COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY - I

RAD 365

CT - Scan

Prepared By:
Ala’a Ali Tayem Abed
Computed Tomography Instrumentation
And Operation
 Outline
 CT System Components.
 Imaging System.
 Computer System .
 Display, Recording, And Storage Systems.
Phases Of CT Imaging
1. Scanning The Patient.
2. Data Acquisition.
 Multiple Attenuation Measurements Are Taken Around The Object.
3. Image Reconstruction.
4. Image Display.
5. Image Archival (Recording).
 Imaging System

Scanner:
• Gantry.
• Patient Couch.

Gantry Houses:
 X-ray Tube.
 Generator.
 Filter.
 Collimators.
 Detectors.

Patient Couch :
 450 Pounds (204 Kg) Distributed Weight Limit.
 Scannable Range: Coverage From Head To Thigh (162 Cm).
 CT Gantry External View

1. Gantry Aperture (70 cm

diameter).
2. Microphone.
3. Sagittal laser Alignment
Light.
4. Patient guide lights.
5. X-ray exposure indicator
light.
6. Emergency stop buttons.
7. Gantry control panels.
8. External laser alignment
lights.
9. Patient Couch.
 CT Gantry Control Panel

1. Gantry Tilt (+/-30

degrees).
2. Laser Alignment Lights
on/off.
3. Couch in/out.
4. Free (manual) Couch
Movement.
5. Zero Couch Position.
6. Couch up/down.
7. Home Button (couch out
& down).
 CT Gantry Internal View
1. X-Ray Tube.
2. Filters, Collimator.
4. X-Ray tube heat exchanger
(Oil Cooler).
5. High Voltage Generator
(0-75 kV)
6. Direct Drive Gantry Motor.
7. Rotation Control Unit.
8. Data Acquisition System
(DAS).
9. Detectors.
10. Slip Rings.
11. Detector Temperature
Controller
12. High Voltage Generator
(75-150 kV).
13. Power Unit (AC to DC).
 Gantry Characteristics
• Tilting Range, (Tilting Range Of Most Scanners +30 To -30 Degrees).
• Aperture, (Most Of The Scanners Have 70 cm Aperture).

70 CM
Tilting Of CT Scanner Gantry
1. X-ray Tube And X-Ray Production
The X-ray Tube Axis Is Positioned Perpendicular To The
Imaging Plane To Reduce The Heal Effect.
Anode Heal Effect
 Thermionic Emission

 Cathode ( - ) Its Consist Of Filament Heated Up To

At Least 2,200 Deg Celsius, To Liberate Electrons For
Transit To Anode.
 Cathode: Made Of Tungsten
 Anode ( + ) Made Of Tungsten And Molybdenum.

TUNGSTEN
TARGET

 Focal Spot- CT Utilizes Different Focal Spots.

 Small Focal Spot, And Large Focal Spot.
 Smaller Focal Spot – Sharper Image.
 The CT Large Focal Spot (1 mm).
 The CT Small Focal Spot (0.6 mm).
mA – Tube Current: The Number Of Electrons Flowing From Cathode To Anode.
kVp: Potential Difference Between Cathode And Anode, Kilo (Volts).
S: Time Of Exposure In Second.
mAs: Tube Current For Certain Length Of Time.
X-Ray Production Results In A Lot Of Heat And Very Little X-rays Being
Generated.

Heat Units Calculation

HU= kVp X mA X Time

Most CT Tubes Heat Capacity

3-5 Million HU
 Reduction Of Heat Units – Technique Compensation: kVp, mA, And Time Will
Increased Noise.
 kVp Range : 80 - 140.
 Too Low Of kVp: Increased Noise.
(Not Enough Penetration Of The Patient )

 Tube Voltage (kVp) Change:

Intensity
kVp
Energy

Noise

15% Increase Of kVp = 2 * mAs

Tube Current Change ( mA ):
Increasing Current Will Increase Intensity, And Energy – No Change.
Why Changing mA or time????
o Avoiding motion – time (Pediatric Technique Modification).
o Reducing Noise - mAs

NOISE MOTION
2. High Voltage Generator – (HVG)

 Generates High Voltage Potential Between Cathode And

Anode Of An X- Ray Tube.
 All CT Imaging System Operate On High Frequency
Power.
 A High – Frequency Generator Is Small, So It Can Be
Mounted On The Rotating Gantry.
 kVp Selection ( Tube Potential ): 80, 100, 120, 130,140.
 mA Selection ( Tube Current ): 20, 30, 50, 65, 100, 125,
150, 175, 200, 400, 500.
Thank You

Best Wishes For All