X Ray

An early x-ray by Wilhem Rontgen
Wikipedia. “ X-Ray.” Wikipedia, pgs 1-17. Retrieved from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X-ray

W
F
Wavelength x Frequency = Speed of light
Engineering World Health (2015), Great X-Ray Presentation. Retrieved from library.ewh.org
Electromagnetic Spectrum
NASA (2007). Electromagnetic Spectrum [image]. Retrieved from

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:EM_Spectrum_Properties_edit.svg
ENERGY
Ability to penetrate
Shorter wavelength, higher energy
Higher frequency, higher energy

X-ray Characteristics
Travel in straight line
Cannot be focused to a point
Differentially absorbed
Cause fluorescence
Harmful to living tissue
X-ray Characteristics
High energy waves
No mass
No charge (neutral)
Travel at speed of light
Invisible
X-ray Machine
• Tubehead
• Support arms
• Control panel
Strengthening Specialised Clinical Services in the Pacific. User Care of Medical Equipment: A
first line maintenance guide for end users. (2015).
X-ray Tube
Daniel W. Rickey, Typical Rotating anode X-ray Tube [photograph]. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X-
ray_tube#/media/File:Rotating_anode_x-ray_tube_(labeled).jpg
X-ray Tube
A- Anode
C- Cathode
T- Anode Target
W- X Ray Window
ChumpusRex (2006). Simplified schematic of a x-ray tube in housing [image]. Retrieved from
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Xraytubeinhousing_commons.png
Thermionic Emission
Release of electrons from hot filament
when current flows after depressing
exposure switch
Deglr6328 (2007), Thermionic filament [photograph].

Retrieved from
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Thermionic
_filament.jpg
The hotter the filament gets, the greater the number

of electrons that are released.
Anode
Dental x-ray machines have stationary anode
side view front view
Target
Copper stem Target
Medical Radiography
Anode (blue
edge is
tungsten)
Filament/
Electron beam strikes Focusing Cup
target in this area only
Engineering World Health (2015), Great X-Ray Presentation.
Retrieved from library.ewh.org
Tungsten
(Filament and Target)
• High atomic number (Z=74)

• Transfers heat readily
• High melting point (3422º C)
• Can be drawn into fine wire
Line Focus Principle
The smaller the focal spot (target), the

sharper the image (teeth) will be.
During x-ray production, a lot of heat is

generated. If the target is too small, it will
overheat and burn up.
Target
Anode
(+)
Cathode
(-)
Apparent (effective)
focal spot size
Actual focal
spot size
PID
Engineering World Health (2015), Great X-Ray Presentation.
Retrieved from library.ewh.org
Actual focal spot size Apparent (effective) focal

(looking perpendicular spot size (looking at target
to the target surface) surface through PID)
PID
X-ray Machine Components
X-ray
Control Panel Tubehead
110, 220 line Timer
Exposure switch
mA selector Step-down transformer
kVp selector Step-up transformer
Autotransformer X-ray Tube
Wires
Oil
60-cycle Alternating Current
+ 110, 220
positive
- 110, 220
negative
Direct Current (Constant Potential): 800 cycles/sec.
1/60
Number of Impulses Seconds

=
60
60 impulses/60 = 1.0 second

Exposure Switch
Allows current to flow to complete high and

low voltage circuits.
Indicator light and sound
You cannot overexpose by holding
the exposure switch down too long!
mA setting
OFF 10mA 15mA
milliAmpere (mA) selector

Filament current
Step-Down Transformer
110 volt 3 – 5 volts
Filament Circuit
Step-Down Transformer
Primary
current flow
110 volts
current flow
3-5 volts
Secondary
kiloVolt peak (kVp) selector
kVp control
kVp readout
Autotransformer
Controls voltage between
anode and cathode
Regulated by kVp selector

(Similar to a rheostat)
Autotransformer
110 V
current flow
65
80 V
Engineering World Health (2015), Great X-Ray Presentation. Retrieved
Step-Up Transformer
65 - 90 V 65,000 - 90,000 V
(65 kVp - 90 kVp)
kVp = kiloVoltage peak
Step-Up Transformer
Primary
current flow
110 volts
current flow
Secondary
65,000 to
90,000 volts
X-ray Machine Components
oil
filament filter
exposure
button
kVp
3-5 volts
65-90 volts
filament
<110 volts
110 volts
65,000 to
90,000 volts
X-ray Production
3
Exposure Factors
• kVp
• mA
• Exposure time
kVp (kiloVolt peak)
Number of X-rays
90 kVp
70 kVp
maximum energy
70 90
average energy
X-ray Energy (keV)
Increasing kVp results in:
• Higher average energy of x-rays
• Greater maximum energy x-rays
• More x-rays
mA (milliamperes)
Number of X-rays
10 mA
5 mA
maximum energy
(no change)
70
average energy X-ray Energy (keV)
(no change)
Exposure time
Number of X-rays
10 impulses
5 impulses
maximum energy
(no change)
70
average energy X-ray Energy (keV)
(no change)
Increasing mA or Exposure
Time results in:
• An increase in the number of
x-rays produced
• No change in the energy of the

x-ray beam
mAs or mAi
milliamperes (mA) x seconds (s)
milliamperes (mA) x impulses (i)
60 impulses = 1 second
10 mA x .5 seconds = 5 mAs
20 mA x .25 seconds = 5 mAs
mAi = 60 x mAs
Collimation
Regulates the size and/or shape of
the x-ray beam
area covered (less patient

exposure)
scatter radiation
Scatter Radiation
primary x-ray
scattered x-ray
Collimation
front views side view
collimated
collimator beam
target
(x-ray source)
2.75 inches (7 cm) = maximum diameter of circular beam or maximum

length of long side of rectangular beam at end of PID.
Quality
average energy
Quantity
number of x-rays
Inverse Square Law
The intensity of radiation varies
inversely as the square of the*target-film
distance
* target = source, focal spot, focus
Inverse Square Law
2
D KI
X KI = UI
D UI
2
1 1
=
10 100
1 X 100 = 1
100
Questions?

X Ray

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An early x-ray by Wilhem Rontgen

Wikipedia. “ X-Ray.” Wikipedia, pgs 1-17. Retrieved from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X-ray

NASA (2007). Electromagnetic Spectrum [image]. Retrieved from

Shorter wavelength, higher energy

Higher frequency, higher energy

Deglr6328 (2007), Thermionic filament [photograph].

The hotter the filament gets, the greater the number

side view front view

• High atomic number (Z=74)

The smaller the focal spot (target), the

During x-ray production, a lot of heat is

Actual focal spot size Apparent (effective) focal

Direct Current (Constant Potential): 800 cycles/sec.

Number of Impulses Seconds

30 impulses/60 = 0.5 second

15 impulses/60 = 0.25 second

Allows current to flow to complete high and

OFF 10mA 15mA

milliAmpere (mA) selector

110 volt 3 – 5 volts

Regulated by kVp selector

• Greater maximum energy x-rays

• An increase in the number of

• No change in the energy of the

area covered (less patient

2.75 inches (7 cm) = maximum diameter of circular beam or maximum

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