Production of X-rays

Wilhelm Conrad Rentgen

Professor of Experimental Physics in Wrzburg University Discovered x-rays 8 November, 1895 Awarded first Nobel Prize for Physics 1901

Production of X-rays

X-ray machine :

effective head control panel arms

Effective head
Coolidge tube consist of cathode anode within evacuated glass with inner leaded except pathway for x-ray. High speed e- strike metal x-rays

(99% of electron kinetic energy converted to heat and 1% electron kinetic energy converted to x-ray )
e- = electron

Cathode (-)
Negatively charged Filament

Cathode(-) source of e- flow anode (+)

Tungsten :
High

atomic number High melting point High thermal conductivity

Power supply Electric current applied (mA):

e- boiled off e- cloud created - electron e =

-heat filament in cathode to generate e-Establish high-voltage between anode and cathode to accelerate the e-

Anode (+)

Target where x-rays produced

Tungsten

Voltage applied (kVp)

Positively charged Attracts e

Energy of x-rays produced depends on energy of e- striking anode

e- = electron

Focal Spot

The electron emitted by the filament (cathode) directed to a small rectangular area on the anode Where target struck by eSmaller focal spot has sharper image

Less penumbra ( semi shadow )

Smaller filaments wear out quicker

Depends on size of cathode filament

Characteristic radiation

Cathode

Filament

Tungsten :
High

atomic number High melting point High thermal conductivity

Electric current applied (mA)

e- boiled off e- cloud created

Negatively charged

e- = electron

Anode

Target where x-rays produced

Tungsten

Voltage applied (kVp)

Positively charged Attracts e

Energy of x-rays produced depends on energy of e- striking anode

e- = electron

Focal Spot
Where target struck by e- in anode Smaller focal spot has sharper image

Less penumbra ( semi shadow ) Smaller filaments wear out quicker

Depends on size of cathode filament

Focal spot

anode

cathode

oil

Anode / e- Interaction

90% of energy is lost as heat

Need high melting point target

Tungsten

Stationary anode (oil Helps dissipate heat) Rotating anode

Helps

dissipate heat ( not use in intraoral dental x ray machine, used in Tomographic- Cephalometric )

A) Collision Interaction

High speed e- collides with atom in anode Inner shell e- knocked out of orbit Outer shell e- replaces inner shell vacancy Energy release during shell transfer

Energy = X-ray Characteristic X-rays

Each shell transfer has specific energy

e- = electron

control panel

Power supply :

Heat the filament to generate eEstablish a high voltage between anode and cathode to accelerate the e-

Timer : to control the duration of x ray exposure Duty cycle : the frequency with which successive exposure can be made Panel of selection

Oil

High voltage

Oil

Low voltage Oil

Coolidge tube

anode filter

cathode

Oil

Oil

Protecting coating

Transparent plastic base

Adhesive

Emulsion

Types of intra-oral films

Periapical

Bitewing

Occlusale

Penumbra :
The part of image formed only by the x-ray pass through the body (Perfect image contain only this part )

Semi shadow :

The part of image formed only by x-ray pass near the outer surface of the body and reflect ( perfect image must exclude this part )

Main principles in oral radiology

1)
2)

Film-body parrallel as possible

Central x- ray vertical to the film and body - paralleling technique

Film/tooth/ring all parallel Central ray perpendicular to tooth/film

Main principles in oral radiology

3) X-ray beam vertical to the angle between film-body ( Body=penumbra)
-

Bisecting technique

Main principles in oral radiology

4) Small source of x-ray ( more paralle) 5) Distance source body maximum as possible ( exclude semi shadow) ideal 20-40 cm 6) Distance film body minimum as possible