RADIATION

PHYSICS

MEYNARD Y. CASTRO, RRT

License No: 0011644
X-RAY TUBE
 X-RAY TUBE

A special type of diode (anode & cathode)

It converts electrical energy to
electromagnetic energy

DIODE
Any tube with two electrodes
 EXTERNAL COMPONENTS

SUPPORT STRUCTURE
PROTECTIVE HOUSING
GLASS/METAL ENCLOSURE
 SUPPORT STRUCTURE

CEILING SUPPORT
• It consists of two
perpendicular sets of
ceiling-mounted rails
• Most frequently used
• It allows both
longitudinal &
transverse travel of
the x-ray tube
 SUPPORT STRUCTURE

FLOOR-TO-CEILING
SUPPORT
• It consists a single
column with rollers at
each end
• The x-ray tube slides
up & down the column
as the column rotates
 SUPPORT STRUCTURE

C-ARM SUPPORT
SYSTEM
• C-shaped & ceiling
mounted system
• It provides for very
flexible x-ray tube
positioning
• Variations: L-arm or
U-arm
 TAKENOTE!!!

PREFERRED DETENT
POSITION
When x-ray tube is centered
above the examination table at
the standard SID
 PROTECTIVE HOUSING

Lead-lined metal container into

which the x-ray tube is fitted

TAKENOTE!!!
Properly Designed: reduces level of leakage
radiation to less than 100 mR/hr at 1m
PROTECTIVE HOUSING
 TAKENOTE!!!
ISOTROPIC EMISSION
Emission with equal intensity in all directions

LEAKAGE RADIATION
X-rays that escape through protective
housing

USEFUL BEAM/PRIMARY RADIATION

X-rays emitted through the window
 THREE FUNCTIONS

• Insulator against electric shock

• Thermal cushion to dissipate
heat
• Mechanical support for the
tube & protect it from damage
caused by rough handling
 WINDOW

A thin section of a
glass/metal envelope
through which useful
beam emerges
• Size: 5 cm2
 GLASS/METAL ENCLOSURE

It contains the x-ray tube

& its components
 GLASS ENCLOSURE

PYREX GLASS
Able to withstand tremendous heat
generated

DISADVANTAGES
More likely to fail
Lesser tube life
 METAL ENCLOSURE

Maintain constant electric potential between

the electrons of the tube current & the
enclosure

ADVANTAGES
Less likely to fail
Longer tube life
INTERNAL COMPONENTS

CATHODE
FILAMENT
FOCUSING CUP

ANODE
TARGET
 CATHODE

The negative side of

the x-ray tube

2 Primary Parts
filament & focusing
cup
 FILAMENT
• A coil of wire that emits
electrons when it is
heated
• Made of thoriated
tungsten
– Additional 1-2%
thorium:
• Enhances the efficiency
of thermionic emission
• Prolongs tube life
 FILAMENT

• Tungsten: Z=74;
melting point=3410o
C
– Provides higher
thermionic emission
– Does not vaporize
easily
– If vaporized, can
cause arcing & can
lead to tube failure
TAKENOTE!!!
 TAKENOTE!!!

The x-ray tube current is

adjusted by controlling the
filament current!
 FOCUSING CUP

Metal shroud that

surrounds the filament

It serves as a GRID
(exposure switch) in
grid-controlled x-ray tube
FOCUSING CUP
 SPACE CHARGE
Cloud of electrons

SPACE CHARGE EFFECT

A phenomenon of the space charge that
makes it difficult for subsequent electrons
to be emitted by filament because of
electrostatic repulsion
 SATURATION CURRENT
Filament current that
has risen to its
maximum value
because all available
electrons have been
used

X-ray tube at Saturation

Current: emission limited
 FOCAL SPOT

• A region of the anode

target in which electrons
interact to produce x-rays
• The actual x-ray source
• Sizes: small (0.1-1
mm)/large (0.3-2 mm)
• Shapes: circular
(preferred)/double banana
 FOCAL SPOT
SMALL FOCAL SPOT LARGE FOCAL SPOT
Used when small body Used when large body parts
parts are image are imaged
Used when better spatial
resolution is required Associated with the large
Associated with the small filament
filament
Limiting Factor:
the heating of the target is
concentrated onto smaller
area
 ANODE
The positive side of the
x-ray tube
It conducts electricity,
radiates heat & contains
the target
2 Types:
– Stationary
– Rotating
 STATIONARY ANODE

