Siemens MAMMOMAT NovationDR, Installation Instructions Manual, Page: 45 / 95

4-8
February 5, 2004
FFDM-S Service Manual
Determining the Entrance Skin Exposure (ESE)
You select the Determine ESE procedure option if you need to determine a valid
mAs to use when generating a goal image.
NOTE: If you already know the valid mAs to use and want to proceed to generating the goal image,
go to “Generating the Goal Image” on page 4-11.
The ESE procedure requires the HVL. If the HVL procedure has already been
performed, the tool will already have the HVL value. If you are skipping the HVL
procedure and starting with the ESE procedure, a dialog box displays, prompting
you to enter the HVL value.
The ESE procedure involves taking three exposures. The dosimeter readings for
each exposure are averaged together to determine the ESE for the selected Average
Glandular Dose (AGD). This in turn suggests the mAs that should be used to
generate the goal table.
To determine the mAs value:
1. In the tool’s main window, select the desired AGD value before starting the
ESE determination.
Once the first ESE exposure has been performed, the AGD value cannot be
changed.
2. Select the Determine ESE procedure option.
If the tool has the HVL value stored internally (for example, you just
performed the HVL procedure), go to step 5.
If the tool does not have the HVL value, the HVL Popup dialog box displays.
3. If you know the HVL value, enter the fractional value (for example, 0.3611),
then click OK or press the ENTER key.
If you do not know the HVL value, refer to “Determining the Half Value
Layer (HVL)” on page 4-5.
4. After entering the HVL value, select the Determine ESE procedure option
again.
In the main window, the settings change, based on the HVL and the selected
AGD, and instructional text is displayed.
Note that the Status field turns green and displays the message “DRAPI
Armed.”