Basic X-ray Principle

How X-ray is Generated ?

High Voltage
40-150 kV
Cathode Cathode : -ve Anode : +ve Anode
( - ve ) ( + ve )
Negative Positive
Charged+ Charged
Small
voltage
for Electrons Beam Upon Impact,
filment (Rush to Anode) X-ray Created
X-RAY

Creation of X-ray ;
• Electrons are generated from Cathode (-ve)
• Electrons are pulled towards Anode (+ve) by high kV
• Electrons at High Speed, impact on Anode creating to X-ray
 X-ray Principle
X-ray : Original Source X-ray

Different X-ray Absorption

Residual X-ray : Detector Image Contrast

 X-ray Absorption
High Energy X-ray - Penetrates through the body
- High Energy X-ray emerges with enough energy
- To make exposure on film/detector

Low Energy X-ray - Loses its energy upon impact on body

- Get absorbed in the body as “skin dose”
- Unwanted X-ray (yellow color below)

Intensity

High Energy X-ray

Low Energy X-ray

absorbed as skin dose
X-ray Principle

Bone
- High energy absorption
- less X-ray passes through

Soft Tissue
- Low energy absorption
- more X-ray passes through

Variety of grey levels is called

Contrast Resolution
kV (kilo-voltage) & mA (milli-amperes)
High Voltage
40-150 kV
Cathode : -ve Anode : +ve

Electron Beam Diverging

(mA) X-ray Beam

Higher kV : Effect on Electrons Higher mA : Effect on Electrons

• Bigger pulling force • Generate more electrons
• Faster electrons movement • Higher energy beam
• Higher frequency beam • >> Determines Contrast
• >> Determines Penetration
 Generator Rating
kW : Kilo-Watt
• Watt : (Amperes x Volts) PER Time
• Kilo-Watt : Kilo x (milli-Amperes x kilo-Volts) per second
• Kilo-Watt : 1000 x (0.001A x 1000V ) per second

kV : Range upto 150kV mA : Range upto 1250mA

• Thicker Body : higher kV required • Radiography
• Thinner Body : lower kV can do - Static Exposure
• Too much kV : Over expose - Normally use higher mA
• Too low kV : Under-expose • Fluoroscopy
• Enough kV to penetrate & still provide - Screening / Dynamic Study
Contrast to differentiate morphology - Normally use lower mA

mAs : mA x Time (mA x sec)

 Generator Classes

High Range Generators

• Example : 80~100kW
• For long time exposure
• For high mA Fluoroscopy
• Include DSA, Cardiology
• 80kW : 100kV @ 800mA
Mid Range Generators
• Example : Around 50kW
• For General Purpose
• Include Fluoroscopy
• 50kW : 100kV @ 500mA
*630mA @ 80kV
Low Range Generators Fixing Specs of
• Example : Less than 20kW Generator kW
• Limit to Radiograph With mA @ 100kV
• 20kW : 100kV @ 200mA at o.1sec
 Comparing Different Voltage
Waveforms
Different power source produce different voltage ripple.
Voltage ripple affects production of x-ray quality.
Low ripple generates better X-ray quality to produce better image with lesser
dose.
 High Frequency Generator
High-frequency voltage generation uses inverter circuits as shown.
Inverter circuits are high-speed switches to convert into square
pulses.
 High Frequency Generator
High-frequency voltage generation uses inverter circuits as shown.
Inverter circuits are high-speed switches to convert into square
pulses.
 High Frequency Generator
HF generator uses a high-frequency circuit to convert 60Hz into
higher frequency ranging 1,000 to 100,000Hz (1~100kHz).

It can produce a nearly constant potential voltage waveform as

shown which results in improved image quality at lower patient dose.
 Advantages of High Frequency
Generator
High Frequency Generator produces remarkably Better X-ray Quality
- Stable kV produces uniform stable X-ray energy
- Reduces X-ray exposure time substantially, improving image quality
- Reduces unwanted soft X-ray substantially, leading to lesser skin dose

Image -forming X-ray

Exposure Ultra-Short
Time Expo Time

kV wave form of a kV wave form of a

Two-Pulse Generator High Frequency Generator
X-ray Tube

X-ray Tube
 X-ray Tube
External structure consists of ; Internal Tube consists of ;
(1) Protective Housing (1) Cathode (Negative Charged)
(2) Glass or Metal Envelope (2) Anode (Positive Charged)
Suspended by Support (CH/FH) Enclosed in Vacuum

