X-ray Imaging System

Three Principal Parts of an X- ray Imaging System

1. x-ray tube
2. operating console
3. high-voltage generator

OPERATING CONSOLE

The part of the x-ray imaging system most familiar to the radiologic technologist is the operating console. The operating console allows the radiologic technologist to control the x-ray tube current and voltage so that the useful x-ray beam is of proper quantity and quality.

Radiation quantity refers to the number of x-rays or the intensity of the x-ray beam. Radiation quantity is usually expressed in milliroentgens (mR) or milliroentgens/milliampere-second (mR/mAs). Radiation quality refers to the penetrability of the x-ray beam and is expressed in kilovolt peak (kVp) or, more precisely, half-value layer (HVL).

The operating console usually provides for control of line compensation, kVp, mA, and exposure time. Meters are provided for monitoring kVp, mA, and exposure time. Some consoles also provide a meter for mAs. Imaging systems that incorporate automatic exposure control (AEC) may have separate controls for mAs.

Most operating consoles are based on computer technology. Controls and meters are digital, and techniques are selected with a touch screen. Numeric technique selection is sometimes replaced by icons indicating body part, size, and shape. Many of the features are automatic, but the radiologic technologist must know their purpose and proper use.
Most x-ray imaging systems are designed to operate on 220 V power, although some can operate on 110 V or 440 V. Unfortunately, electric power companies are not capable of providing 220 V accurately and continuously.

Typical operating console to control an overhead radiographic imaging system. Numbers of meters and controls depend on the complexity of the console. (Courtesy General Electric Medical Systems.)

 
 
The line compensator measures the voltage provided to the x-ray imaging system and adjusts that voltage to precisely 220 V. Older units required technologists to adjust the supply voltage while observing a line voltage meter. Today's x-ray imaging systems have automatic line compensation and hence have no meter.
 

AUTOTRANSFORMER

The power supplied to the x-ray imaging system is delivered first to the autotransformer. The voltage supplied from the autotransformer to the high-voltage transformer is controlled but variable. It is much safer and easier to control a low voltage and then increase it than to increase a low voltage to the kilovolt level and then control its magnitude.

The autotransformer works on the principle of electromagnetic induction but is very different from the conventional transformer. It has only one winding and one core. This single winding has a number of connections along its length.

 

AUTOTRANSFORMER LAW

V sub S over V sub P equals N sub S over N sub P
  • where
  • Vp =the primary voltage
  • Vs =the secondary voltage
  • Np =the number of windings enclosed by primary connections
  • Ns =the number of windings enclosed by secondary connections 

Adjustment of Kilovolt Peak (kVp)

Some older x-ray operating consoles have adjustment controls labeled major kVp and minor kVp; by selecting a combination of these controls, the radiologic technologist can provide precisely the required kilovolt peak. The minor kilovolt peak adjustment “fine tunes” the selected technique. The major kilovolt peak adjustment and the minor kilovolt peak adjustment represent two separate series of connections on the autotransformer.

Control of Milliamperage (mA)

The x-ray tube current, crossing from cathode to anode, is measured in milliamperes (mA). The number of electrons emitted by the filament is determined by the temperature of the filament.


Filament circuit for dual-filament x-ray tube.




The filament temperature is in turn controlled by the filament current, which is measured in amperes (A). As filament current increases, the filament becomes hotter and more electrons are released by thermionic emission. Filaments normally operate at currents of 3 to 6 A.
A correction circuit has to be incorporated to counteract the space charge effect. As the kVp is raised, the anode becomes more attractive to those electrons that would not have enough energy to leave the filament area. These electrons also join the electron stream, which effectively increases the mA with kVp.

Thermionic emission is the release of electrons from a heated filament.

The product of x-ray tube current (mA) and exposure (s) is mAs, which is also electrostatic charge (C).

Filament Transformer

The full title for this transformer is the Filament Heating Isolation Step-down Transformer. It steps down the voltage to approximately 12 V and provides the current to heat the filament. Because the secondary windings are connected to the high voltage supply for the x-ray tube, the secondary windings are heavily insulated from the primary.




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