On this page
Asset Type
Manufacturer
Model
What This Guide Helps With
Table movement, positioning, or alignment problems caused by obstruction, table load, controls, accessories, or external setup issues.
Step-by-Step Troubleshooting
Ensure Patient Safety First
Stop use of the CT table if movement is unexpected, uneven, noisy, or inaccurate.
Action:
- Remove the patient from the table if safe to do so.
- Use proper patient transfer methods.
- Do not continue scanning if table position is unreliable.
- Notify CT staff that the scanner is unavailable until checked.
Expected outcome: Patient is safely removed from risk and no scan is performed with questionable table positioning.
Verify the Reported Table Issue
Confirm exactly what the table is doing before troubleshooting.
Action:
- Ask CT staff what was observed.
- Check whether the issue involves vertical movement, horizontal travel, table indexing, alignment, docking, or positioning accuracy.
- Note whether the issue occurred during setup, scan planning, scan acquisition, or patient unloading.
- Attempt movement only with no patient on the table.
Expected outcome: The reported symptom is confirmed without placing a patient at risk.
Check for Physical Obstructions Around the Table
External obstruction is one of the first causes to rule out.
Action:
- Inspect around the table base, table rails, gantry opening, foot end, and floor area.
- Remove linens, straps, patient belongings, step stools, trash cans, IV poles, cables, or positioning aids that may interfere with travel.
- Verify nothing is caught beneath or alongside the tabletop.
Expected outcome: Table movement returns to normal if an obstruction was preventing travel.
If this resolves the issue, return the area to safe operating condition and document the obstruction found.
Verify Table Load and Patient Positioning
Excessive load or uneven patient positioning can affect table motion or alignment.
Action:
- Confirm the table was not overloaded.
- Check whether the patient was centered and positioned properly.
- Verify that large accessories, immobilizers, or transfer boards were not creating drag or imbalance.
- Remove unnecessary accessories and retest table motion unloaded.
Expected outcome: Table moves smoothly when load or accessory interference is corrected.
Inspect Table Pads, Accessories, and Cradles
Misplaced accessories can create alignment complaints or mechanical resistance.
Action:
- Check that the table pad is seated correctly.
- Verify head holders, arm boards, cushions, immobilizers, and positioning accessories are properly installed.
- Look for accessories extending into the gantry path.
- Confirm nothing is contacting the gantry bore during table travel.
Expected outcome: Table movement and alignment improve once accessories are seated or removed.
Check Emergency Stop and Interlock Status
An active emergency stop or safety interlock may inhibit table movement.
Action:
- Inspect emergency stop buttons at the gantry, console, and nearby control areas.
- Confirm no emergency stop is engaged.
- Check for visible safety, interlock, or motion inhibit messages on the operator console or gantry display.
- Reset only according to site policy and manufacturer-approved user procedures.
Expected outcome: Table movement is restored if motion was inhibited by an active stop or interlock.
Confirm Power and System Status
Table motion depends on stable system power and proper scanner readiness.
Action:
- Verify the scanner is powered normally.
- Confirm the operator console is responsive.
- Check for system warnings, table errors, or gantry communication messages.
- Confirm the scanner is not in a service, shutdown, paused, or faulted state.
Expected outcome: Table commands respond normally when the system is fully ready.
Test Table Movement From Available Controls
Determine whether the issue is isolated to one control location.
Action:
- With the table unloaded, test movement from the gantry controls.
- Test movement from the operator console if available.
- Check whether one direction, speed, or control source fails while others work.
- Do not force repeated motion if abnormal noise, jerking, or binding occurs.
Expected outcome: Isolating the failure helps determine whether the issue is related to controls, communication, or the table drive system.
Check for Table Alignment or Indexing Errors
Alignment issues may appear as inaccurate scan location, incorrect table position, or mismatch between planned and actual anatomy.
Action:
- Ask CT staff whether the laser alignment, scout image, or scan start location appeared incorrect.
