X Ray Tubehead Flashcards
What is the x-ray tubehead?
A tightly sealed, heavy metal housing that contains the x-ray tube
What does the insulating oil do in the tubehead?
Surrounds the X-ray tube and transformers in tubehead, prevents overheating by absorbing heat
What is the tubehead seal?
The aluminum or leaded-glass covering the tubehead that permits the exit of x-rays
What do the transformers do?
Alters the voltage of incoming electricity
What are the aluminum disks?
Sheets of 0.5 mm thick aluminum placed in the path of the x ray beam
What is the lead collimator?
Restricts the size of the x ray beam
What is the position-indication device?
Shapes the x ray beam, sometimes referred to as the cone
What is the x ray tube?
A vacuum tube that produces x rays so that the photons can travel uninterrupted
What is the leaded-glass housing?
Prevents (houses) x-rays from escaping in all directions and only escapes through the window
What is a cathode?
A negative electrode, consists of tungsten wire filament in a cup shaped holder made of molybdenum. Provides the electrons necessary to generate x rays
What is the tungsten filament?
Coiled wire made of tungsten, which produces electrons when heated
What is a molybdenum cup?
Focuses the electrons into a narrow beam and directs the beam across the tube toward the tungsten target of the anode
What is the anode?
A positive electrode consisting of wafer-thin tungsten plate embedded in a solid copper rod. Converts electrons into x ray photons, includes the tungsten target and the copper stem
What is the tungsten target?
A plate of tungsten, which serves as a focal spot and converts bombarding electrons into x-ray photons
What is the copper stem?
Dissipates the heat away from the tungsten target (copper is a good conductor)
