Lead aprons are used to protect patients from unnecessary radiation exposure during X-ray procedures. They are designed to shield sensitive areas of the body from scattered radiation, thus minimizing the dose received.
Radiation dose is commonly measured in sieverts (Sv). This unit quantifies the biological effect of ionizing radiation on human tissues, allowing for assessment of the potential risk associated with exposure.
A collimator is used to focus and limit the X-ray beam to the area of interest. This helps reduce the amount of scatter radiation and minimizes the exposure of surrounding tissues, improving image quality and safety.
The ALARA principle (As Low As Reasonably Achievable) is used to minimize radiation exposure to patients by optimizing imaging techniques and using the lowest effective dose. This principle ensures that radiation is kept to a minimum while still achieving diagnostic quality.
The half-value layer (HVL) refers to the thickness of a material (such as lead or aluminum) required to reduce the intensity of the X-ray beam by half. It is a measure of the beam’s quality and is used to assess the amount of filtration needed to ensure optimal radiation safety.
