Discrete Event Simulation for Complex High-Power Medical Systems

This position paper describes research activities in the field of targeted lifetime extension of components which are used in medical devices and systems as well as in high-energy physics and industrial applications. The considered medical areas are mainly in the therapy field and imaging diagnostics. Industrial areas are cargo and container scanning as well as food treatment and nondestructive material testing. The analysis of medical machines and systems with high-power tubes focuses on the X-ray radiation or RF-power performance. The operational behavior of such tubes is of special interest. In this position paper, a multipurpose simulation tool and a method will be presented to examine the specific influence of lifetime-defining factors which cover the mentioned application areas but are focused on medical applications. For the implementation of the method, a discrete event simulation is constructed using the real-time design tool MLDesigner from MLDesign Technologies, Inc. Studies can be carried out with regard to the tube service life. The simulations show that the targeted impact on the service-lifetime-defining factors can prolong useful service life of a high-power tube.