LECTURE 9

1. CARE AND PRECAUTION OF X-RAY TUBE

2. X-RAY TUBE AGING

KAAB
LESSON OBJECTIVES
At the end of the lesson, the student should be able to:-

 Discuss methods to extend x-ray tube life.

 Explain characteristics of x-ray tube damages with
due to aging process.
CARE AND PRECAUTION OF X-RAY TUBE

PURPOSE: TO EXTEND X-RAY TUBE LIFE

 1. WARM UP THE ANODE FOLLOWING
MANUFACTURER'S RECOMMENDATIONS.
 2. MINIMIZE FILAMENT BOOST (“PREP”) TIME.

 Current applied for too long will shorten filament

life and will lead to unstable operation.
 3. USE LOWER TUBE CURRENT (MA)

 The high filament current required to produce

high tube current (mA) will cause evaporation of
the tungsten from the filament and then, it will
be deposited on to the glass envelope.
 Whenever possible, use a lower mA station and a
longer exposure time to arrive at the desired
mAs.
 4. FOLLOW RATING CHARTS AND ANODE
HEATING/COOLING CURVES

 Operation beyond published ratings will result in

premature focal track wear or damage.
 Even moderate pitting of the focal track will result in
a fall-off in radiation output, because electrons from
the filament which strike on the target material
produce radiation that is mostly absorbed in the
surrounding target material.
 More severe melting, results in the liberation of
gasses from the target material which causes tube
instability.
 Excessive heat transfer from the target into the rotor
body will cause bearing failure or slow rotation which
will result in melts on the focal track.
5. LIMIT OPERATION TO 80% OF MAXIMUM SINGLE
EXPOSURE RATINGS

 Although higher power levels are both possible

and permitted, this reduction will help assure
long focal track life.
 Also, it will minimize the reduction in radiation
output associated with a roughened focal track.
6. DO NOT EXCEED ANODE THERMAL CAPACITY OR
DISSIPATION RATE OF THE TARGET

 The greatest danger is to heat flow into the

bearing structure.
 In addition, gasses may be emitted from the
various metals within the tube if the temperature
reached during clinical use is appreciably higher
than that used during the “outgassing” stage of
manufacture.
 If outgassing occurs during clinical use, the tube
will become unstable.
7. DO NOT MAKE HIGH MA EXPOSURES ON A COLD
TARGET

 Uneven expansion caused by thermal stress from

a high power exposure can result in a cracked
target.
 Do not assume that a “thermally relieved” target
design provides absolute protection.
 Always follow the recommended warm-up
procedure.
 The procedure may need to be repeated between
patients, if the “idle” time is long enough, in
addition to being performed at the beginning of
the work day.
8. AVOID LONG INTERVALS BETWEEN SPOT-FILMS

 Most systems provide for a “holdover” period of

up to approximately 25 seconds between spot-
films, during which the rotor is kept at high
speed before the rotor brake/reboost cycle is
allowed to occur.
 In some systems, the filament current remains at
the exposure value during this period, thereby
causing evaporation of filament material and
resultant tube instability.
 9. LIMIT ROTOR START/STOP OPERATIONS

 Rotor start/stop operations especially to/from

high speed (150/180 Hz) generate considerable
heat in the stator windings, which will lead to
stator damage in extreme cases.
 Generally there should be a minimum of 30 to 40
seconds between starts.
 Tubes equipped with a heat exchanger will be
less sensitive to this potential problem because
oil circulation will help prevent hot spots from
occurring around the stator windings.
10. DO NOT ROTATE THE TUBE HOUSING RAPIDLY
FROM ONE POSITION TO ANOTHER.

 Sudden movement will produce tension or

pressure to the x-ray tube.
 The gyroscopic effect may crack or otherwise
damage the rotor.
X-RAY TUBE AGING
 1) DEPOSITION OF FILAMENT TUNGSTEN

 Deposition of filament tungsten to the internal

surface of the glass envelope will cause some
electrons strike the glass envelope (depositions of
filament tungsten creates new „anode target‟).
 Tungsten layer deposited at tube window will
add extra filtration, will harden the beam (less
useful x-ray will emit from tube window).
 2. PRODUCES GAS (GASSY TUBE)

 By the time, glass envelope that struck by

electrons produces gas (gassy tube) , which cause
tube failure due to x-ray tube is not vacuum
anymore.
 3. PUNCTURED TUBE

 A punctured tube can be diagnosed, as oil sucked

into the tube insert, when the tube is turned, can
easily be heard.
 4. CARELESS

 Careless handling might break the glass

envelope, stress fracture may occur (affect
vacuum condition).
 5. DAMAGES TO ANODE

1) Surface crazing (rough) - cause to different

expansion and reduce the radiation output.
2) Anode disc may crack - sudden injection of great
heat. (not apply warm up)
 6. DAMAGES TO ROTOR AND BEARINGS

• Bearing damage – cause to slow rotation / not

rotate. Due to surface melting, it will release
gas (gassy tube) because the heat applied to
small area.
• Recommendations:-
1. minimize time (as necessary only),
2. provide braking to reduce speed after exposure
(special unit),
3. interlock circuits prevent or terminate exposures if
anode is not rotating.
 7. DAMAGES TO FILAMENT

• Filament thin with age or time through

evaporisation or mechanical damage.
1) As filament becomes thinner (evaporisation), its resistance
decreases - reducing mA.
2) Intermittent (on and off) fault – problem on filament circuit
• Recommendations:-
1. boosting filament the shortest time as possible,
2. avoid use high mA unnecessarily.
 8. DAMAGES TO TUBE HOUSING

• Oil escape from tube will cause a reduction of

insulation level and it is harmful to operator.
• Evidences of leakage:-
1. oil outside the housing,
2. a spot of oil on the floor under the tube
 9. DAMAGES TO STATOR

• Broken in stator windings (which provide

electromagnetic field) will cause no or
intermittent rotation.
• As a result, it will harm to the anode target.
• Recommendation:-
1. provide safety circuit to terminate exposure.
NEXT LESSON..
 X-ray Circuits, Generators, High Tension Cables