It is used when high

tube current & power
are not required

APPLICATION:
Dental x-ray imaging system
Portable x-ray imaging
system
 ANODE
3 Most Common Anode
Materials
Copper (Cu-29),
Molybdenum (Mo-42) &
Graphite

Mo & Graphite
Lower mass density than
tungsten
Make anode lighter & easier to
rotate
TAKENOTE!!!
 STATIONARY ANODE

used when high tube system

current & power are
not required

APPLICATIONS
Dental x-ray imaging
system
Portable x-ray imaging
 ROTATING ANODE

Allows the electron

beam to interact with
a much larger target
area

3,600-10,000 rpm
 TAKENOTE!!!
• Most rotating anode – 3400 rpm
• High capacity x-ray tube – 10,000 rpm
 TARGET
The area of the anode
struck by the electrons
from the cathode

• Stationary: tungsten
alloy embedded in the
copper anode
• Rotating: entire
rotating disk
 TARGET
• Alloying the tungsten
with RHENIUM
– Added mechanical
strength to withstand
stresses (high-speed
rotation) &
– The effects of high
repetitive expansion &
contraction
• Mammographic
Targets: Mo (Z=42) &
Rh (Z=45)
 TUNGSTEN (Z=74)

The material of
choice for the
target
 3 MAIN REASONS
ATOMIC NUMBER (Z)
high Z results in high efficiency x-ray production &
high energy x-rays
THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY
efficient material for dissipating heat
HIGH MELTING POINT
can stand up under high tube current w/o pitting or
bubbling (W=3410o C compared with Cu=3000 o C)
 ANODE STEM

The shaft between the

anode & the rotor

COMPOSITION
Molybdenum
poor heat conductor
 ELECTROMAGNETIC
INDUCTION MOTOR
used to turn the
anode

2 PRINCIPAL PARTS
Stator & Rotor
 ELECTROMAGNETIC
INDUCTION MOTOR

STATOR
Located outside the
enclosure
Stationary coil
windings
(electromagnets)
 ELECTROMAGNETIC
INDUCTION MOTOR

ROTOR
Located inside the
glass envelope
Rotating part (shaft)
 TAKENOTE!!!

COAST TIME
Time it takes the rotor to rest after
use (approximately 60 s)
 LINE FOCUS PRINCIPLE

Design incorporated
into x-ray tube targets

Allows large area for

heating while
maintaining a small
focal spot
 LINE FOCUS PRINCIPLE

DIAGNOSTIC X-RAY
TUBE TARGET
5-20o

TAKENOTE!!!
Radiation field coverage
increases with increasing
target angle
 LINE FOCUS PRINCIPLE

RESULT
effective focal spot
much smaller than
the actual focal spot
 LINE FOCUS PRINCIPLE
EFFECTIVE FOCAL
SPOT/EFFECTIVE TARGET
AREA
The area projected onto the
patient & image receptor

ACTUAL FOCAL SPOT

The area on the anode target
that is exposed to electrons
from the tube current
 LINE FOCUS PRINCIPLE

ADVANTAGES
Improves spatial
resolution
Improves heat
capacity
 LINE FOCUS PRINCIPLE

LIMITING FACTOR
the ability of the cone of
x-rays produced to
adequately cover the
largest field size used
 LINE FOCUS PRINCIPLE

As the target angle

decreases, the
effective focal spot
size also decreases
 LINE FOCUS PRINCIPLE

RADIATION EFFECTIVE
TARGET SPATIAL
FIELD FOCAL SPOT HEEL EFFECT
ANGLE RESOLUTION
COVERAGE SIZE

INCREASE INCREASE INCREASE POOR DECREASE

DECREASE DECREASE DECREASE IMPROVE INCREASE

 TAKENOTE!!!

