X-RAY GRIDS

DR.R.RAJA SINGH

FIRST YEAR PG IN RADIO DIAGNOSIS

MADURAI MEDICAL COLLEGE

COMPTON SCATTERING

• Almost all the scatter radiation that we encounter in diagnostic radiology comes from
Compton scattering
The radiographic grid consists of a series of lead foil strips separated by x-ray-transparent
spacers. It was invented by Dr. Gustave Bucky in 1913, and it is still the most effective
way of removing scatter radiation from large radiographic fields.
The interspaces of grids are filled with aluminum or some organic compundss.The main
purpose of the interspace material is to support the thin lead foil strips. Aluminum
interspace grids can probably be manufactured more precisely, and they are structurally
stronger than grids with organic interspacers. Patient exposures are higher with aluminum
because it absorbs more primary radiation and secondary radiation.
GRID RATIO

• Grid ratio is defined as the ratio between the height of the lead strips and the distance
between them.
TYPES OF GRIDS
• A parallel grid is one in which the lead strips are parallel when viewed in cross section. They are focused at infinit
so they do not have a convergent line. These grids can only be used effectively with either very small x-ray fields or
long target-grid distances. They are frequently used in fluoroscopic spot film devices, but otherwise have little use in
modern radiology.

• Lines per inch is the number of lead strips per inch of grid.
• 25.4 is due to inch to mm convertion
EVALUATION OF GRID PERFORMANCE

• We will discuss three methods of evaluating performance:

• 1. primary transmission (Tp)
• 2. Bucky factor (B)
• 3. contrast improvement factor (K)
PRIMARY TRANSMISSION

• Primary transmission is a measurement of the percentage of primary radiation

transmitted through a grid. Ideally, a grid should transmit l 00% of the primary radiation,
because it carries the radiographic image.
• A simple ratio of the intensity with the grid to the intensity without the grid gives the
fractional transmission, which is multiplied by 100 to give the percentage of transmission:
BUCKY FACTOR

The Bucky factor is the ratio of the incident radiation falling on the grid to the transmitted
radiation passing through the grid.

The higher the Bucky factor, the greater the exposure factors and radiation dosage to the
patient.
 CONTRAST IMPROVEMENT FACTOR

The contrast improvement factor (K) is the ratio of the contrast with a grid to the contrast without a
grid:. This is the ultimate test of grid performance because it is a measure of a grid's ability to improve
contrast, which is its primary function.
MOVING GRIDS

• The moving grid was invented by Dr. Hollis E. Potter in 1920 and, for many years, a
moving grid was called a PotterBucky grid.
• Grids are moved to blur out the shadows cast by the lead strips. Most moving grids are
reciprocating, which means they continuously move 1 to 3 em back and forth throughout
the exposure.
• Moving grids are advantageous because they eliminate grid lines from the film.
• Moving grids have several disadvantages. They are costly, subject to failure, may vibrate the
x-ray table, and put a limit on the minimum exposure time because they move slowly. An
even more serious disadvantage is that they increase the patient's radiation dose.
GRID SELECTION

• Usually, 8:1 grids will give adequate results below 90 kVp. Above 90 kVp, 12:1 grids are
preferred. Crossed grids are only used when there is a great deal of scatter radiation,
such as in biplane cerebral angiography.

• 12:1 grids are preferable to 16:1 grids for routine radiography.

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