23-08-2023

Medical Imaging
X-ray Imaging
• Medical imaging is the technique and
process of imaging the interior of a body for

 Clinical analysis and medical intervention

 Visual representation of the function of some
organs or tissues

 Radiography(X-ray Imaging)
 X-Ray CT
 Magnetic resonance imaging
 Nuclear medicine
 Ultrasound

• These photons recorded by the image

receptor form the image
• The radiographic image is formed by the
interaction of X-ray photons with a photon • These photons can be either
detector – Primary photons, which have passed through the
patient without interacting, or
• And is therefore a distribution of those
– Secondary photons, which result from an
photons, which are transmitted through the interaction in the patient
patient and are recorded by the detector.
• The secondary photons will in general be
• The photons emitted by the X-ray tube enter deflected can be considered as carrying no
the patient, where they may be scattered, useful information.
absorbed or transmitted without interaction.
• The primary photons do carry useful
information.

The components of the X-ray imaging

system • Photon A has been absorbed
• B and E represent photons that have passed
through the patient without interacting.
• C and D are scattered photons (D has been
stopped by an anti-scatter grid)
• Primary photons give a measure of the
probability that a photon will pass through the
patient without interacting and this
probability will itself depend upon the sum of
the X-ray attenuating properties of all the
tissues the photon traverses.

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• The image is therefore a projection of the

attenuating properties of all the tissues along
the paths of the X-rays.
• It is a two-dimensional projection of the
three-dimensional distribution of the X-ray
attenuating properties of tissue.
• The image recorded by the receptor is
processed (e.g. an X-ray film is developed, a
computed radiography (CR) image plate is
read out) and can then be viewed by the
radiologist.

• X-ray imaging can be visualized on X-ray Machine

– X-ray Films
 A film that has been exposed to X-rays shows an
image of the X-ray intensity.
– Fluorescent Screens
 Here X-rays are converted into visual image on a
fluorescent screen .
– X-ray Image Intensifiers
 It consists of an evacuated glass tube with an
input screen
The input screen converts the X-ray image into
light image & this light image is further conerted
to equivalent electron image.

 The voltage is measured with the help of a kV

• There are two parts of the circuit meter.
1. Circuit for producing high voltage  The exposure switch controls the timer and thus
 This circuit is applied to the X-ray tube’s the duration of the application of kV.
anode and cathode and comprises a high  To compensate for the mains supply
voltage step-up transformer followed by a voltage(230V) variations, a voltage compensator
is included in the block diagram.
rectification.
2. The second part of the circuit concerns the
The current through the tube follows the control of heating X-ray tube filament.
HT(High Tension) pathway and is measured by  The filament temperature determines the tube
an mA meter. current or mA and therefore the filament
A kV selector switch facilitates change in temperature control has an attached mA selector.
voltage between exposure.  A rectifier is used for providing high voltage DC to
the anode of the X-ray tube.

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Digital Radiography Detectors:-

• Digital radiography (DR) is an advanced form Flat panel detectors (FPDs) are the most
of x-ray inspection which produces a digital common kind of direct digital [Link] are
radiographic image instantly on a computer. classified in two main categories:
• This technique uses x-ray sensitive plates to • Indirect FPDs:- Amorphous silicon (a-Si) is the
capture data during object examination, which most common material of commercial FPDs.
is immediately transferred to a computer • Direct FPDs:- Amorphous selenium (a-Se)
without the use of an intermediate cassette. FPDs are known as “direct” detectors because
• Instead of X-ray film, digital radiography uses a X-ray photons are converted directly into
digital image capture device. charge.

• Digital radiography system employs flat panel

detectors as X-ray detectors.
• They are provided with large area amorphous
silicon semiconductor sensors.
• The signal from the individual sensors is led to
pre-amplifiers, amplified and given to analog
to digital converters.

Advantages:-
• Immediate image preview and availability
• Elimination of costly film processing steps
• A wider dynamic range, which makes it more
forgiving for over- and under-exposure
• The ability to apply special image processing
techniques that enhance overall display
quality of the image.

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 CONTRAST SCALE

 The linear attenuation coefficient of tissue is represented as integers that usually range
in values from -1000 to +1000.
 These integers have been given the name ‘Hounsfield unit’ (H).
 They are also denoted by CT numbers.
 ie; Contrast scale means the change in the linear attenuation coefficient per CT
number (CTN) relative to water.
µ µ( )
H= X 1000
µ( )

 The linear attenuation coefficient of water is 0.206/cm at 6OkeV

 The CT number scale is defined in such a way that 0 is assigned to water and -1000 to
air.
 The value +1000 represents high dense material.
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