Course Description
This course covers concepts involved with digital X-ray equipment operation and quality assurance. It includes image acquisition, digital imaging characteristics, and technical evaluation. Focus is placed on the correlation between X-ray exposure and the effect on image quality. The properties of image receptor exposure, contrast, detail and distortion are analyzed extensively with emphasis on the factors that control and influence them (mAs, SID, OID, kVp). Other topics include: collimation, filtration, and grid usage. Students will gain a better understanding of exposure factor formulation by performing experiments in the energized lab utilizing anthropomorphic phantoms.
Prerequisite(s)
XRAY 1033, XRAY 1212, and XRAY 1316 - Must be completed prior to taking this course. XRAY 1053, XRAY 1232, and XRAY 1326 - Must be taken at the same time as this course.
At the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Discuss practical considerations in setting standards for acceptable image quality.
- Summarize the relationship of factors affecting scattered and secondary radiation.
- Evaluate the effects of scattered radiation on the image.
- Compare grid types.
- Interpret grid efficiency in terms of grid ratio and frequency.
- Summarize the factors that influence grid cutoff.
- Evaluate grid artifacts.
- Explain the use of standardized radiographic technique charts.
- Explain exposure factor considerations involved in selecting techniques.
- Compare fixed kilovoltage peak (kVp) and variable kVp systems.
- Apply conversion factors for changes in the following areas: distance, grid, image receptors, reciprocity law and 15 percent rule.
- Analyze the relationships of factors that control and affect image exposure.
- Define terminology associated with digital imaging systems.
- Describe the various types of digital receptors.
- Describe the response of digital detectors to exposure variations.
- Compare the advantages and limits of each receptor type.
- Evaluate the spatial resolution and dose effectiveness for digital radiography detectors.
- Describe the histogram and the process or histogram analysis as it relates to automatic rescaling and determining an exposure indicator.
- Describe the response of PSP systems to background and scatter radiation.
- Identify common limitations and technical problems encountered when using PSP systems
- Associate impact of image processing parameters to the image appearance.
- Describe the conditions that cause quantum mottle in a digital image.
- Analyze the relationship of factors that control and affect radiographic contrast.
- Formulate a procedure or process to minimize histogram analysis and rescaling errors.
- Examine the potential impact of digital radiographic systems on patient exposure and methods of practicing the as low as reasonably achievable (ALARA) concept with digital systems
- Analyze the relationships of factors that control and affect spatial resolution.
- Differentiate between size and shape distortion.
- Summarize the relationship of factors that control and affect distortion.
- Explain the rationale for using beam-limiting devices.
- Describe the operation and applications for different types of beam-limiting devices.
- Explain how beam filtration affects x-ray beam intensity, beam quality and resultant patient exposure.
Topical Outline
1. Introduction to Radiographic Quality
2. Digital Imaging
3. Image Receptors
4. Artifacts
5. Spatial Resolution
6. Distortion
7. Image Receptor Exposure
8. Image Receptor Exposure Lab Experiments
9. Contrast
10. Contrast Lab Experiments
11. Beam Restrictions
12. Grids
13. Exposure Technique Selection
14. Exposure Technique Factors
2. Digital Imaging
3. Image Receptors
4. Artifacts
5. Spatial Resolution
6. Distortion
7. Image Receptor Exposure
8. Image Receptor Exposure Lab Experiments
9. Contrast
10. Contrast Lab Experiments
11. Beam Restrictions
12. Grids
13. Exposure Technique Selection
14. Exposure Technique Factors