- Verify the patient was positioned correctly using external landmarks.
- Check whether the table position display changes consistently during movement.
- Review whether the issue occurred after patient repositioning, accessory changes, or system restart.
Expected outcome: Misalignment caused by setup or positioning is corrected before assuming a scanner fault.
Restart the Scanner Only If Clinically Appropriate
A software or communication fault may affect table commands.
Action:
- Confirm no patient is on the table.
- Follow site-approved shutdown and restart procedures.
- Allow the system to fully reboot.
- Retest unloaded table movement and positioning response.
Expected outcome: Temporary software or communication faults may clear after restart.
If the issue clears, perform basic operational checks before returning the scanner to use.
Listen for Abnormal Mechanical Symptoms
Unusual table behavior may indicate a drive, encoder, brake, sensor, or mechanical alignment problem.
Action:
- During unloaded movement, listen for grinding, slipping, knocking, clicking, or motor strain.
- Observe for jerky travel, drift, uneven elevation, delayed response, or failure to stop accurately.
- Check for unusual heat or smell near the table base.
- Stop testing immediately if movement appears unsafe.
Expected outcome: Abnormal mechanical signs indicate the table should not remain in clinical use.
Do Not Force Table Motion
Forcing movement can worsen the fault or create a patient safety hazard.
Action:
- Do not push, pull, override, or repeatedly command the table if it is binding or misaligning.
- Do not attempt internal table disassembly during first-line troubleshooting.
- Preserve the error condition for service evaluation when possible.
Expected outcome: The scanner is protected from further damage and the fault can be properly evaluated.
If the Problem Persists
If table movement or alignment problems continue after checking obstructions, accessories, patient load, interlocks, controls, and system status, common external causes have been ruled out.
The issue may involve the table drive assembly, position feedback system, encoders, brakes, control electronics, sensors, or gantry/table communication.
The CT scanner should be removed from service, labeled Out of Service, and reported to the imaging service vendor or qualified CT service engineer for repair, calibration, or bench/system-level evaluation as required.
Knowing when to stop is proper troubleshooting. A CT table with unreliable movement or alignment should not be used for patient scanning.
Clinical Use Tip
Do not troubleshoot table movement with a patient on the CT table unless there is an immediate safety need. Move the patient to a backup device, alternate scanner, or safe location first, then test table motion unloaded so therapy or imaging continuity is maintained.
Work Order Documentation (CCR Method)
CCR = Complaint, Cause, Resolution
Complaint
What was reported by the clinical staff.
Example:
"CT staff reported that the Philips Ingenuity CT table was not moving smoothly and appeared misaligned during patient positioning."
Cause
What was observed during troubleshooting.
Example:
"Clinical Engineering found no floor obstruction or accessory interference, and the table continued to show inconsistent horizontal positioning during unloaded movement testing."
Resolution
What action was taken.
Example:
"Scanner was removed from service, labeled Out of Service, and escalated to CT service for table drive and position feedback evaluation."
Helpful Details to Include (If Known)
- Alarm behavior, table error messages, alignment warnings, or position error messages recorded.
- Accessories swapped, removed, or inspected, including table pads, head holders, arm boards, cushions, immobilizers, and transfer boards.
- Power behavior, outlet and system power status, console responsiveness, and scanner readiness.
- Environmental factors, including obstructions around the table, gantry, rails, floor area, cables, IV poles, step stools, linens, or trash cans.
- Indicator lights, emergency stop status, interlock messages, gantry display warnings, and motion inhibit messages.
- Final device status listed as returned to service or out of service.
Final Thought
CT table movement problems must be handled carefully because inaccurate positioning can affect scan quality, repeat imaging, and patient safety. Start with visible, external causes first, then escalate when motion remains unreliable or alignment cannot be confirmed. Clear CCR documentation helps service teams understand the failure and reduces repeat downtime.
That is successful troubleshooting.