Biomedical Project

 Topic: X-rays
 What are X-ray's?
X-rays are a type of radiation called
electromagnetic waves. X-ray imaging creates
pictures of the inside of your body. The images
show the parts of your body in different shades
of black and white. This is because different
tissues absorb different amounts of radiation.
Calcium in bones absorbs x-rays the most, so
bones look white. Fat and other soft tissues
absorb less and look gray. Air absorbs the least,
so lungs look black.
The most familiar use of x-rays is checking for
fractures (broken bones), but x-rays are also
used in other ways. For example, chest x-rays
can spot pneumonia. Mammograms use x-rays
to look for breast cancer X-Rays or X-radiation
are a form of electromagnetic radiation.Most of
them have a wavelength ranging from 0.01 to 10
nanometres, corresponding to frequencies in the
range 3 × 1019 Hz to 3×1016 Hz and energies in
the range 100 eV to 100 keV.
 Different types of X-ray's:
 Principle of X-ray's
Some key principles of X-rays are:
• 1. X-rays are a type of electromagnetic radiation with high energy
and short wavelength.
• 2. X-rays are produced when high-speed electrons collide with a
metal target in a process called X-ray generation.
• 3. X-rays can penetrate through many materials, but their ability
to do so depends on the density and thickness of the material.
• 4. X-rays can be absorbed by dense materials like bones and teeth,
making them useful for medical imaging.
• 5. X-rays can also be scattered or reflected when they interact
with atoms in a process known as scattering.
• 6. X-rays can cause ionization in living tissues, which is why
protective measures are taken during X-ray procedures.
• 7. X-rays are used in various applications, including medical
diagnostics, airport security, and industrial inspections.
 Some basic principles are:
X-rays are a type of electromagnetic radiation (just like visible light).
There are three criteria that must be met to allow electromagnetic
radiation to be used for imaging purposes:
Ability to create to the electromagnetic radiation at the wavelength
required
Ability to focus the radiation on a particular area
Ability to detect the radiation once it has passed through the patient.
The radiation is created when an electric current is generated from a
high voltage generator. This causes electrons to “boil-off” from the
cathode end of an X-ray tube assembly. These electrons are emitted
from a filament on the cathode and rush towards a target material
known as the anode. This process is known as thermionic emission.
The electrons emitted by the cathode rush towards the anode, which
holds a disc made of tungsten. When the electrons collide with the
tungsten, several interactions occur at the atomic level. One of these
interactions causes electrons to be expelled from the outer orbits of the
atoms releasing a X-ray photon. Energy levels of the X-ray photon will
vary and can be adjusted when selecting a parameter known as kVP or
kilovolts peak.
 The figure is showing how x-rays are generated.

Fig: X-ray generated

 Application of X-ray's
• X-rays are electromagnetic radiation. These are well-known for their
ability to see through a person’s skin. These are also useful in revealing
the images of the bones.
• With the help of advanced technology we can produce more powerful and
focused X-ray. This powerful and focused X-ray led to many applications
like imaging teeny biological cells and structural components of materials
like cement and to killing cancer cells.
• Rather than using X-rays in medical imaging, we have many other
applications too.
• These are useful in diagnosis. With the help of X-rays we can view
structures of bone and it also helps to detect the breakage in human
bones.
• These are also useful for airport security. They are used as a scanner to
scan the luggage of passengers in airports and other places.
• Celestial objects emits these rays and is studied to understand the
environment.
• It is widely used to detect defects in the welds.
This picture shows the
application of X-ray's:
Some common application of X-ray's are:
• To minimize the absorption of low energy X-rays, hard X-ray are
useful. To prevent transmission of the lower energy a filter is
placed over the X-ray tube.
• The high atomic mass of calcium atoms in teeth and bones are
present. This helps to absorb X-ray, allowing most of the other
radiation to pass through the body.
• CT scans (Computer tomography), radiotherapy and fluoroscopy also
involve X-ray diagnostic techniques.
• These are also useful cancer treatments with therapeutic
techniques,
• These are useful for crystallography, astronomy, microscopy,
industrial radiography, spectroscopy, fluorescence and to implode
fission devices.
• This also have use in the creative field. It helps to create art and
also to analyze paintings.
• Banned uses of X rays include hair removal and shoe-fitting
fluoroscopes. These were popular in the 1920s.