Radiographic
Imaging
Introduction
By Dr : Amina
AlQubati
Topics
• What is the radiation?
• what is x-ray?
• how the x-ray discovered?
• how the x-ray produced?
• Radiographic imaging
terms.
• Images produced by x-ray.
What is the radiation?
Radiation
Radiation is an energy in the form
of electromagnetic waves or
particles , traveling in the air.
Radiation is classified into:
Ionizing radiation.
Non-ionizing radiation.
Ionizing versus non-ionizing
radiation
Ionizing radiation
Higher energy electromagnetic waves(x-
ray and gamma rays) or heavy
particles( beta and alpha)
High enough energy to pull electron
from orbit.
N0n-ionizing radiation
Lower energy electromagnetic waves
(visible light)
No enough energy to pull electron from
orbit, but can excite the electron.
What are x-rays?
X Rays
X-rays are a part of the
electromagnetic spectrum with
wavelength between 10 -0.10 nm
and with energy between 120eV to
120000 eV.
They are one of the main
diagnostic tools in medicine since
its discovered by Roentgen in
1895.
electromagnetic
spectrum
X Rays
All electromagnetic waves
travel at the same speed
through vacuum – 300,000
km/sec.
A wave has two features–
wavelength and frequency.
X Rays (cont.)
Waves with longer
wavelength (lower
frequency) have
lower energy.
The shorter the
wavelength,
greater the energy
of the wave.
X Rays (cont.)
At one end of the
spectrum we have
radio waves with
wavelengths
measured in metres,
centimetres or
millimetres
(frequencies range
from few kiloHertz to
tens of megaHertz).
X Rays (cont.)
In the middle of
the spectrum are
(infrared), visible
light and
ultraviolet rays.
X Rays (cont.)
Beyond UV (shorter
wavelength or higher
frequency) are X-rays
and the even more
powerful gamma rays.
Their high energy
allows them to
penetrate through solid
matter.
They can cause serious
damage to human
X Rays (cont.)
All electromagnetic
radiation can also be
considered to be
photons travelling at
the same speed but
with different
energies.
Discovering the x-
rays
Discovering the x-rays
William Roentgen
discovered x-ray in
1895 and determined
its properties.
X-ray technology was
invented completely
by accident.
Discovering the x-rays
In 1895 a German
physicist named william
Roentgen made the
discovery while
experimenting with
electron beams in a gas
discharge tube .
Roentgen noticed that a
fl uorescent screen in his
lab started to glow when
the electron beam was
Discovering the x-rays
Roentgen placed various objects
between the tube and the screen ,
and the screen still glowed.
Finally , he put his hand in front of
the tube, and saw the shadow of his
bones projected onto the
fl uorescent screen.
So he not only discovered x-rays
but also, their most benefi cial
application.
Discovering the x-rays
Roentgen’s remarkable discovery
was one of the most important
medical advancements in human
history.
X-ray technology lets doctors see
straight through the human tissue
to examine broken bones, cavities
and swallowed objects with
extraordinary ease.
Properties of X-rays
X-rays travel in straight lines.
X-rays cannot be defl ected by
electric fi eld or magnetic fi eld.
X-rays have a high penetrating
power.
Photographic fi lm is blackened by
X-rays.
Properties of X-rays
Fluorescent materials glow when
X-rays are directed at them.
Ionization of a gas results when
an X-ray beam is passed through
it.
Make shadows of absorbing
Production of x-
ray beam
Production of x- ray beam
Production of x- ray beam(cont
•The x-ray tube
containing the
anode and
cathode are
located inside a
vacuum tube,
which is
protected by a
metal housing.
Production of x- ray
beam(cont.)
Ev
a
Artifi cially X rays are gla cuat
ss e
produced by tub d
e
decelerating high-
velocity electrons.
X-rays are produced
by establishing a very
high voltage between
r g et
two electrodes, called Ta Filament
the anode and
cathode.
