12/06-W2k-Wie
Operating instructions 554839
1 Description
Model of blood vessels for demonstrating the effect of contrast
media. Consisting of a plastic plate with covered channels. The
contrast medium can be injected via tube connections from
outside the x-ray device while the x-ray tube is switched on.
The ingress of the contrast medium can be observed on the
fluorescent screen of the x-ray device. By variation of the
distance, enlargement effects can be demonstrated.
2 Scope of delivery
Plate with model of blood vessels on a magnetic base
Dimensions:
Tube, 2m
2 plastic syringes
2 stoppers
also required
Potassium iodide, 100 g 672 6610
3 Principle
During x-ray investigations of living creatures, on first sight only
the bones are clearly visible, because on account of their
composition, they absorb a considerable amount of the x-rays.
The imaging and distinction of individual organs is a lot more
difficult because they usually have an x-ray absorption very
similar to that of the surrounding tissue. A gall bladder or
kidney is not visible on the x-ray image, likewise the coronary
arteries
The way out of this is to fill the organs to be recorded in the x-
ray image with a strongly absorbing material. Such a material is
called a contrast medium because in the x-ray image it ensures
clear contrast between the investigated organ and the other
tissues.
Model of blood vessels for contrast medium
(554 839)
Elements with a high atomic number Z are particularly suitable
for this, provided they are available in a form which is not toxic.
Many elements are excluded on account of the toxicity of their
compounds, and essentially there are only two groups of
substances which are in practical use.
There is non-soluble barium sulphate which can be drunk in the
form of a suspension and is used for imaging the digestive tract
while it moves through it.
Other organs such as the kidneys or the gall bladder can only
be filled with a contrast medium from the outside with great
difficulty. For this reason an attempt was made to find a
contrast medium which can be injected into the bloodstream
and which is then excreted by either the kidneys or the liver.
Most usually iodine compounds are used for such purposes as
they are biologically relatively harmless compared to
compounds made up of heavier elements. Typically, contrast
media based on tri-substituted aromatic iodine compounds are
used. Depending on the remaining side chains, one
distinguishes between ionic and non-ionic contrast media which
have different pharmacokinetics. Some are preferably excreted
by the kidneys, others via the liver.
When imaging blood vessels, e.g. the coronary arteries, the
contrast medium is injected directly into the blood vessels, if
required via a catheter close to the organ, and it should then be
quickly excreted again.
Because for the model of blood vessels described here the
contrast medium only flows through plastic tubes and between
plastic plates, a simple and cheap iodine compound such
potassium iodide can be used instead of the tri-substituted
aromatic iodine compounds for use with people.
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4 Preparation for the experiment full syringe the iodide solution is injected until it visibly rises
through the x-ray image.
Dissolve approx. 25 g of potassium iodide in 50 g water and fill
one of the two syringes with it.
The solubility of potassium iodide is 72 g in 50 g of water. In
order to prevent crystallisation a 50 % solution is used.
The solution can be used straight away. Initially the solution will
not include any free iodine, but only iodide and therefore it is
clear. Over a few days free iodine also forms which colours the
solution an intensive yellow and will also dye syringes and
tubes yellow as well as chemically attach to them. For this
reason the setup must be flushed with water after the end of
the experiment.

5 Carrying out the experiment

During the experiment it must be ensured when inserting and
removing tubes through the channel of the x-ray device that the
tubes are closed by means of the appropriate stopper. If any
liquid escapes, the power supply is to be cut off IMMEDIATELY
and the device is to be taken out of use. Only then may the
device be cleaned. If a considerable quantity of iodine solution
has escaped into the device, it is best to send it to the
manufacturer for cleaning.
On the inside of the vessel model 2 mm deep channels have
been cut, as shown in the figure, through which the contrast
medium flows.
Note: The model of blood vessels has similar cut structures as
the one shown in the figure.
In the figure several air bubbles which formed during the
process are also visible.
For comparison purposes the experiment can also be carried
out using water which does not possess any particular x-ray
absorption properties.
At the end of the experiment the blood vessel model is emptied
in the reverse of the filling procedure and then the syringes are
removed from the tubes. After closing the two tubes with
stoppers they are pulled back through the channel and
removed from the blood vessel model. If the blood vessel
model is to be stored for some time, it must first be flushed
several times with water so that any iodide residues are
removed.

In addition to the actual function of the contrast medium, the

geometric optics of the shadow can also be demonstrated. The
closer the blood vessel model is located to the point x-ray
source, the more the image of the blood vessels is enlarged on
the fluorescent screen. However, because the focal spot on the
x-ray anode has a finite size, the image increasingly loses its
crispness.

At the beginning of the experiment remove the collimator.

Place the model of vessels into the experimentation chamber
and lead the tubes closed with stoppers through the channel of
the x-ray device to the outside. On the outside two syringes are
connected as follows: one empty syringe to the tube from the
upper connection of the model and the syringe filled with iodide
solution to the tube connected to the lower connection of the
blood vessel model.
After the x-ray device has been switched on and the room has
been darkened, the actual experiment can be started. By in
turn pulling the empty syringe and, if required, squeezing the

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