Final Exam - Principles of X-ray Equipment

The fixer dissolves unexposed silver halide crystals, preserving the image by removing them from the film. It prevents further development and ensures only exposed crystals remain to form the image.

Mammographic films are specifically designed for high-contrast and spatial resolution imaging of breasts. The higher resolution allows for the detection of small abnormalities in breast tissue.

The polyester base provides structural support for the emulsion layer of the film. Typical thickness is crucial for handling and processing.

The protective layer shields the emulsion from scratches, dust, and other forms of mechanical damage. It ensures the image quality is maintained.

Silver halide crystals are converted into metallic silver during development. This process forms visible black areas on the film, representing the image.

Developing removes unexposed silver halide crystals, leaving behind the metallic silver that forms the image. It stops the development process and preserves the image.

Washing removes excess developer and fixer chemicals from the film. It ensures a clear, stable, and long-lasting radiographic image.

An increase in negative ions inside the chamber of a pocket dosimeter means the fiber inside will gain a more positive charge.

The order of these filters from the source to the film is (1) Open Window, (2) Copper filter, (3) Aluminum Oxide, (4) Imaging filter, (5) Tin Filter.

The thickness and grain size of the emulsion layer are the primary factors determining the sensitivity of radiographic films. A thicker emulsion with smaller grain size generally results in higher sensitivity, allowing for shorter exposure times.

Computed Radiography (CR) uses photostimulable phosphor plates for imaging. These plates store the X-ray energy and release it as visible light when stimulated by a laser beam. This light is then captured by a digital detector and processed to create an image.

The adhesive layer in radiographic film acts as a glue, bonding the emulsion layer to the base. This ensures that the emulsion stays attached to the film and doesn't detach during the development process.

The speed of a receptor is directly related to its sensitivity. A faster receptor is more sensitive, meaning it requires less radiation to produce a satisfactory image.

Screen-film radiography uses intensifying screens to convert X-rays to visible light, which is then captured by the film. The screens increase the sensitivity of the film by amplifying the signal.

The developer solution concentration affects the film's contrast, which is the difference in densities between the light and dark areas. A higher developer concentration generally results in higher contrast.

The fixer solution removes unexposed silver halides from the emulsion, leaving behind the exposed silver that forms the image. Different fixers vary in their effectiveness and speed.

Conventional radiography uses a cassette that contains the film and intensifying screens. The X-ray beam passes through the patient and exposes the film, creating an image.

Direct radiography uses a digital detector that converts X-rays directly into an electronic signal, eliminating the need for film or processing. It is a faster and more efficient imaging method.

The size and distribution of silver bromide (AgBr) crystals in a film determine its gamma, a measure of its contrast.

Scattering of photons is caused by the interaction of X-rays with the body. It reduces image contrast by blurring the image.

Increasing the accelerating voltage in an X-ray machine actually reduces the amount of scatter produced, improving image quality.

Pair production, the process of creating an electron-positron pair, requires an incident photon energy exceeding 1.02 MeV, the combined rest mass of the electron-positron pair.

It's a protective layer on a film that prevents damage to the emulsion layer.

The emulsion layer contains the silver halide crystals that are sensitive to X-rays. It's the part where the image is formed.

The polyester base provides structural support for the film. It's a flexible and durable base for the other layers.

Optical density (OD) is a measure of how much light is absorbed by a material. It's calculated as the logarithm of the ratio of incident light to transmitted light.

The transmitted light is the amount of light that passes through a film after being exposed to X-rays.

The linear attenuation coefficient (μ) represents the probability of an X-ray photon being absorbed per unit length. It's specific to a particular material.

The annual public dose limit is the maximum amount of radiation exposure that the general public is allowed to receive in a year. It is set to minimize the risk of adverse health effects from radiation exposure. This limit is generally based on International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) recommendations.

Geiger-Muller detectors are limited in their ability to provide information about the energy of the radiation they detect. They can only indicate the presence or absence of radiation, not its specific energy levels.

The primary function of an Ionization Chamber-Type Survey Meter (Cutie Pie) is to measure the radiation exposure rate in an environment. It quantifies how much radiation is present in a specific location.

A Cutie Pie detector can detect various types of radiation, including beta particles and gamma rays (and X-rays), but it is not sensitive enough to detect alpha particles.

The term "Cutie Pie" is a nickname for the Ionization Chamber-Type Survey Meter, a radiation detection instrument used for measuring radiation exposure rates.