X-Ray

magnification 400

Magnification and Blurring Effects for Radiographers and Radiologic Technologists (with Focal Spot Blur Formula)

Magnification occurs in x-ray imaging because the x-rays are divergent or spread out from the x-ray source. Therefore, the object will appear larger on the detector than the true object size. Magnification in radiography is defined as (Image Size/Object Size) and is equal to the (SID/SOD) which is the source to image distance divided by […]

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beamQuality 400

Beam Quality, Beam Quantity (mA, kVp, HVL) for Radiologic Technologist

Beam Quality describes the shape of the energy spectrum (i.e. the energy distribution of the x-rays) and beam quantity describes the total intensity of the spectrum (i.e. the area under the x-ray spectrum curve). In this post we describe the factors affecting beam quality including: kVp, target material, and pre-patient collimation. We also discuss the

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gonadShielding 400

5 reasons why Gonad Shielding will soon be extinct, and motivations for why it was introduced.

The motivation for gonad shielding is to reduce the hereditary specific risks of radiation, and it is still common practice at many institutions. The reasons that shielding will soon be phased out include: hereditary risk in humans has not been demonstrated even at high doses, the radiation doses have reduced greatly from the 1950s (orders

5 reasons why Gonad Shielding will soon be extinct, and motivations for why it was introduced. Read More »

X rayInteractions 400

X-Ray Interactions, Illustrated Summary (Photoelectric, Compton, Coherent) for Radiologic Technologists and Radiographers

The x-ray interactions are Photoelectric, Compton and Coherent. Photoelectric is mainly responsible for image contrast, Compton contributes to artifacts in the images, and Coherent scattering has little influence in most diagnostic (x-ray/CT) procedures. Overview of the Physics Behind X-Ray Interactions When x-rays interact with the human body during an x-ray exposure, they form an image

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X rayWaveProperites 400

X-Ray Properties (Energy, Wavelength, Inverse Square Law) For Radiologic Technologists

Basics of x-ray properties for radiographers and radiologic technologists include: wave and particle models for x-rays, relationships between Energy, wavelength and frequency, and 1/R^2 effect. Radiation Radiation is energy emitted/transmitted as a wave or particle that travels through a medium (such as the air or a patient). A brief comparison of the different types of

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scatter 400

X-ray scatter (collimation, kVp, air gap, thickness, anti-scatter grids) factors every technologist should know.

X-ray scatter due to Compton Scatter generates background haze in x-ray images and there is a desire to reduce the scatter impact on image quality. X-ray scatter depends on several physical factors including: body habitus (increases with increased habitus), kVp, collimation (increases with increased kVp), air gap (decreases with increased air gap), and anti-scatter grids

X-ray scatter (collimation, kVp, air gap, thickness, anti-scatter grids) factors every technologist should know. Read More »

digitalDetectors 400

Digital X-ray Imaging [Dels, Matrix Size, Bit Depth , Dynamic Range, Sampling Frequency]

The basic concepts of digital x-ray detectors are covered including the important concepts. Digital detectors are separated into small individual components termed detector elements (DELs), and the size of individual DELs is referred to as the pixel pitch. Whereas the matrix size is the number of DELs in each direction on the detector. The signal

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x rayGeneration 400

X-ray Generation, pictorial Guide [Bremsstrahlung, Characteristic]

X-ray tubes used in diagnostic X-ray exams all use the same physical principles including: thermionic emission (boiling off electrons), accelerating electrons by a kiloVoltage potential (kVp), and two physical interactions contribute to x-ray generation: bremstraalung (braking radiation), and characteristic radiation (peaks in energy spectrum). The output x-ray distribution as a function of energy is termed

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