X-ray tube

Mr. Musisi Alen

Lecturer/Medical Physicist
 The X-Ray Tube Development
• Dr. Roentgen used a
Crookes-Hittorf tube to
make the first x-ray
image.
• There was no shielding
so x-rays were emitted
in all directions.
 The X-Ray Tube Development
• This is the variety of
tube designs available
in 1948.
• The Coolidge tube , the
first to use a heated
filament to obtain
electrons was still
available.
 The X-Ray Tube Development
• Two major hazards plagued early radiography.
– Excessive radiation exposure
– Electric Shock
• Moderns tubes are designed to overcome these
problems
• The modern tube is based on the Coolidge tube
 The X-Ray Tube Development
• This is a modern
rotating anode x-ray
tube.
• It is encased
completely in a metal
protective housing.
• The housing provide
electrical and radiation
safety
 The
Modern X-ray Tube
• There are two principle parts:
– The rotating anode
– The cathode
• Any tube that has two electrodes is called a
diode.
• Inside the tube is a high vacuum
Parts of the X-ray Tube
 Protective Housing
• The tube is housed in a
lead lined metal
protective housing.
• The x-ray photons are
generated isotropically
or in all directions.
• The housing is designed
to limit the beam to
window.
 Protective Housing-leakage radiation
• The housing is designed to minimize the
radiation outside the port
• The tube can not have more than 100 mR
at 1 m (26 µ C/kg) / Hour when operated at
its maximum output.
Protective Housing – prevent damage

• The housing also provide mechanical support and

protection from damage.
• On some tubes, the housing also contains oil that
provides more insulation and a thermal cushion.
• Never hold the tube during an exposure.
• Never use the cables or terminals as handles.
Protective Housing- supply of high voltage

• The housing incorporates specially designed high

voltage receptacles to protect against electrical
shock.
• Some housing have a fan for cooling.
 The X-Ray Tube Glass Envelope
• The glass envelope is
made of Pyrex to
withstand the
tremendous heat
produced during x-ray.
• The window is a 5 cm
square with a thin
section of glass where
the useful beam is
emitted.
 The Cathode
• The cathode is
the negative side
of the tube and
contains two
primary parts:
• The filaments
• The focusing cup
 The Filaments
• Most tube have two filaments which
provide a large focal area and a small focal
area
• Two foci provide the choice of quick
exposures or high resolution.
• The filaments are made of thoriated
tungsten.
 The Filaments
• Tungsten is used in x-ray tube filaments
because of it’s
– High melting point of 3410°C.
– Comparaivelly Low work function (emits electrons
at lower temperatures )
– High tensile strength
– Flexibility to be turned to a thin spiral
• Electrons are produced by thermionic
emission when a 4 A or higher current is
applied.
Focusing Cup