HV connector
Glass Envelope

Protective Housing

Cathode

Stator coil Anode (Rotating)

 X-ray Tube
There are 2 Electrodes - Cathode (Filament) : Negatively Charged
- Anode (Target) : Positively Charged

They are Contained - In a Glass Envelope usually made of Pyrex Glass

- Evacuated of Air to become Vacuum
- To withstand high temperature
The Need to Dissipate Heat

Electrons Impacting
on Anode produces
Abundance of Heat

Of the Electrical Energy:

• ~1 % is converted into useful X-ray beam
• 99 % is converted into HEAT
 Rotating Anode
The anode is driven by an electromagnetic induction motor.
When the rotor mechanical of a rotating-anode tube fails, the anode
becomes overheated and pits or cracks, which causes tube failure.
 X-ray Tube
Specifications
Heat Unit (kHU) - Higher kHU dissipates more heat
- Radiograph : 200kHU is adequate
- RF : 400kHU is adequate
- DSA : 750kHU or more
- Cardiology : 1.5MHU or more
Focus Spot (mm) - Smaller size gives sharper image (less penumbra)
- Smaller size generates more heat per unit spot size
- For Big structure : 0.6mm or more
- For Small Vessel : 0.6mm or less (limit by Heat-up)

Target Angle (degrees) - Must be adequate to cover Field-of-View

- 12 degrees : Suitable for Chest with long SID
- 16 degrees : RF Table with limited Tube-IA distance

Rotation Speed (RPM) - Anode with higher speed dissipates more heat quickly
- Normal Speed (3000 RPM), High Speed (9000 RPM)
Detector Assembly
Bucky or Grid
Reduces effect of scattered
radiation on detector.

AEC (Phototimer Pick-up)

X-ray energy detection device
AEC for Automatic Exposure Control

Cassette Tray
For insertion of the Film Cassette
for recording of image exposures
Detector
 Scatter X-ray Reduces Image
Contrast
Grid is a device that can reduce
the amount of scatter X-ray reaching
the film to improve the radiographic
image contrast.

The two main components of grid

construction are interspace material
(aluminum or plastic fiber) and grid
material (lead strips).

Bucky is Moving-Grid that oscillates during exposure to blur the gridlines.

 Automatic Exposure Control
( Photo-timer Controller and Pick-up )

X-ray passes through body and

reaches Photo-timer Pick-up

Phototimer Controller measures

X-ray energy accumulating on
Phototimer Pick-up

When X-ray energy reaches

pre-set level

Photo-timer Controller signals

Generator to cut-off X-ray.
 Automatic Exposure Control

Chest A-P
Pick-up fields can be activated or
Chest Lat de-activated by the Generator
Interface (Photo-timer controller)

Abdomen, etc. Selection of fields is according to

region of interest of the patient.

AEC Purpose : To achieve Optimum Quality Images

 Collimator
(X-ray Aperture)
Collimator

- To Control/Minimize X-ray scatter

- Filter (using Al, Cu etc) to reduce soft x-ray

- Light Beam to illuminate X-ray area coverage

Example of Shimadzu Collimators
Patient Support
( Bucky Table )
 Types of Bucky Tables

Fixed Top
- Economical

Floating Table Top

- Improve Positioning

Elevating Top
- Improve Patient Transferring

Elevating Table with Floating-top

 Types of Chest Stands

Lieder Stand
- Most Economical
- Cassette Holder only

Bucky Chest Stand

- Vertical Movement
- Can be “Auto-Tracking”

Tilting Bucky Chest Stand

- For Skull Radiography
Ceiling Support
Flexible Positioning
( Compare to Floor-Support )
- Larger Positioning Coverage
- Quicker ROI Positioning

Other Conveniences
- Auto Tube/Bucky Tracking
- Electronic Tomography
- No Floor Space required
- Better response in
Emergency

Premium
- More costly unit and rails
- More costly room preparation
 Tomography

To observe Sectional Images in different depths

Tube Support
Floor to Ceiling Support

More economical solution

(compare to Ceiling-Support)
 Generator console

Anatomical Programming
- Quick/Easy operation

Sheet-Key Type
- Economical

LCD Type
- More Menus
- More Programs
- Higher-end Models

Color Coding
- Avoid Re-shoot
- 40E : Option
 Medical systems lineup

■Angiography Systems ■Fluoroscopy Systems

■Radiography Systems ■CT Scanners ■Ultrasound Scanners

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