Melika Salili 20454151
The use of ionising and non–ionising radiation in medical appliances
What is ionising radiation?
Radiation is categorised into either ionising or non-ionising radiation.
Radiation type is determined by their energy levels and how they interact
with atoms. Ionising radiation is a type of energy released by atoms that
travels in the form of electromagnetic waves or particles. They have the
ability to break electrons away from the shells of atoms, turning them into
ions, through a process called ionisation.
Examples of medical procedures that use ionising radiation include: X-
rays, CT scans (computed tomography) and gamma ray imaging
which are all diagnostic procedures meaning that the aim of these
procedures are to identify the issue, as opposed to therapeutic
procedures which aim to treat the issue after a diagnosis has already been
established, such as radiotherapy.
Non-medical examples of ionising radiation include: Alpha particles,
Beta particles, neutrons, protons etc.
Another identifying factor of ionising radiation is the wavelength. Ionising
radiation has a short wavelength resulting in high frequency and high
energy.
X-rays
An X-ray is a diagnostic form of medical imaging
that is used to create images of the inside of the
body using ionising electromagnetic radiation. This
type of radiation is referred to as X-rays. X-rays are
a high energy form of radiation, and their
wavelengths range from around 0.01 to 10
nanometres. X-rays are produced when high speed
electrons accelerate through a potential difference
and collide with their target material thus losing
their energy. This loss of energy exhibits itself as electromagnetic
radiation.
Production of X-rays
-rays are produced in a vacuum tube called an X-ray tube. The essential
X
components of the X-ray tube include the cathode (contains the filament)
and the anode (provides the target).
P a g e 1 | 17
,Melika Salili 20454151
The generation of X-rays begin when the filament in the cathode is
activated by an increase in the filament voltage, which heats up the
cathode filament. This increase in temperature enables electrons to be
released through a process called thermionic emission. Due to the high
voltage at the anode the electrons in the cathode filament are attracted to
it and they begin to travel towards the anode hitting the target with
maximum energy. The energy is determined by how much voltage is being
applied. The number of electrons is measured with milliampere (mA) units
and the kinetic energy of these electrons are measured in kilo
electronvolts (keV). The anode target is usually tungsten and once the
electrons hit this target the kinetic energy is converted to 99% heat and
1% electromagnetic radiation through a process called bremsstrahlung
which is the process of breaking radiation. This causes an output of X-ray
energies, leading to a decrease in intensity slowing the electrons down.
There is also something known as characteristic X-ray production
which is when incident electrons are able to remove electrons within an
atom of the anode target. This forms a vacancy in the inner shell which is
then filled with a high energy electron from the outer shell. The loss of
energy emits as an X-ray photon.
How do X-rays work for medical
imaging?
In the medical field, X-rays can be
used to detect bone fractures,
dental problems, tumours,
foreign objects, pneumonia,
scoliosis and many other bodily
concerns. To produce a radiograph,
the patient is placed so that the area
of the body being imaged is
positioned between an X-ray detector
P a g e 2 | 17
, Melika Salili 20454151
and an X-ray source. once the machine is turned on, X-rays send beams of
radiation through your body and various tissues in the body absorb the
radiation depending on the density of the tissue.
Tissues that are higher in density, such as bones, absorb radiation easily
therefore these tissues appear very opaque on the radiograph. Tissues
that are less dense such as fat and muscle don’t absorb radiation as
easily, so they appear more translucent on the radiograph. The images
produced during the X-ray are interpreted by a radiologist who will
determine whether there’s a cause for concern or not.
Benefits and limitations
People tend to worry about exposure to radiation when getting an X-ray,
however the benefits of X-rays generally outweigh the risks.
Benefits Limitations
X-rays are non-invasive meaning Some X-ray procedures require
they can assist in diagnosing contrast dye to be used which can
medical issues without needing to cause headaches, nausea,
enter the body in any way. vomiting and stomach cramps.
There also lies the risk of being
allergic to the contrast material.
The entire process is completely It can be difficult to analyse soft
painless. tissues through an X-ray as they
don’t appear very clearly on the
radiograph.
X-rays can help identify other Any form of radiation exposure
issues unrelated to the initial may increase risk of cancer
reason for getting the X-ray. however the chance of this is very
slim.
X-rays can help guide medical X-rays are usually not
professionals with medical recommended for pregnant woman
procedures that involve inserting as it poses a risk to the foetus.
medical devices into patients. Although the risk is low, they more
commonly use other forms of
medical imaging such as an MRI or
an ultrasound.
