GE Amx 4 Instruction Manual

							AMX-4+ OPERATION
GE Healthcare (MODEL 2169360, 2236420 & 2275938 SERIES)
REV 15 om 2166913-1EN
4-3
Steps
To drive the AMX-4+, follow these steps:
1. Make sure that the telescoping arm is in the park/transport position and that 
the battery charging cord is unplugged and fully retracted. 
• In the park/transport position the telescoping arm is: 
a.)completely pushed in; 
b.)centered over the control panel (collimator skin spacers within well); and
c.)securely latched. See Illustration 4-3.
ILLUSTRATION 4-3 
PARK/TRANSPORT POSITION
2 Turn the keyswitch to ON, if necessary.
OFF
ON 
						

							AMX-4+ OPERATION
GE Healthcare (MODEL 2169360, 2236420 & 2275938 SERIES)
REV 15 om 2166913-1EN
4-4
3 Grip the drive handle to activate the motors and disengage the brakes. Now 
simply steer the unit , like a shopping cart , to your destination.
• When climbing inclines or moving over carpeting or other rough surfaces 
the drive motors will automatically adjust to the floor surface.
• When descending inclines or pushing the AMX-4+ to make it go faster, it 
may stop and display the message RELEASE HANDLE. If this happens, 
release the handle to clear the message and then continue with normal 
operation.
4To stop the unit and activate the brakes, release your grip on the drive handle. 
Remember that the self-stopping bumper, upon impact , will turn off the drive 
motors and activate the brakes.
• To reverse the unit , grip the drive handle and pull backwards. If the 
self-stopping bumper is engaged, after a brief pause reverse the unit .
• To turn a sharp corner or rotate the unit , push one side of the drive handle 
(to the right or left) and pull on the other. The unit will turn or pivot easily.
5 If the drive motors should fail, press and hold the BRAKE RELEASE button, 
located just below the DRIVE HANDLE on the left bracket . Manually relocate 
the unit , and call service.
If the motors fail press
this button and manually
relocate the unit. 
						

							AMX-4+ OPERATION
GE Healthcare (MODEL 2169360, 2236420 & 2275938 SERIES)
REV 15 om 2166913-1EN
5-1
SECTION 5
X-RAY PROCEDURE
Overview
In this section youll learn how to setup and position mechanical components of 
the AMX-4+. Steps for mechanical positioning are organized in the following way.
• Adjustment of column and telescoping arm
• Rotation of X-ray tube unit , and
• Adjustment of collimator
Youll also learn how to select patient parameters (technique selection) and, f inally, 
how to take an X-ray exposure. 
5-1 Mechanical Setup
Steps
Follow these steps to release the latch, vertical column and telescoping arm locks 
from the park/transport position. 
Make sure that the unit is turned ON. 
5-2 Latch Lock Release
1. Grip the collimator handles to activate the switch. (You should hear a clicking 
sound.) With slight force, push the telescoping arm down to release latch and 
then raise up.
• Note that you only need to grip one of the collimator handles to activate the 
lock release system. See Illustration 5-1.
ILLUSTRATION 5-1 
LOCK RELEASE MECHANISM
TO RELEASE THE LOCKS,
GRIP BOTH THE COLLIMATOR
HANDLES, OR JUST ONE
HANDLE. 
						

							AMX-4+ OPERATION
GE Healthcare (MODEL 2169360, 2236420 & 2275938 SERIES)
REV 15 om 2166913-1EN
5-2
5-3 Adjustment of Column and Telescoping Arm
In the following steps you can free the AMX-4+ components for positioning in one 
of two ways: by gripping the collimator handle(s) to keep the lock system released 
or, whenever necessary, overriding the lock system with slight force.
When possible, we recommend that you use the lock release system.
1. Rotate the arm and vertical column assembly to horizontally position the 
telescoping arm. The vertical column can be rotated 270 degrees clockwise or 
counterclockwise (detent at 0 degree park location).  See Illustration 
5-2.
2 Raise the arm on the vertical column to the desired height .
3 Extend the retractable arm to the desired length and release. See Illustration 
5-2.
ILLUSTRATION 5-2 I 
						

							AMX-4+ OPERATION
GE Healthcare (MODEL 2169360, 2236420 & 2275938 SERIES)
REV 15 om 2166913-1EN
5-3
5-4 Tube Unit Rotation
Because the tube assembly is counterbalanced, no active lock is required. And little 
effort is needed to override friction and rotate the tube.
1. Use the collimator handles to position the tube to the desired angle.
• You may rotate the tube in two directions: 
a.) clockwise and counterclockwise +180 degrees (detents at every 
90 degrees), or 
b.) backwards -10 degrees and forwards +100 degrees (detent at 
0 degree). See Illustration 5-3.
ILLUSTRATION 5-3 
TUBE ROTATION
COLLIMATOR
ROTATION
KNOBTUBE UNIT
RETRACTABLE
ARM
  0
DETENT
-10
(BACKWARD) 110
(FORWARD)
...extend the arm and
rotate the tube to the
desired angle. 
						

