Notebook Ten

Date: Occurrence:

November 8th, 1895 X-Rays were discovered by wilhelm

Roentgen.

March 3rd, 1896 X-ray injury to eyes

April 18th, 1896 Skin effects from x-ray are first noted

July 1896 X-ray protective apparel introduced

January 1898 Aluminum filter introduced

July 1898 Leaded x-ray tube housing introduced

May 1899 Listing of protective devices

1904 First death in x-ray pioneer - Dahly

(Edison's assistant)

1907 Mutation from x-rays seen in toads

1912 Half value layer concept introduced

1920 First standing x-ray protection committee

started

1922 First Film badges for personnel monitoring

1927 Genetic effects of x-rays shown

1937 Irving Langmuir patented the image

intensifier

1948 J.W. Coltman improved design so image

brightness increased by 1000%

1953 Westinghouse company manufactured first

commercial use image intensifier

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In a narrative, list and describe the terminology of basic visual physiology and determine its
importance in radiology image illumination.

There are two types of visions; Photopic and Scotopic. Photopic, daylight vision, is the current
way uoroscopy is seen. Scotopic is nigh me vision and being in a darkroom or wearing
goggles helps to see. There are two kinds of photoreceptors in eyes; Cones and Rods. Cones are
daylight vision and this is where colors are formed (red, blue, and green). Cones perceive small
objects and give us the ability to see detail. Cones can see varia ons in detail and is where
contrast percep on comes from. Rods are nigh me vision, scotopic, and are where dim objects
are viewed peripherally, not when you look at the object directly. When radiography used lm,
radiologist would need to go into a darkroom for a while to have their eyes adjust to the
darkness. This was their eyes would open up and they would be able to see detail while being in
the dark room. This vision would be ideal to look at radiographs and dis nguish anything
dierent from a diagnos c radiograph.

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Part A: Fluoroscopy Equipment Diagram:

Using the provided graphing templates, create a diagram of a fixed and mobile fluoroscopy
unit. Label with correct terminology.

Fixed Fluoroscopy

1. TV Camera
2. Pa ent
3. Tabletop
4. X-Ray Tube (source)
5. Image Intensier (detector)
6. Linear Collimator
7. C-Arm Mo on
8. Monitor
9. Source to Tabletop

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Mobile Fluoroscopy

1. Monitor
2. Video Camera
3. Optical Coupling
4. Image Intensifier
5. Grid
6. Patient
7. Table
8. Filtration
9. Collimator
10.X-Ray Tube
11. X-Ray Generator

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Part B: List all the components of mobile and fixed fluoroscopy, add a brief description of its
function or purpose.

Mobile Fluoroscopy Fixed Fluoroscopy

Monitor - Displays the anatomy being imaged Monitor - Displays the anatomy being imaged
for everyone in the room to see. This is also for everyone in the room to see. This is also
where you pull up the pa ent informa on to where you pull up the pa ent informa on to
get the exam started get the exam started

Video Camera - a aches to the image Video Camera - a aches to the image
intensica on tube output phosphor and has intensica on tube output phosphor and has
a display monitor for viewing the images a display monitor for viewing the images

Op cal Coupling - captures the incoming Op cal Coupling - captures the incoming
electrons from the image intensier and electrons from the image intensier and
releases them propor onately to the releases them propor onately to the
intensity of the incident light intensity of the incident light

Image intensier - Where x-ray photons are Image intensier - Where x-ray photons are
converted to light, then to electrons. converted to light, then to electrons.
Electrons are then displayed as an image of Electrons are then displayed as an image of
the anatomy being imaged. the anatomy being imaged.

Grid - Absorbs unwanted sca er radia on Grid - Absorbs unwanted sca er radia on

Pa ent Pa ent

Table- Where pa ent lays - made of Table- Where pa ent lays - made of
radiolucent material so x-rays can go through radiolucent material so x-rays can go through
it and hit the pa ent it and hit the pa ent

Filtra on - inherited ltra on - to get rid of Filtra on - inherited ltra on - to get rid of
unwanted, low energy photons (collimator) unwanted, low energy photons (collimator)
or you can add ltra on or you can add ltra on

Collimator - to collimate if necessary Collimator - to collimate if necessary

X-Ray tube - source of the x-ray photons X-Ray tube - source of the x-ray photons

X-ray generator - Where the energy source to X-ray generator - Where the energy source to
create x-ray photons comes from create x-ray photons comes from

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Part C: Describe the flow of electrons in a narrative or with bulleted statements beginning at
the source through the image intensifier.

1. The primary x-ray beam from the x-ray tube (below the pa ent) enters and exits the
pa ent
2. The primary x-ray beam then strikes the input screen of the image intensier tube. This
is a vacuum tube with an anode and cathode.
3. A uorescent screen is built into the image intensier as its input screen
4. That uorescent screen then absorbs the x-ray photons and emits light photons.
5. These light photons immediately encounter the photocathode (the cathode of the tube)
that is in contact with the input screen to prevent divergence of the light beam.
6. The photocathode then absorbs the light photons and emits electrons
7. The electrons then accelerate from the cathode to the anode and the output screen
a. The poten al dierence that exists between the cathode and anode allow these
electrons to accelerate towards the anode and output screen.
8. While all of this is going on, the electron beam is focused onto the output screen which
is much smaller than the input screen
a. Electrosta c lenses are used to accelerate and focus the electrons to the output
screen.
9. The primary brightness gain occurs from the accelera on and focusing of the electron
beam
10. The accelera on of the electron beam increases its energy and it's ability to emit light at
the output screen
a. Focusing of the electron beam intensies the image into a smaller area
11. The output screen then absorbs the electrons and emits light photons, which are then
available to view on a monitor hooked up to the equipment

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Create a chart using the Table below to compare Digital Fluoroscopy Equipment and Image
Intensified Fluoroscopic Equipment. Include information related to patient dose, contrast
resolution, spatial resolution, size of the component, distortion, tube mAs.

Digital Fluoroscopy Equipment Components Image Intensified Equipment Components

TFT and/or CCD Image intensier

Faster speed to acquire images Has a computer placed between the image
intensier and the viewing monitor - ADC

Ability to post process images to smooth There is a camera tube that splits the signal
edges between the recording system and the viewing
monitor

Has mul ple monitors for viewing Designed to electronically amplify the
brightness of an image - can increase
brightness by 500 - 8000 mes

Can be remotely controlled Input screen and photocathode - x-rays enter

through input screen and the photocathode
absorbs light photons and emits electrons

Inherently adds a signal-to-noise ra o, but More radia on to pa ent than digital

u lizes a process called pixel binning that
combines pixels and lowers noise

Smaller in size - less weight Lower contrast resolu on than digital

Distor on is not seen Electrosta c Lenses - Are used to accelerate

and focus the electrons towards the
anode/output screen

50% less radia on to pa ent

Wider dynamic range

Does not degrade with age

Higher DQU

Be er contrast resolu on

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