Medical imaging techniques such as X-rays, computed tomography (CT), and mammography use radiation from the electromagnetic spectrum to generate images. X-rays differentially penetrate structures in the body and create black and white images on film. An X-ray machine works by accelerating electrons to produce X-rays, which are then directed at the target object. The X-rays pass through soft tissues and are absorbed by dense tissues, creating an image on film. Key applications of X-rays include radiography to examine bones, fluoroscopy for minimally invasive procedures, and digital subtraction angiography which uses contrast agents to improve vascular imaging.
Medical imaging techniques such as X-rays, computed tomography (CT), and mammography use radiation from the electromagnetic spectrum to generate images. X-rays differentially penetrate structures in the body and create black and white images on film. An X-ray machine works by accelerating electrons to produce X-rays, which are then directed at the target object. The X-rays pass through soft tissues and are absorbed by dense tissues, creating an image on film. Key applications of X-rays include radiography to examine bones, fluoroscopy for minimally invasive procedures, and digital subtraction angiography which uses contrast agents to improve vascular imaging.
Medical imaging techniques such as X-rays, computed tomography (CT), and mammography use radiation from the electromagnetic spectrum to generate images. X-rays differentially penetrate structures in the body and create black and white images on film. An X-ray machine works by accelerating electrons to produce X-rays, which are then directed at the target object. The X-rays pass through soft tissues and are absorbed by dense tissues, creating an image on film. Key applications of X-rays include radiography to examine bones, fluoroscopy for minimally invasive procedures, and digital subtraction angiography which uses contrast agents to improve vascular imaging.
Medical imaging techniques such as X-rays, computed tomography (CT), and mammography use radiation from the electromagnetic spectrum to generate images. X-rays differentially penetrate structures in the body and create black and white images on film. An X-ray machine works by accelerating electrons to produce X-rays, which are then directed at the target object. The X-rays pass through soft tissues and are absorbed by dense tissues, creating an image on film. Key applications of X-rays include radiography to examine bones, fluoroscopy for minimally invasive procedures, and digital subtraction angiography which uses contrast agents to improve vascular imaging.
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Assignment No.
1 Medical imaging techniques utilise radiation that is part of the electromagnetic spectrum. These include imaging X-rays which are the conventional X-ray, computed tomography (CT) and mammography. To improve X-ray image quality, a contrast agent can be used, for example, in angiography examinations. X rays are electromagnetic radiation that differentially penetrates structures within the body and creates images of these structures on photographic film or a fluorescent screen. These images are called diagnostic x rays.
Working Principle of X-Ray Machine:
An X-ray machine mainly utilizes the basic properties of the X-rays for its operation. The natural tendency of X-rays is to penetrate soft areas with ease and get absorbed by dense areas. This ability of the X-rays serves to be the working principle of the X-ray machines and helps the user obtain detailed images of the internal structure of the body organs or the objects with ease. The use of X-rays for the purpose of imaging significantly eliminates the need to cut open the object or the body part to obtain the image of the internal structure of the target object or body organ.
The X-rays used by the X-ray machines are produced by accelerating electrons at a relatively higher velocity and then directing them towards a target. On hitting the target, the electrons tend to decelerate and lose energy. During the process, a major portion of the kinetic energy possessed by them gets converted into heat energy and the rest portion into x-rays.
Working of X-Ray Machine:
An X-ray machine typically makes use of a stream of high power electromagnetic radiations to get information about the internal structure of a body organ or an object.
The working of an X-ray machine can be summarized as a three-step procedure, i.e., exposing the object to the X-rays, absorption and scattering of the radiations, and formation of the image on the film. Initially, the object whose internal image is required to be formed is placed in direct exposure to the x-rays produced by the X-ray tube of the X-ray machine.
The radiations are directed towards the body part that is required to be examined. The basic property of the X-rays enables the radiations to pass through the soft surfaces of the object and get absorbed by the rigid and dense portions.
The radiations passing through the soft surfaces tend to get scattered, while the radiations falling on the dense surfaces get absorbed. The partial and complete passing of radiations through the object tends to form an impression of the internal structure of the object on the film. For instance, in medical diagnosis when the X-rays come in contact with the bones and tissues of a human being, a corresponding black and white image gets reflected on the surface of the metal film. Finally, the hard copy of the image is developed and processed to enhance the information contained by it. The image developed by the X-ray machine is generally black and white in nature. The black area of the film represents the soft portion or the soft tissues of the body, while the white area corresponds to the dense regions or the bones present in the body.
Applications: Radiography: Radiography describes the process of creating two dimensional projection images by exposing an anatomy of interest to X-rays and measuring the attenuation they undergo when passing through the object. It is a very common form of X-ray imaging and is used in clinics around the globe. The main application area is the examination of fractures and changes of the skeletal system. Here, the high attenuation coefficient of bones compared to the surrounding tissue delivers a good contrast and allows for distinct detection and classification of fractures. Moreover, radiography can be used to detect changes of a bone’s consistency or density, e. g., in case of osteoporosis or bone cancer.
Fluoroscopy: Conventional radiography typically refers to the acquisition of a single or small number of X-ray projection images for a specified view. In contrast, fluoroscopy describes a sequence of radiographic images acquired periodically at a certain frame rate. The X-ray source can either be triggered for each frame or simply provide a constant radiation exposure to the region of interest. Fluoroscopy is of special importance in minimally invasive interventions, where catheters, endoscopes, and other tools need to be guided and operated without direct visual contact to the region where the actual intervention takes place.
Digital Subtraction Angiography:
Angiography refers to the imaging of arteries (venography for veins) to analyze properties such as shape, size, lumen, or flow rate. Usually, the attenuation properties of vessels do not substantially differ from that of the surrounding tissue which makes X-ray-based imaging hard and yields poor contrast. To increase image quality and contrast often contrast agent is injected into the blood circulation. Contrast agent is a liquid that provides an increased attenuation coefficient compared to normal soft tissue. Typical contrast media are iodine and barium, where the first is used for intravascular and the latter for gastrointestinal examinations. Thus, iodine is injected into the blood circulation whereas barium can be swallowed to investigate, e. g., the stomach or colon.