							AMX-4+ OPERATION
GE Healthcare (MODEL 2169360, 2236420 & 2275938 SERIES)
REV 15 om 2166913-1EN
5-4
5-5 Adjustment of Collimator
The AMX-4+ manual collimator limits patient radiation exposure to a desired area 
at a given distance from the X-ray tube focal spot .
1. Press the f ield light button (on either the collimator face or handswitch) to 
activate the high-intensity f ield lamp. See Illustration 5-4.
• The field light is timed and automatically turns off 30 seconds after you re-
lease the switch. To adjust the field light timer, contact your service represen-
tative. 
• To activate the field light for another 30 seconds, press the button again 
when the light goes out. (You may keep the field light on for up to 4 minutes. 
After 4 minutes, the field light will turn off for cooling and remain inactive for 
5 minutes.) 
ILLUSTRATION 5-4 
FIELD-LIGHT
BUTTON X-RAY
PREP/EXPOSE
BUTTON
PRESS THE FIELD LIGHT BUTTON, AND COLLI-
MATE TO YOUR AREA OF INTEREST. THE 
CROSSHAIR BEAM SHOWS THE FIELD CENTER.
....YOU MAY TAKE AN EXPOSURE WHILE THE 
FIELD LIGHT IS ON; THE LIGHT WILL AUTOMAT-
ICALLY TURN OFF WHEN AN EXPOSURE IS 
TAKEN. 
						

							AMX-4+ OPERATION
GE Healthcare (MODEL 2169360, 2236420 & 2275938 SERIES)
REV 15 om 2166913-1EN
5-5
2 Position the collimator and tube using the f ield light and crosshair shadow as 
guides. The crosshair shows the f ield center. For f ine positioning of the 
collimator, see Step 4.
• Use the tape measure on the side of the collimator to measure the SID 
(source-to-image distance). 
• Refer to the AMX-4+ Exposure Guide in the holder on the front of the column 
for suggested SID and exposure techniques. See Illustration 5-5.
ILLUSTRATION 5-5 I
AMX-4+
EXPOSURE
GUIDE 
						

							AMX-4+ OPERATION
GE Healthcare (MODEL 2169360, 2236420 & 2275938 SERIES)
REV 15 om 2166913-1EN
5-6
3 Collimate by adjusting the size of the f ield with the two control knobs located 
on the front of the collimator. See Illustration 5-6.
• For fine positioning of the collimator, see Step 4
• The left knob controls the transverse dimension of the blades, and the right 
blade knob controls the longitudinal dimension of the blades. (A diagram on 
the face of the collimator shows which knob controls which dimension.) See 
Illustration 5-6.
• Field sizes from 0x 0 inches up to 17x17 inches (43x43 cm) at a 40 inch 
(102 cm) SID can be obtained. The knob selectors indicate the field size for a 
selected SID. 
• Dial numbers on the calibrated scale are for 40 inch/100 cm and 72 inch/180 
cm scale SIDs.
ILLUSTRATION 5-6  
						

							AMX-4+ OPERATION
GE Healthcare (MODEL 2169360, 2236420 & 2275938 SERIES)
REV 15 om 2166913-1EN
5-7
4 You may rotate the collimator about its vertical axis (that is, to the right or left) 
in two ways: by a simple 90× detent method or by a manual lock method for 
an angle other than 90×. 
•90-degree detent method: Pull out the knob (see Illustration 5-7) and rotate 
the collimator to the desired 90× detent position. The detent will snap in place 
and lock.
•Manual lock method: Pull out the knob, position the collimator to the desired 
angle (other than 90× detent), and turn the knob clockwise to secure. (Turn 
the knob counterclockwise to unlock the collimator and reposition.)
5 Continue with Technique Selection in Section 5-6. 
ILLUSTRATION 5-7 
COLLIMATOR
ROTATION
KNOB 
						

							AMX-4+ OPERATION
GE Healthcare (MODEL 2169360, 2236420 & 2275938 SERIES)
REV 15 om 2166913-1EN
5-8
5-6 Technique Selection
Be sure to refer to the AMX-4+ Exposure Guide (found in the card holder attached 
to the vertical column) for suggested techniques.
ILLUSTRATION 5-8 
Steps
1 If youd like to increase the kVp, press the
 UP kVp arrow. To decrease the kVp 
value, press the DOWN kVp arrow. See Illustration 5-8.
2 If youd like to increase the mAs, press the UP mAs arrow. Press the DOWN 
mAs arrow to decrease the value. 
ILLUSTRATION 5-9 
TECHNIQUE CONSOLE DISPLAY
kVpmAs
... use these keys
on the control panel
to select your para-
meters for a patient
exam.... to rapidly scroll
through values, press
and hold the control
key down.
kVp 66mAs 16 kVp mAs
kVp mAs
66     16 ... your selection
is shown on two
displays; the kVp/mAs 
display, at the
top of the control
panel and the 
message display,
just above the 
kVp/mAs keys.