SMALL FOCAL SPOT

Need to produce SHARP IMAGE

LARGE FOCAL SPOT

Need to tolerate HIGH HEAT LOADING
 ANODE HEEL EFFECT

Consequence of line
focus principle

Absorption of x-rays
in the heel of the
target
TAKENOTE!!!
 ANODE HEEL EFFECT

RADIATION EFFECTIVE
TARGET SPATIAL
FIELD FOCAL SPOT HEEL EFFECT
ANGLE RESOLUTION
COVERAGE SIZE

INCREASE INCREASE INCREASE POOR DECREASE

DECREASE DECREASE DECREASE IMPROVE INCREASE

 ANODE HEEL EFFECT
ANODE SIDE CATHODE SIDE
DECREASE INTENSITY INCREASE INTENSITY

THIN STRUCTURE THICK STRUCTURE

DECREASE EFFECTIVE INCREASE EFFECTIVE

FOCAL SPOT SIZE FOCAL SPOT SIZE

DECREASE FOCAL SPOT INCREASE FOCAL SPOT

BLOOMING BLOOMING
 EXTRAFOCAL X-RAYS

OFF FOCUS
RADIATION

X-rays produced in
the anode but not at
the focal spot
 EXTRAFOCAL X-RAYS

EFFECTS
Increases skin dose

Reduces image contrast

Exposure of tissue that

was intended to be
excluded by collimator
 EXTRAFOCAL X-RAYS
GEOMETRIC
SOLUTIONS
Designing a fixed
diaphragm in the tube
housing near the window
of the x-ray tube

Metal enclosure x-ray

tube
 X-RAY TUBE FAILURE
INCREASED BY DECREASED BY
• Minimum radiographic
factors
– kVp
– mA EXCESSIVE
– Exposure time
HEAT
• Faster image
receptors
TAKENOTE!!!
THREE WAYS OF HEAT
DISSIPATION

RADIATION
CONVECTION
CONDUCTION
 THREE WAYS OF HEAT
DISSIPATION

RADIATION CONDUCTION
The transfer of heat The transfer of
by the emission of energy from one
infrared radiation area of an object to
another
THREE WAYS OF HEAT
DISSIPATION

CONVECTION
The transfer of heat
by movement of
heated substance
from one place to
another
 CAUSES OF TUBE FAILURE
Long exposure time
A single excessive causes excessive
exposure heating of the anode
Causes damage to the
Causes pitting & cracking bearings on the rotor
assembly

Causes warping &

rotational friction of the
anode
CAUSES OF TUBE FAILURE

Vaporization of the
filament

Causes tungsten to coat

the glass/metal enclosure

Causes arcing
 X-RAY TUBE RATING
CHART
It guides & aids the radiographer in
using x-ray tubes & acceptable
exposure levels to maximize x-ray
tube life
 THREE TYPES
RADIOGRAPHIC RATING CHART
ANODE COOLING CHART
HOUSING COOLING CHART
 RADIOGRAPHIC RATING
CHART
Most important

It conveys which
radiographic
techniques are safe &
unsafe for x-ray tube
operation
 ANODE COOLING CHART

Used to determine the

thermal capacity of an
anode & its heat
dissipation
characteristics
 ANODE COOLING CHART

Used to determine the

length of time
required for complete
cooling after any level
of heat input
 HOUSING COOLING CHART

Used precisely in the

same way as anode
cooling chart

COMPLETE
COOLING
1-2 hrs
THERMAL/HEAT ENERGY
SINGLE-PHASE
HU = kVp x mA x s
THREE-PHASE 6 PULSE
HU = 1.35 x kVp x mA x s
THREE-PHASE 12 PULSE
HU = 1.41 x kVp x mA x s
HIGH FREQUENCY
HU = 1.45 x kVp x mA x s
 THERMAL/HEAT ENERGY
• SI Unit: calories
• British Unit: joules
• X-ray Applications: heat units (HU)
• 1 HU = 1 kVp x 1 mA x 1 s
• 1 HU = 1.4 J (3Ǿ, HF)
• 1 J = 0.7 HU (3Ǿ, HF)
 ‘’PASSING the
BOARD EXAM is
your main purpose
to LEARN’’

-THE END-