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- Top: Stationary Anode- the target is embedded in the anode
- Bottom: Rotating Anode- the target is the rotating disc
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S.I.D.
Source-to-Image Receptor Distance
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When the x-ray tube is centered above the examination table at the standard S.I.D., the x-ray tube is in a ___________ __________ position.
Preferred Detent position
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What are the three methods of supporting an x-ray tube?
- 1. Ceiling support
- 2. Floor support
- 3. C-arm support
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"With equal intensity in all directions."
- Isotropically
- When x-rays are produced, they are emitted ISOTROPICALLY, or with equal intensity in all directions.
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The x-rays emitted throught the window are called the:
Useful Beam
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X-rays that escape through the protective housing are called:
Leakage Radiation
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What is the purpose of the protective housing? (4)
- -Guards against excessive radiation exposure
- -Protects against electrocution
- -Provides mechanical support for the x-ray tube
- -Protects the tube from rough handling
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Properly designed housing reduces the level of leakage radiation to less than ______ at _____ when operated at maximum conditions.
Less than 1mGya / hr at 1 meter
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The x-ray tube is a special kind of ________ that contains two electrodes: the _______ and the _______.
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Early x-ray tube:
- Crookes Tube
- (not a vacuum)
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The modern x-ray tube:
- the Coolidge Tube
- (a vacuum tube)
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X-ray tubes are designed with a _______ or _______ eclosure.
Glass or Metal enclosure
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What type of tube enclosure maintains a constant electric potential between the electrons of the tube current & the enclosure.
Provides longer life & is less likely to fail.
Metal Enclosure Tubes
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Two ________ supply separate electron beams to produce two _______ spots.
Two FILAMENTS supply seperate electron beams to produce two FOCAL spots.
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The negative side of the x-ray tube:
the Cathode
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What are the two primary parts of the cathode?
a Filament & a Focusing Cup
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A coil of wire, similar to that in a toaster, but much smaller (approx. 2mm in diameter & 1 or 2cm long)
Filament
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An x-ray tube filament emits _________ when it is heated.
Electrons
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The addition of 1% to 2% of thorium to the tungsten filament ________ the efficiency of thermionic emission & _______ tube life.
- Enhances efficiency
- Prolongs tube life
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Emission of electrons from a heated surface
Thermionic emission
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When the current through the filament is sufficiently high, the outer-shell electrons of the filament atoms are "boiled-off" and ejected from the filament.
Thermionic Emission
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Filaments are usually made of:
Thoriated Tungsten
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What is the most common cause of tube failure?
Tungsten vaporization with deposition on the inside of the glass or metal enclosure
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The filament is embedded in a metal shroud called the:
Focusing Cup
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The focusing cup is _______ charged so that it electrostatically confines the electron beam to a small area of the anode.
Negatively charged
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Most rotating anode x-ray tubes have _____ filaments
Two
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What kind of x-ray tubes are designed to be turned on & off very rapidly?
Grid-Controlled tubes
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Part of the Cathode that emits electrons, resulting in a tube current:
Filament
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The x-ray tube current is adjusted by controlling the _________
Filament Current
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The relationship between filament current & x-ray tube current depends on the:
Tube Voltage
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Without a ______ ______, the electron beam is spread beyond the anode because of mutual electrostatic repulsion among the electrons.
Focusing Cup
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Electron cloud near the filament:
Space Charge
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Phenomenom of the space charge that makes it difficult for subsequent electrons to be emitted by the filament because of the electrostatic repulsion.
Space Charge Effect
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Filament current that has risen to its maximum value because all electrons have been used:
Saturation Current
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Type of Anode used in general purpose x-ray tubes, because it must be capable of producing high-intensity x-ray beams in a short time.
Rotating Anode
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When an x-ray tube is operated at the saturation current, it is said to be:
Emission Limited
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Small focal spot is used when better ______ _______ is required.
Spatial Resolution
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The ________ focal spot is used when large body parts are imaged
- Large Focal Spot
- Also used when techniques that produce high heat are required.
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What size of focal spot is used to image an ankle or a wrist?
Small focal spot
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At approx 400mA and up, only the _______ focal spot is allowed.
Large focal spot
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The positive side of the x-ray tube:
the Anode
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Which type of anode is used in general purpose x-ray tubes?
(capable of producing high-intensity x-ray beams in a short time)
Rotating Anode
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The side of the x-ray tube that conducts electricity & radiates heat and contains the target:
the Anode
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What are the three functions of the anode?
- 1. Electrical conductor
- 2. Provides mechanical support for the target
- 3. Thermal dissipater
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When the projectile electrons from the cathode interact with the anode, more than _______ of their kinetic energy is converted in to heat.
99%
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The area of the anode struck by the electrons from the cathode:
the Target
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In a rotating anode, the target is the:
Rotating Disc
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What is the material of choice for the target?
Tungsten
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What is the limiting factor to focal spot size?
As the size of the focal spot decreases, the heating of the target is concentrated on to a smaller area.
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The design incorporated in to x-ray tube targets to allow a large area for heating while a small focal spot is maintained;
Line Focus Principle
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The focal spot is the actual _______ source.
X-ray
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Diagnostic x-ray tubes have target angles that vary from approx:
5 to 20 degrees
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The smaller the anode angle, the ________ the heel effect.
Larger
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Absorption of x-rays in the heel of the target, resulting in reduced x-ray intensity to the anode side of the central axis:
the Heel Effect
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The imaginary line generated by the centermost x-ray in the beam:
Central Ray of the useful beam
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The difference in radiation intensity accross the useful beam of an x-ray field can vary as much as:
45%
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The heel effect is important when imaging anatomical structures that differ greatly in _______ or ________.
Thickness or Mass Density
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Positioning the ________ side of the x-ray tube over the thicker part of the anatomy provides a more uniform exposure.
Cathode side
caTHode over THicker area
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The heel effect results in ________ effective focal spot & ________ radiation intensity on the anode side of the x-ray beam.
- Smaller focal spot
- Less intensity
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X-rays produced in the anode but not at the focal spot:
Off-focus Radiation
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Off-focus radiation is reduced by:
A diaphragm in the tube housing near the window of the x-ray tube.
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What are the 3 ways an x-ray tube dissipates heat?
- Radiation- transfer of heat by emission of infrared radiation.
- Conduction- transfer of energy from one area of an object to another.
- Convection- transfer of heat by the movement of a heated substance from one place to another.
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Maximum radiographic techniques should never be applied to a _______ anode.
Cold
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The most frequent cause of abrupt tube failure is electron arcing from the filament to the enclosure because of:
Vaporized Tungsten
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3 reasons for x-ray tube failure:
- 1. A single excessive exposure
- 2. Long exposure time causes excessive heating of the anode
- 3. Vaporization of the filament causes tungsten to coat the enclosure & eventually causes arcing
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Produced after a filament is thinned until it eventually breaks after excessive heat by high mA operation for long periods:
- Open Filament
- (like a blown lightbulb)
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________ tube currents and ________ exposure times are possible with the rotating anode.
- HIGHER tube currents
- SHORTER exposure times
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