As linear accelerators age errors can creep in, but how long is the average lifespan of a medical linear accelerator given that the machines cost of millions of dollars? While it’s reasonable to expect a good 5 to 10 years of use out of a linear, accelerator maintenance also takes its toll on expenses. Most institutions can expect a single linac (Linear Accelerator) machine to cost somewhere in the range of 300,000 dollars every 2 to 3 years.
Facilities can often squeeze more use out of a machine and ensure errors are resolved by keeping the software up to date and replacing or upgrading linear accelerator parts when needed.
It is essential to choose a reputable company to replace your linac’s aging parts as the wrong equipment can end up harming the machine instead of improving it. Most companies who sell linear accelerators and parts will have service contracts available that offer varying levels of support.
Depending on the size of the facility they may be required to choose between keeping the software up to date, operator manuals, or having staff and physicists trained in the use of the accelerator.
You can reasonably expect a for-profit facility to experience some pressure when using this expensive piece of medical equipment. After all, they will need to treat enough patients over time to pay for it.
One of the biggest concerns for facilities using a linac machine is one of liability for injuries to patients. As a litigious society always goes after the institution which gives the best chance of a payout the facility is usually the one bearing the brunt of the lawsuits.
Their expensive insurance creates the illusion that they have large sums of money available for payouts, and this is why it is in the facilities best interests to reduce errors and improve patient confidence. The best way to do this is to ensure the linac gets serviced regularly, software is kept up to date, and all staff is adequately trained.
Learn more about Radparts and the variety of services and parts they offer to repair medical equipment including: linear accelerators parts, CT scanners parts, linac parts, and radiation oncology equipment at www.radparts.com. To contact one of our medical equipment repair specialists for parts or service call toll free 877.704.3838 for 24/7/365 support.