Direct electrical measurement of tube‐voltage waveforms in mammography systems using ALDEN‐type high‐voltage connectors

BACKGROUND: Accurate tube-voltage characterization is essential for mammography quality assurance and estimation of mean glandular dose (MGD). In mammography systems equipped with ALDEN-type high-voltage connectors, direct electrical access to the tube-voltage circuit has historically been restricted, limiting evaluation primarily to non-invasive measurement methods. PURPOSE: To develop and evaluate a direct-connection adapter enabling invasive acquisition of tube-voltage waveforms in mammography systems using ALDEN-type high-voltage connectors and to compare waveform characteristics with those obtained using a non-invasive multimeter. METHODS: A direct-connection adapter-based measurement system was developed to provide electrical access to the tube-voltage circuit without modifying the primary conduction path. Tube-voltage measurements were performed using a commercial tube-voltage/tube-current meter incorporating a fixed high-voltage divider (1:20 000). Tube-voltage waveforms were measured in three clinical mammography systems under multiple target/filter configurations using both the invasive method and a commercially available non-invasive multimeter (RaySafe X2). Tube-voltage ripple was quantified from time-resolved voltage data obtained under identical exposure conditions. RESULTS: Mean tube-voltage values obtained using invasive and non-invasive approaches showed approximately linear agreement with preset voltage. However, ripple magnitudes differed substantially under certain beam conditions. The invasive method yielded ripple values ranging from 2.5% to 6.2%, whereas non-invasive measurements reached up to 48.5% under specific configurations. CONCLUSIONS: Direct electrical measurement of tube-voltage waveforms in mammography systems using ALDEN-type high-voltage connectors was demonstrated using the proposed adapter. Because the invasive method directly measures the electrical high-voltage waveform without signal reconstruction, it provides an electrical reference for evaluating potential variability in non-invasive waveform measurements and may support generator characterization and waveform-based investigations in research and equipment evaluation settings.