GAMMA KNIFE MODULE
The Gamma Knife Module includes five separate components named Gamma Dome, How It Works, Real Stories / Real Surgery, Targeting, and Wave Launcher. These components are tied together physically by the Gamma Dome. Each component is discussed in detail in the following sections.
Description
The gamma dome is not directly interactive for visitors, but is meant to dramatically draw attention to the entire Gamma Knife module by representing a huge gamma targeting helmet in place over a human brain. Architectural optical fibers (lit green) between the helmet and brain represent gamma rays treating disorders (such as tumors and malformed blood vessels) in the brain. Visitors can walk underneath the dome structure.
Primary Components
The primary operational components include:
Refer to Table 1 for details about primary and support components.
Consumables / Spare Parts
An air filter on the pedestal is the only consumable item. Spare parts provided are listed in Table 2
Special Instructions
It is important to make sure that the two exhaust fans on the pedestal are always working to properly ventilate / cool the optical fiber illuminators.
General Maintenance
Maintenance is easy and involves ventilation/air filtering, lighting, and general cleaning. Table 3 provides guidance on specific maintenance items and their frequency. The form also should be used to record that maintenance steps were completed.
Troubleshooting
Architectural optical fiber bank not lit: First check that power is supplied to the applicable illuminator. Subsequently check the illuminator’s internal lamp. Replace the illuminator itself or lamp from Zap spares as needed. Handle new lamps with gloves or a clean cloth to prevent leaving oily residue on the lamp that will cause the lamp to burn out quickly.
Individual optical fiber(s) not lit: Check that the connector(s) between the lead strand(s) from the illuminator to the unlit strand(s) extending through the brain is(are) secure. Simply plug the strand(s) back together firmly again to restore illumination.
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Description
A green backlit text panel with a mock-up of the Gamma Knife apparatus (animated with LED lights), explaining the science of the Gamma Knife procedure. Visitors have no direct interaction with this informational exhibit.
Primary Components
The primary operational components include:
Table 1 provides details about the primary and support components.
Consumables / Spare Parts
There are no consumables other than an air filter for this exhibit. Table 2 lists spare parts provided.
Special Instructions
None
General Maintenance
Maintenance only involves exhibit ventilation/air filtering, lighting, and general cleaning. Table 3 both describes maintenance steps and frequency, as well as serves as a form to record completion of maintenance.
Troubleshooting
LED display not working: Check that all main power connections are tight inside the kiosk base (access through the locked air filter panel on the back) and inside the kiosk text panel. The front panel is not locked, but is held in place by ball catches. Pull carefully on the left side of the panel to open (Fig. 17).

