Radiographic Equipment and Maintenance Flashcards

The automatic exposure control (AEC) device in a radiographic system terminates the exposure when:

Answer: A preset quantity of radiation has reached the image receptor

The AEC (phototimer or ionization chamber) terminates the exposure automatically when a preset amount of radiation has been detected at the image receptor, ensuring consistent image density.

Which test evaluates the reproducibility of x-ray output from an x-ray generator?

Answer: Exposure reproducibility test

The exposure reproducibility test measures the variation in radiation output across multiple identical exposures, verifying that the generator produces consistent output.

The half-value layer (HVL) of an x-ray beam is used to assess:

Answer: Beam quality (penetrating ability/energy spectrum)

The HVL is the thickness of a specific absorber that reduces the x-ray beam intensity by 50%, and it measures beam quality (average photon energy/penetrability).

Which component of the x-ray generator is responsible for converting AC to DC current for the x-ray tube?

Answer: Rectifier

Rectifiers (solid-state diodes) convert alternating current (AC) to direct current (DC) so that electrons in the x-ray tube always flow from cathode to anode.

Timer accuracy in radiographic equipment is verified to be within what tolerance?

Answer: ±5% or ±1 ms, whichever is greater

Federal performance standards require that exposure timer accuracy be within ±5% or ±1 ms (whichever is greater) of the indicated exposure time.

The purpose of added filtration in an x-ray tube is to:

Answer: Remove low-energy photons that would increase patient dose without contributing to image formation

Added filtration (typically aluminum) removes low-energy photons that are absorbed by the patient's skin without contributing to the diagnostic image, reducing skin dose.