Notebook #11 Revisions

25

Notebook #11

1) Lead Housing
2) Glass Envelope
3) Negative High Voltage
4) Beam ofElectrons
5) Cathode
6) Focusing Cup
7) Filament
8) Tungsten Rotating Anode
9) Focal Spot/ Target
AC Current to Filament

X-ray Photons:

Circuit

10) Anode Heel Effect

11) Molybdenum Shaft
12) Bearings
13) Rotor (copper rod in rotor)
14) Stator
15) Positive High Voltage
16) Vacuum
L7)X- Ray Beam
18) Window

DC

Current through Tube:

-->

e 4----

Lead Housing: It surrounds the Glass Envelope, protects x-ray tube, and insulates x-ray
tube with special oil that is used for cooling and insulation purposes. It is a base for
attachments used by the Radiographer to move the tube and control the size and direction
of the x-ray beam. It includes shielding to absorb scattered radiation. It absorbs x-rays that
travel in other directions.

Notebook #11 Revisions

26

Glass Envelope: It is Pyrex glass that is able to handle high temperatures. It can sometimes
be made of metal, which has a longer life and helps to keep electrons focused. There is a
constant potential maintained. This envelope maintains a vacuum.

Vacuum: The glass envelope maintains this. The higher the tube life, the more efficient the
x-ray production. If there is any gas inside, there is lower x-ray production.

Window: It is a 5cm2 thin area of housing and tube enclosure. A useful beam exits here.
Cathode: This is the negative side of the tube. It has 2 filaments and a focusing cup. It
supplies separate electron beams and two focal spots.

Filament Coils of wire that are approximately 2mm in diameter and L-2 cm long. It is
made of thoriated tungsten. Tungsten has 3410'C melting point and does not easily
vaporize. It improves thermionic emission and has a higher tube life.
Focusing Cup: A metal cup thatthe filaments are embedded into. Surrounds filaments, and
it is usually side-by-side. It is negatively charged, and forces thermionically emitted
electrons close together. It does not allow them to spread apart. Dual focus x-ray tubes
have focusing cups with large and small filaments. It directs electrons toward the same
general area ofthe target.

Tungsten RotatingAnode: The positive side of the tube. It is an electrical conductor, and
receives electrons from the cathode, conducts them through to connecting cables and back
to the high voltage generator. It is a mechanical support for the target, and efficiently
removes heat. It is made of Copper, Molybdenum, or Graphite.
Focal Spot/ Target This is a specific area on the anode that is struck by electrons. It is
primarily tungsten, has a high melting point, creates consistent high enerry x-rays, easily
dissipates heat, and withstands stress of spinning, expansion, and contraction.

Stator: This is multiple electromagnets spaced around the neck of the tube. It is separated
by a glass or a metal enclosure fvacuum tube).

Rotor (copper rod in rotor): It is copper or iron shaftwith bearings. It is designed with
low friction, spins easily, and is precisely balanced. It is separated by a glass or metal
enclosure (vacuum tube).
Anode Heel Effect: Photons on the heel side travel through more target material, which
results in a higher chance a photon will be absorbed by the targeL This results in less
intensity on the anode side. The magnitude of influence of the heel effect depends on anode
angle, size of film, and focus to film distance. Anode aging increases heel effect. It is used to
even-out density when imaging anatomy of uneven part thickness, including feet, thoracic
spines, and chest. Place the cathode side of the tube over the thicker body part because it
hls more intensity. Some photons get absorbed in the anode heel. It is a trap for photons
and they get slowed down. The anode heel is always present and can be used for good.