production of X rays Flashcards

1
Q

Control panel:

contains (3)

A

 Exposure time, kVp and mA selectors
 Exposure button (dead-man type)
 Indicator light and audible signal

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2
Q

Tube head: includes (2)

A

Power supply + x-ray tube

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3
Q

Tube head

within (6)

A
◦Glass envelope
◦Insulating oil
◦Metal housing
◦Tube window
◦Aluminum filters
◦Lead collimator
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4
Q

Cathode (-) (2)

A

◦ Filament

◦ Focusing cup

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5
Q

Filament:

3

A
◦ Made of tungsten
◦ Source of electrons
◦ Is heated with a low voltage
source and emits electrons at a
rate proportional to its
temperature (thermionic emission).
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6
Q

Focusing cup

3

A
◦ Made of Molybdenum
◦ Negatively charged
◦ Focuses the electrons into a
narrow beam directed to the
focal spot (+).
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7
Q

Anode (+) (2)

A

◦ Tungsten target

◦ Copper stem

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8
Q

Tungsten target:

2

A
◦ Transform the kinetic energy of
the colliding electrons into x-ray
photons.
◦ Highly inefficient: produces 99%
heat and 1% x-rays
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9
Q

Copper stem:

1

A

◦ Works as a thermal conductor
to remove the heat from the
tungsten avoiding target
melting.

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10
Q

Why is tungsten a good
target material?
(4)

A
  1. High atomic number
  2. High melting point
    (3422°C)
  3. High thermal conductivity
  4. Low vapor pressure
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11
Q
  1. High atomic number:
A

efficient production of x-

rays

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12
Q
  1. High melting point

(3422°C):

A

to withstand the

heat produced

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13
Q
  1. High thermal conductivity:
A

to dissipate the heat
produced away from the
target

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14
Q
  1. Low vapor pressure:
A

helps
maintain vacuum in the
tube at high temperatures.

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15
Q

Conditions necessary for X-ray
production
(4)

A
  1. Separation of electrons
  2. Production of high-speed electrons
  3. Concentration of electrons
  4. Sudden stoppage of electron steam
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16
Q

Low voltage filament current heats the tungsten filament to incandescence with
resultant separation of outer shell electrons from the tungsten atom (“boiling off”). This
separation of electrons is called

A

thermionic emission

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17
Q

High potential difference is produced between the cathode and anode by applying a

A

high voltage between them.

18
Q

◦ Electrons are accelerated to approx.

A

0.5 X speed of light

19
Q

Electron beam is focused by the — and directed towards

the —

A
focusing cup (negative charge) 
focal spot.
20
Q

Upon striking the focal spot in the anode, the electron stream is stopped abruptly, and
kinetic energy of the electron stream undergoes conversion to

A

greater than 99% heat

and less than 1% x-radiation.

21
Q

— removes the heat from the tungsten

A

◦ Cooper stem

22
Q

Focal spot

A

◦ Area on the target to which the focusing cup directs the electrons and from which the
x-rays are produced.

23
Q

◦ Size if the focal spot is important for

A
image quality (smaller focal spot, higher spatial
resolution)
24
Q

◦ The smaller the focal spot →

A

more heat accumulates

25
The smaller the focal spot →more heat accumulates. | ◦ 2 ways to overcome this problem:
1. Rotating anodes | 2. Stationary anodes (line- focus principle)
26
Rotating anode | 2
``` • Allows heat at the focal spot to spread out over a large surface (dark band) • Medical devices ```
27
Line-focus principle (stationary anode) (2)
``` • Angling the target to achieve a smaller effective focal spot than the actual focal spot • Results in sharper radiographic image while maintaining the original surface area of the target for heat dissipation ```
28
Actual focal spot:
the projection of the focal spot perpendicular to the target
29
Effective focal spot:
the projection of the focal spot perpendicular to the electron beam
30
Effective focal spot is always --- than the actual focal spot.
smaller
31
Power supply | 2 principal functions:
``` ◦ Provide a low-voltage current to heat the x-ray tube filament (step-down transformer) ◦ Generate a high potential difference to accelerate electrons form the cathode to the focal spot on the anode (step-up transformer) ```
32
Transformer
◦Electromagnetic device that either increases or decreases the voltage in a circuit.
33
3 types of Transformer in the x-ray unit:
◦ Step-down transformer (filament transformer) ◦ Step-up transformer (high voltage) ◦ Autotransformer
34
Step-down transformer | 3
``` ◦ Used to convert 110 or 220 volts to 3-5 volts to heat the filament (low voltage circuit) ◦ Regulated by the mA switch ◦ increasing mA setting will increase the number of electrons emitted ```
35
Step-up transformer | 3
``` ◦ Used to convert 110 or 220 volts to 60,000-100,000 volts to move the electrons across the tube (high voltage circuit) ◦ Regulated by the kV setting ◦ Increasing the kV will increase the energy of the electrons traveling from the cathode to anode ```
36
Exposure timer: | ◦ Determines
amount of time the high voltage circuit is applied across the x- ray tube (amount of time x-rays are produced)
37
Time delay circuit:
delay of ½ second | to heat the filament
38
Timing circuit:
Actual time of exposure
39
kV (kilovoltage):
controls the acceleration of electrons from cathode to anode
40
mA (milliamperage):
controls heating of the | filament
41
Exposure time:
controls the time in which x-rays are produced