CT Test 2 Flashcards
Name the components housed within the gantry.
slip rings, generators, cooling system, x-ray source, filtration, collimation & detectors, tube, filters, detector array, microphone
Why is tungsten commonly used for the x-ray tubes used in computed tomography
Due to its high atomic number because it has to be able to handle long exposures daily and tubes must dissipate during x-ray production.
High melting point
- Identify the type of generator used in computed tomography to create images. Why is this type of generator used?
High frequency generators because they produce a high voltage and transmit it to the xray tube
- Identify the scanning mode the advancement of the slip ring technology has allowed for computed tomography.
Helical scan modes
- What is the purpose of beam filtration?
It reduces the range of x-ray the reaches the patient by removing the long wavelength xrays. It also improves image quality as well as reduces radiation dose to the patient.
The first filter was the bow tie introduced in the second generation
- State the range of kV that is commonly used in computed tomography.
120-140 kV with high KV lower mA can be used!!!!
What is the affects of incorporating high kV in computed tomography on the following factors: . Heat load – . Intensity of the Beam- . Penetrating ability - . Patient Dose –
Heat load – reduces heat load which allows for lower mA settings to be used
. Intensity of the Beam- increases
. Penetrating ability - increases
. Patient Dose –decreases
- What are the common focal spot sizes used in computed tomography?
0.5 &1.0 mm
- Name an advantage and a disadvantage of using a small focal spot size?
An advantage is better recorded detail, but a disadvantage is that is constantly heating one small spot and you’ll end up having the replace the tube faster.
Pro-sharper image
Con- small hear spot- easy overload
- Differentiate between the location of the pre-patient collimator and post-patient collimator in the gantry?
Pre- located near the x-ray source and limits the amount of x-ray emerging into thin ribbons.
Post- located below the patient and above the detector array. This collimator shapes the beam after it has passed through the patient.
- Explain the purpose of collimation in computed tomography?
It restricts the beam to a certain area of interest only and improves image quality.
Controls the slice thickness by narrowing and widening the beam.
- The detectors serve what purpose in computed tomography image production?
Detectors capture x-ray photons and convert them to a usable signal. The more detectors there are the more information that will be obtained.
- Why is it importance for a detector to be efficient during the data acquisition process in computed tomography?
Because it is what captures the photons and converts them to a usable signal
Why are solid state detectors more common to in new CT scanners as opposed to the xenon gas detectors
Due to their high photon absorption. They absorb nearly 100% of photons that reach them compared to xenon gas scanners who only ansorb 60-87% of the photons that reach them. Also Xenon systems are not capable of using the MDCT system.
- Why is it important for detectors to be positioned so close together?
Detector spacing affects the amount of scatter recorded. When detectors are placed closer together it results in less scatter on the images. More detectors also increase capture efficiency.
It captures more information and less scatter