Quinnipiac University Diagnostic Imaging

RS 240L
Lab #9
Intensifying Screen Speeds
Name: Karen Finn
Objective: Observe the relationship between mAs and relative screen speed on the
density of the processed radiographic image.
Equipment Used
The equipment that was used during this lab was the portable x-ray, a clock, three film
holders: non-screen vinyl film holder; 100 speed and 400 speed cassettes, and the dark
room, which included the processor with the feed tray.
Given
Non-screen holder= RSI 1
100 speed screen (extremity)= RSI 100
400 speed screen= RSI 400
Calculation:

Procedure:
The first step in the lab was to place the 14 by 17 cassette on the x-ray table with the
clock on the center of the cassette. The central ray was directed to the center of the clock
and the SID was adjusted to 40 inches. The light was collimated to an area slightly larger
than the clock. The kVp was set to 65 and the mAs was set to 4.5. The film was exposed
and processed. The film was then evaluated for density and penetration. For radiograph 2,
steps 1-5 were repeated using the 400-speed cassette and a new mAs was calculated. To
determine the new mAs the old RSI was multiplied by the old mAs and divided by the
new RSI. (100*4.5/400= 1.125) The new mAs came out to be 1.1 and the kVp was kept
the same. For radiograph 3, steps 1-5 were repeated using the non-screen cassette and a
new mAs was calculated. To determine the new mAs the old RSI was multiplied by the
old mAs and divided by the new RSI. The new mAs came out to be 450 and the kVp was
kept the same. Since the mAs does not go up that high only the calculations were done
for radiograph 3 there was no exposure.
Results / Discussion / Questions
1. Light is responsible for producing the image on the film in a cassette equipped
with intensifying screens, which reduces patient dose and reduces scatter.
2. Radiographic photons are responsible for producing the image on the film in a
film holder without an intensifying screen.
3. As the relative speed increases, the amount of exposure required to maintainthe
same density decreases. The faster the speed of the screen is the more it reduces
detail.