the scanner by pushing the “System off”’ button on the quench box.

  

• Wait ~5 minutes, and then turn everything back on by pushing the “System on” button on the quench box.

  

Stimulation Monitor Warnings

This warning message (Figure 2) always appears upon initiating T2. Just click OK.

This warning message (Figure 3) appears upon initiating rfMRI or DWI when the FOV (yellow box) angle in the axial plane (the far right one) is too steep due to uncentered and tilted head position in the coil. - Click “Open Protocol” or just close the warning window. (Do not click something else in the window.) - Decrease the angle to something more shallow, then attempt to run the sequence again. - Make sure to copy the adjusted slice positioning to the remaining PA-AP pair. (AP-PA pair must have the same slice positioning.) - Make note of this warning message on the scan log.

Preparation of measurement system failed error

This occurs when initiating rfMRI or DWI. The scanner doesn’t run the sequence and you will see on the status bar on the console computer.

• For each sequence you have the error, go to Sequence > Special > uncheck “Save reduced raw data” and rerun the sequence.
• If the first thing doesn’t help, try rebooting system by going System > End Session > Shutdown System
• If you don’t want to full system shutdown, go System > Control > Meas&Recon tab > Reboot

SMX Control Program Error

When you see error message like below (Figure 4)

• Quit the SMX control program and reopen.
• Choose “IP” option. When prompted for a password, just click Connect without entering a password.

Emergency table stop button pressed

• Reset the table stop by turning red control button clockwise
• Press up and down buttons simultaneously

The Squeeze Ball/ Button Alarm sounds

• Stop the scanner using the mouse and clicking the stop icon in the lower left on the console screen
• To clear the alarm, press the talk button on the intercom associated with the squeeze ball, either #2 talk or #3 alarm
• Talk to your participant through the intercom system
• DO NOT press the “Stop” button (#1) on the Siemens Talk Box, or you will need to reset the table.

Emergency Patient Bed Release

In the event of an emergency or power outage, it is possible to remove the patient bed from the bore manually. - First, locate the manual table release lever, near the foot of the bed on the right side.

- Next, grab the handle near the foot of the bed and pull the bed out of the bore.

- Bed controls will start flashing, and the scanner display will provide instructions (below) to reset the bed position.

To reset the table

• Press the button (7) on the side of the intercom box

  

• Then, on the scanner, simultaneously press the Table Up and Table Down buttons.

  

Resolve naming errors (or change patient information) after scan is done

• Close patient
• Open Patient Browser -> Select the folder you want to make changes -> Edit -> Correct

The subject had to come out of the magnet; what do I need to do to continue the protocol?

• After positioning the subject, you will need to re-run the localizer.
• All AP/PA paired scans must be the same, so if one is complete and then the sequence is interrupted, you must re-acquire both.

The 3T just failed out, or refuses to go for unknown reasons.

• Try to just run the exact same thing again, or go on and re-run the failed scan later. If it won’t let you, contact the slack channel (or Jess & Kim).
• Go to System > Control -- the System Manager will pop up.
  • The arrows should be green from “postprocessing” on up; if one is red, click on it to see what’s going on
  • Click on “Meas & Recon” tab if anything is red; may need to select whatever is red and choose “Reboot”
  • “Periphery” tab should be all green
• Reboot the system if necessary

The scanner (NOT the console) rebooted randomly

• Make a note on the error log and contact the slack channel (or Jess & Kim).
• Don't adjust the subject, but do check to see if patient is still registered on the scanner (this will appear on the scanner screen, and will say something like "New patient registered"), and do check to be sure they are still at isocenter
• Once the scanner has finished rebooting, insert a localizer above the sequences remaining to be collected and run it
• Reapply the T1 shim to all sequences that remain to be collected
• Double check slice positioning of all remaining sequences (shouldn't change, but check just to be sure)

The scanner is running, but no data is showing in the patient browser, although the patient is listed.

• There is an error in the recon computer. Run “Save Log” as described on the sheet below the console monitor.
• Note error on the sheet below the monitor.
• Reboot as described on the sheet below the monitor.

The patient is not showing up in the Patient Browser.

• First try sorting by Date using the Sort menu at the top of the Patient Browser window to check the T1
• Continue to acquire the T2 but stop after that and reboot the console computer by going to System > Controls> Reboot.
• When asked if you still want to shutdown choose Yes.
• Once the computer is back on check the quality of the T1 and T2
• If they look good and your participant is still in place and good to continue, start with a new localizer and the rest of the sequences.

The console software is frozen

• Ctl + Esc to access the Start menu and restart the computer -- this process takes ~10 minutes; the numbers displayed on the screen will progress from 0-100

Helium level warning

• You may see the warning message (Figure 5), saying that the helium level of the magnet is below the warning threshold. This is a service warning. It is safe to use the magnet.
• You can click OK and proceed to scan.
• After clicking OK, you will continue to hear a beeping warning message coming from the Quench box. Don’t be alarmed by it. To turn off the alarm, you can hit the silent alarm button on the cleanse box to the right of the on and off button.
• Reach out to slack channel, email to Jess or Kim.

Call Tree

1. 3TD-help Slack Channel
2. Jess Emerick
3. Kim Weldon
4. Steve Nelson

Safety Concerns, contact the Safety Officer - Jeramy Kulesa (ande2445@umn.edu) Tech / peripherals - Jeromy Thotland (cmrrviz@umn.edu)