When a tube replacement is the right call
The tube is the shortest-lived high-value item on a CT scanner, and replacing it too early or too late both cost money. Signs that the tube, not the calibration, is the problem:
- Repeated arcing errors and exposure aborts
- Frequent thermal shutdowns and long cool-down waits between patients
- Unstable mA / kV output or dose drift the system can no longer correct
- Audible anode bearing noise or vibration
- Image noise and artefacts that survive a full recalibration
What the replacement includes
Removal of the failed tube, fitting of the replacement with the correct cooling and HV connections, oil handling, then full calibration, air-cal and acceptance testing against your QA phantom. You receive a digital service report with the results, plus the warranty documentation for the new tube.
New versus refurbished
A new tube maximises remaining life and comes with the manufacturer warranty. A tested refurbished tube with our own warranty is often the better economics on a system in the second half of its life, where the priority is keeping the scanner earning without a large capital request. We quote both where they exist so you can choose on numbers rather than assumption.
Spreading the cost through a CMC
Tube failure is the classic unbudgeted CT expense. A tube-inclusive comprehensive maintenance contract converts it into a predictable annual cost, which is why most high-throughput sites move to that structure once a scanner passes a few years of service.
Frequently asked questions
Get a CT tube quotation
Send the make, model, tube part number if known, and the errors you're seeing. We'll confirm availability, options and lead time.