This is made of
nickel and it houses
the filaments
The focusing cup
has a negative
charge so that it
can condense the
electron beam to a
small area of the
anode.
 Filament Current
• The current that flows through the Filament is
called the filament current
• This is resulted from applying a low voltage
across the filament
• When the x-ray machine is turned on, a low
current flows through the filament to warm it
and prepare it for the big thermal jolt
necessary for x-ray production.
 Filament Current
• When the machine is ‘stand by’, the filament
is not hot enough for thermionic emission.
• So, it is boosted to a higher value just before
the exposure
• Once the current is high enough for
thermionic emission electrons are emitted
from the filament
 X-ray tube current
• This is the current that flows across the x-ray
tube (flowing electrons from filament to
anode)
• This is resulted when the high potential
difference (kV) is applied across the tube & if
emitted electrons are available at the filament
Filament Current & Tube Current
The x-ray tube current is
adjusted by controlling the
filament current.
A small rise in filament
current will result in a
large rise in tube current.
The relationship between
tube and filament current
is dependent upon the
tube voltage.
 The Anode
• The anode is the
positive side of
the tube.
• X-ray tubes are
classified by the
type of anode:
– Stationary ( top)
– Rotating (bottom)
 The Stationary Anode
• Stationary anodes are used in dental x-
ray and some portable x-ray machine
where high tube current and power are
not required.
• Tube output is low
– 80kv
– 15 mA
– Long exposure times over 100ms
• Larger focal spots –low resolution
• Heat is confined to a small area
 The Rotating Anode
• The Rotating Anodes are used for all the
other applications where high tube out put
and high tube rationgs are required
– 125 – 150 kVp
– 25 – 1200 mA
– Short exposure times upto less than 1ms
• Smaller focal spots with high ratings – high
resolution
 The Rotating Anode
• The rotating anode
allows the electron
beam to interact
with a much larger
apparent target
area.
• The heat is not
confined to a small
area.
 The functions of Rotating Anode
• The anode serves three major functions:
– Receives the electrons emitted from the cathode.
– It is a electrical conductor.
– Mechanical support for the target.
 The Rotating Anode
• The Anode must also be
a good thermal
conductor.
• When the electron
beam strikes the anode
more than 99% of the
kinetic energy is
converted to heat.
 The Target
• Tungsten-rhenium is used as the target for the
electron beam.
• Tungsten is used for three reasons
– High atomic number
– Heat conductivity
– High melting point..
• Rhenium is used to increase the surface properties
to minimise the pitting and cracking of the target
 The Rotating Anode - speed
• When the exposure button is depressed, current is
applied to the tube that produces a magnetic field
that starts the rotation of the anode.
• The rotor is the rotating part of an electromagnetic
induction motor.
• It spins at 3000/3400 rpm.
• High speed anodes spin at 9,000/10,000 rpm.
 Breaking The Rotating Anode
• When the anode is spinning at the correct
speed, the exposure can be made.
• After the exposure is completed, it slows
by reversing the motor.
• This is necessary to avoid excessive wear
and tear of the bearings
 Dissipation of heat from the target
• Even with the anode rotating, some melting
occurs.
• The heat must be rapidly dissipated from the
target.
• Molybdenum and copper are used to rapidly
transfer the heat from the target.
• The anode dissipates heat by radiating towards
the glass envelop
 The anode stem
• The anode stem is made from molybdenum
• It is made appropriately thin as to minimize
the heat conduction towards the rotor
 Tube cooling

The x-ray tube uses all three forms of cooling

at once.
– Radiation (X-rays)
– Conduction ( molybdenum and copper)
– Convection (coolants (oil), cooling fins cooling
fans/Air conditioning)
 Uses of X-rays
• The usefulness of X-rays is mainly due to their
penetrating power. Some of their applications
are as follows:
In medicine: there are two main areas
(a) diagnostic.
• X-ray films (radiographs) are used for a variety
of purposes;
 Cont…
• Detection of suspected bone fractures or a
tooth cavity.
• Detection of lung tuberculosis by mass
radiography.
• With the addition of an absorber such as
barium or iodine, X-rays may be used to check
respiratory or digestive disorders because of
similar absorptive power with the surrounding
tissue.
(b) Therapeutic. This use is almost completely
restricted to the treatment of malignant
tumours/cancer in Radiotherapy. Uses very
hard (short-wave length) X-rays.
N.B: It is of great importance in the use of X-rays
for medical purposes that the dose given to
both the patient and the operator is carefully
controlled. X-rays can damage living tissue -
hence their use for the destruction of tumours.
 X ray safety features
• Working rules are essential to ensure that all
types of X-ray equipment are used with a high
standard of safety and must be documented.
• X-ray equipment is not to be operated without
prior approval from the statutory authority,
which in Uganda is the Atomic Energy Council.
• Physical barriers/locks and a warning sign at
each entrance must be installed to control
access.
 Cont…
• Protection of Staff, caretakers and other
sensitive organs of clients with lead aprons or
glasses or gloves.
• The x-ray room must be used for only one x-
ray procedure at a time.
 Cont…
• X-ray equipment must not be operated by
inexperienced persons unless under the direct
supervision of an experienced operator.
• Adjustments must not be done while the x-ray
tube is energised, unless a viewing system is
used which is shielded or designed to prevent
exposure of the eye or other parts of the body
to the primary beam.
 Cont…
• Service of equipment may only be carried out
by a BIOMEDICAL ENGINEER with a suitable
Radiological Council licence (AEC).
• Proper assembly of X-ray machine
components to avoid radiation leakage.
• All persons working with X-ray equipment,
students inclusive must be issued with a
personal TLD which should be submitted for
reading every 3 - 6 months.
• Every individual working with X-rays has a
duty to protect the self and others from any
hazard arising from their work. They must not
expose themselves or others to X-rays to a
greater extent than is reasonably necessary
for the purpose of their work. Any such
exposure must be as low as is reasonably
achievable.
 Cont…
• Exposure switch should be under key control,
to prevent unintended or accidental emission
of Xrays.
• Suitable warning devices should be provided
which indicate when the tube is in a state of
readiness to emit radiation.

• Et cetera…
END