Production of x- ray
beam(cont.)
• The cathode contains Ev
a
gla cuat
e
a small fi lament ss
tub d
e
much the same as in
a light bulb.
• Current is passed
through the fi lament
which heats it.
• The heat causes a r g et
electrons to be T Filament
stripped off.
Production of x- ray
beam(cont.)
• The high voltage High Electrical Potential
causes these “free”
electrons to be pulled Electrons
toward a target + -
material (usually made
of tungsten) located in X-ray Generator or
the anode. Radioactive Source
Creates Radiation
• The electrons impact
against the target. This
impact causes an
energy exchange which Radiation
Penetrate
causes x-rays to be the Sample
created. Exposure Recording Device
Production of x- ray beam(cont.
Electron
X-Ray
Production of x- ray
beam(cont.)
• Mind you, only a High Electrical Potential
small fraction of
the energy is in the +
Electrons
-
form of X-rays, a
lot is ‘wasted’ as X-ray Generator or
heat. Radioactive Source
Creates Radiation
• The anode is
specially designed
to withstand the Radiation
heat and the ‘tube’ Penetrate
the Sample
also has a cooling
mechanism. Exposure Recording Device
Radiographic
imaging terms
Definitions
Photography: a record made by means of
light.
Radiography: the making of images by
means of x – rays.
Or it is the process and procedures of
producing a radiograph.
Radiation: means transfer of energy.
Definitions
An image: is a picture such as a
photograph or a painting.
A radiograph: is a flat, two-
dimensional representation of
interactions that occur in a three-
dimensional subject, that is the
patient and x-ray.
Definitions
A negative image: a
radiograph image appearing
on x-ray films with the
partially radiopaque bony
structures appearing white
and the radioparent gas-
filled organs appearing
black.
Definitions
X-ray fi lm:
Is the medium that record the image of
parts exposed to x-ray.
Or it is made of a transparent plastic
sheet, coated on both sides with an
emulsion. This emulsion is sensitive to
white light and x-rays, and becomes
black when exposed to either of these
two types of radiation.
Definitions
Film holders (Cassettes):
Are the light tight holders for films
and intensifying screens and protects
the film from exposure to daylight but
allows the passage of x-rays through
the front cover on to the film.
Definitions
An intensifying screens:
Are fitted in x-ray cassettes and interact
with x-rays to convert most of their
radiant energy in to visible light.
They are two white plates that place on
either side of the film and glow when x-
rays pass through them.
Definitions
Darkroom:
A place (room) for processing the film , it
should be dark because of the sensitivity of
film for light.
Safelight:
The light that used in the darkroom to
process the films.
Definitions
processing:
is a series of actions by
which exposed x-ray film
yields an image.
Photography
Photography
There are three separate processes
can be distinguished in
photography:
The formation of an image
Recording the image
The production of the image
Images produced
by x-radiation
Radiographic imaging
The radiograph is the most
fundamental element of diagnostic
medical imaging.
The image we see on a view box is
the result of a complex series of
physical phenomena and
interactions.
Radiographic imaging
Once the X-Rays encounter the body
of the patient, some will penetrate
the patient and some will not.
The radiograph image is made from
the X-Rays that penetrate the patient
and produce blackening on the x-ray
Radiographic imaging
Those x-rays that don’t emerge
from the patient , but are absorbed
(attenuated) , also contribute to
the image.
They don’t darken the fi lm , they
contribute to lighter areas on the
fi lm.
Images produced by x
radiation
It depending on :
1. The penetrating power of the
radiation.
2. The atomic number of the subject
3. The density of the subject.
4. The thickness of the subject.
Thanks for your
listening
Review
Review
What are x-rays?
What are the properties of the x-
rays?
How is the x-ray discovered?
How is the x-ray produced?
Define the following:
Photograph - Radiography
A negative image.
Review
How we can produce a negative
image?
How we can produced a
positive image?
What are the factors that the
radiographic image depended
on?
