X-ray Tube Output: 80μGy/mAs at 1m, 900µGy/s @1m

Click For Summary

Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the output of an X-ray tube in a cardiac catheter lab, specifically focusing on calculations related to radiation dose and tube current under varying conditions. The problem includes determining output rates at different distances and configurations, as well as calculating dose-area product (DAP) readings.

Discussion Character

  • Mixed

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore the relationship between output rates and tube current, questioning how to achieve a specific output given the duty cycle of the X-ray tube. There is a focus on confirming calculations related to the output rate and DAP.

Discussion Status

Some participants have confirmed the accuracy of initial calculations, while others have raised further questions about the average current needed for continuous operation and the implications of the duty cycle on the actual current. There appears to be ongoing clarification regarding the calculations for tube current and DAP.

Contextual Notes

Participants are working within the constraints of specific output values and operational parameters, such as pulse width and frame rate, while discussing the effects of added filtration on photon intensity.

BobP
Messages
70
Reaction score
1

Homework Statement


(The question is in the image attached)

(c) An X-ray unit in the cardiac catheter labs has an output of 80µGy/mAs at 1 meter when the unit is set at 100 kVp. After adding 0.3mm Cu to the beam the photon intensity is reduced to a quarter and tends to vary in proportion to kV3 (i.e. kV to the power of 3). What would be the output rate at 80cm from the tube focus for a
continuous beam at 80 kV p and 5 mA ?
(d) The same unit as in c) is now used for an acquisition run. The protocol uses 15 frames per second with a 10ms pulse width at 100kV without the copper filtration and a 20 x 20cm square field. The detector distance is 1m from the tube. If the measured output rate at 1m is 900 µGy/s what is the peak tube current of each pulse? What DAP reading in cGycm2 would be measured in 10 seconds of acquisition?

Homework Equations


none relevant

The Attempt at a Solution


Please can someone confirm if my answers are correct
(c) 80 μG/mAs
(Working: 20 * (1/0.8)2 * (80/100)3 * 5)

(d)
Current = 750 mA
DAP reading = 360 cGycm2

Thank you
 

Attachments

  • Untitled.png
    Untitled.png
    35.3 KB · Views: 515
Last edited by a moderator:
Physics news on Phys.org
first part looks good.

Second part in order to achieve an output of 900uG/sec when the output is 80yGy/mas you need how many ma on average for continuous operation to achieve that output? Since the the tube operates only a fraction of the time (duty cycle is what?) the current must be higher than the average right?
 
gleem said:
first part looks good.

Second part in order to achieve an output of 900uG/sec when the output is 80uGy/mAs you need how many mA on average for continuous operation to achieve that output? Since the the tube operates only a fraction of the time (duty cycle is what?) the current must be higher than the average right?

If I have 900 uGy/sec when I have 80 uGy/mAs and the machine is on for 150ms in total over a 1 second period
Then I have
80 * mA per second = 900
Therfore mA = 11.25 mA

BUT as the current is not always on the actual mA is

mA * 15 * 10 * 10-3 = 11.25 SO
Answer = 75 mA

But for part (ii)
If output is 900 uGy/sec and I run the machine for 10 seconds then I have a dose of 9000 uGy
With an area of 400 cm2 I have a DAP of 9000 uGy * 400 = 3.6 Gy cm^2 = 360 cGycm^2

So I got the mA wrong initially but the DAP correct.
Is my answer now correct?
Thanks
 
Last edited:
looks good
 
gleem said:
looks good
Thank you for your help :)
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
4K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
6K
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
6K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
8K