If all main power connections appear tight, then check the fuses on the power transformer and on the controller board. Replace as needed from Zap spares.
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COMPONENT NAME – REAL STORIES / REAL SURGERY
Description
A green-framed activity table where visitors choose from various labeled buttons to view video (DVD) segments on actual Gamma surgery procedures. The visitors select videos using three extra large green buttons, plus one stop button.
Primary Components
The primary operational components include:
Table 1 provides further details about the primary and support components.
Consumables / Spare Parts
Air filters are the only consumable items associated with this activity. Spare parts available are listed in Table 2.
Special Instructions
None
General Maintenance
Maintenance is easy and involves exhibit ventilation/air filtering, lighting, and general cleaning. Follow Table 3 for specific maintenance items and their frequency. Also use the form to record that maintenance was completed.
Troubleshooting
Refer to Cryosurgery – Fast Freeze troubleshooting section regarding problems such as:
Description
A green angled-top activity table where visitors run a custom computer program and perform virtual surgery with a Gamma Knife to eliminate an acoustic tumor that could lead to a virtual "patient’s" loss of hearing. Externally, the table has a replica of a Gamma Knife helmet with 10 buttons (each representing an individual gamma ray), and "start" and "zap" buttons that visitors control. The start button initiates a short instructional video. The visitor then plans the medical procedure and presses up to 10 helmet buttons to selectively turn on/off individual gamma rays. When the visitor is satisfied with his/her plan, they depress the "zap" button to initiate the "treatment". The visitor sees the treatment being performed and is then informed about their success (or consequences).
Primary Components
The primary operational components include:
Table 1 provides further details about the above primary and other support components.
Consumables / Spare Parts
Consumables only include air filters associated with this activity table. Available spare parts are listed on Table 2.
Special Instructions
Daily start-up procedure: See the necessary procedure in the Special Instructions section for Cryosurgery – Cool Surgery (except that only the front access panel needs to be opened).
Daily shut down procedure: See the necessary procedure in the Special Instructions section for Cryosurgery – Cool Surgery (except that only the front access panel needs to be opened).
Helmet lamps: 14 volt lamps (Zap spares lamps C161 or 658) must be used in the 10 helmet buttons.
General Maintenance
Maintenance items are simple and deal with exhibit ventilation/air filtering, lighting, and general cleaning. Table 3 should be followed for specific maintenance items and their frequency. It also serves as a form to record that maintenance was completed.
Troubleshooting
Refer to Cryosurgery – Cool Surgery (troubleshooting section) regarding problems such as:
COMPONENT NAME – WAVE LAUNCHER
Description
A green backlit table top with an electronic drum pad and tethered mallet. Visitors expend various amounts of energy to hit the drum pad that activates lights and initiates various sound / verbal messages that correspond with an electromagnetic spectrum. When the pad is hit hardest, the exhibit equates the energy spent with that of gamma rays (the highest energy level); whereas, the lowest level is that of radio waves.
Primary Components
The primary operational components include:
Table 1 provides details about primary and related components.
Consumables / Spare Parts
Consumables associated with this activity table only include air filters. Available spare parts are listed in Table 2.
Special Instructions
When power is switched on at the beginning of the day, the drum pad needs to be hit once to reset the electronics.
The length of the tether on the mallet should be long enough to allow a fair swing at the pad, but not so long that visitors consider hitting other visitors, etc. Visual checks should be performed frequently to ensure that the drum pad and mallet are intact.
General Maintenance
Maintenance items are simple and deal with exhibit ventilation/air filtering, lighting, and general cleaning. Table 3 should be followed for specific maintenance items and their frequency. This form also should be used to record that the maintenance was completed.
Troubleshooting
Mallet needs to be replaced: Obtain a pre-assembled mallet handle and head from Zap spares. Unscrew the existing mallet from the steel cable tether eye bolt. Install the replacement mallet using removable thread lock compound. If the tether itself needs replaced, open the hinged table top with a round barrel key. Remove the 7/16" nut holding the inside tether eye bolt.
Drum pad is loose in mounting: Open the table top as above, being careful that the drum pad does not fall out when the table top is opened beyond vertical. Check that the drum signal cable and jack are centered in the slot of the wooden tabletop (the slot is in the lower right corner when the tabletop is opened). Shift the pad if necessary to center it in the aluminum mounting ring and then tighten the black drum mounting knob (that extends through the single hole of the inside aluminum mounting plate).
Drum pad not sensitive enough (can’t reach top of scale or need to hit too hard): Open back bottom panel of vertical kiosk. Locate the blue colored trimpot immediately next to white trimpot "T1" on the circuit board labeled "I" (Fig. 18). Turn the blue trimpot counterclockwise (to increase sensitivity) and hit the drum pad to test for response. Continue to refine adjustment as necessary (the visitor must be able to tap the pad softly to reach the lowest level, but also be able to reach the top scale without hitting unnecessarily hard).

Figure 18: Board "I" trimpots

Figure 19: Hold pad during removal

Figure 20: Drum pad details

Figure 21: Removing lamp group
If adjusting the blue trimpot does not satisfactorily adjust the sensitivity and response, obtain a new drum pad from Zap spares and replace the old pad. Remove the old pad by unscrewing the black mounting knob. Tilt the tabletop slightly over vertical position (keeping your hand on the pad), and let the pad start to drop out of the opening (Fig. 19). Carefully pull the signal jack out of the old pad and then remove the pad completely (Fig. 20). Plug the jack into the new pad, position it properly, and then tighten the mounting knob (see section above about loose pad). Turn the blue trimpot sensitivity down (counterclockwise) and then test and readjust until acceptable response is achieved.
Quartz halogen fixture(s) not lighting: With back panels of vertical kiosk open, check wiring connection/jack from the individual problem fixture(s) to the white transformer(s). If wiring connection seems tight, remove wood fixture mount (held by two phillips head screws), unscrew the front lamp cover, and replace lamp from Zap spares (Fig. 21). If the problem still is not resolved, replace entire fixture from Zap spares.
If a whole bank of fixtures is not working, trace the wires to see if the fixtures all lead to the same white transformer. If so, unplug the fixtures from the associated transformer and replace the transformer from Zap spares.
Small ventilation fans on center kiosk back not working: Replace individual fan or black transformer (that powers all fans) as necessary from Zap spares.
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