Overall, many of the limitations regarding X-rays are not significant
enough to be a major cause for concern and X-rays can be of immense
help in the medical field for various reasons.
Radiotherapy(therapeutic)
Radiotherapy (radiation therapy) is a
therapeutic cancer treatment that uses
beams of ionising radiation to kill
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The use of ionising and non–ionising radiation in medical appliances
What is ionising radiation?
Radiation is categorised into either ionising or non-ionising radiation.
Radiation type is determined by their energy levels and how they interact
with atoms. Ionising radiation is a type of energy released by atoms that
travels in the form of electromagnetic waves or particles. They have the
ability to break electrons away from the shells of atoms, turning them into
ions, through a process called ionisation.
Examples of medical procedures that use ionising radiation include: X-
rays, CT scans (computed tomography) and gamma ray imaging
which are all diagnostic procedures meaning that the aim of these
procedures are to identify the issue, as opposed to therapeutic
procedures which aim to treat the issue after a diagnosis has already been
established, such as radiotherapy.
Non-medical examples of ionising radiation include: Alpha particles,
Beta particles, neutrons, protons etc.
Another identifying factor of ionising radiation is the wavelength. Ionising
radiation has a short wavelength resulting in high frequency and high
energy.
X-rays
An X-ray is a diagnostic form of medical imaging
that is used to create images of the inside of the
body using ionising electromagnetic radiation. This
type of radiation is referred to as X-rays. X-rays are
a high energy form of radiation, and their
wavelengths range from around 0.01 to 10
nanometres. X-rays are produced when high speed
electrons accelerate through a potential difference
and collide with their target material thus losing
their energy. This loss of energy exhibits itself as electromagnetic
radiation.
Production of X-rays
-rays are produced in a vacuum tube called an X-ray tube. The essential
X
components of the X-ray tube include the cathode (contains the filament)
and the anode (provides the target).
P a g e 1 | 17
,Melika Salili 20454151
The generation of X-rays begin when the filament in the cathode is
activated by an increase in the filament voltage, which heats up the
cathode filament. This increase in temperature enables electrons to be
released through a process called thermionic emission. Due to the high
voltage at the anode the electrons in the cathode filament are attracted to
it and they begin to travel towards the anode hitting the target with
maximum energy. The energy is determined by how much voltage is being
applied. The number of electrons is measured with milliampere (mA) units
and the kinetic energy of these electrons are measured in kilo
electronvolts (keV). The anode target is usually tungsten and once the
electrons hit this target the kinetic energy is converted to 99% heat and
1% electromagnetic radiation through a process called bremsstrahlung
which is the process of breaking radiation. This causes an output of X-ray
energies, leading to a decrease in intensity slowing the electrons down.
There is also something known as characteristic X-ray production
which is when incident electrons are able to remove electrons within an
atom of the anode target. This forms a vacancy in the inner shell which is
then filled with a high energy electron from the outer shell. The loss of
energy emits as an X-ray photon.
How do X-rays work for medical
imaging?
In the medical field, X-rays can be
used to detect bone fractures,
dental problems, tumours,
foreign objects, pneumonia,
scoliosis and many other bodily
concerns. To produce a radiograph,
the patient is placed so that the area
of the body being imaged is
positioned between an X-ray detector
P a g e 2 | 17
, Melika Salili 20454151
and an X-ray source. once the machine is turned on, X-rays send beams of
radiation through your body and various tissues in the body absorb the
radiation depending on the density of the tissue.
Tissues that are higher in density, such as bones, absorb radiation easily
therefore these tissues appear very opaque on the radiograph. Tissues
that are less dense such as fat and muscle don’t absorb radiation as
easily, so they appear more translucent on the radiograph. The images
produced during the X-ray are interpreted by a radiologist who will
determine whether there’s a cause for concern or not.
Benefits and limitations
People tend to worry about exposure to radiation when getting an X-ray,
however the benefits of X-rays generally outweigh the risks.
Benefits Limitations
X-rays are non-invasive meaning Some X-ray procedures require
they can assist in diagnosing contrast dye to be used which can
medical issues without needing to cause headaches, nausea,
enter the body in any way. vomiting and stomach cramps.
There also lies the risk of being
allergic to the contrast material.
The entire process is completely It can be difficult to analyse soft
painless. tissues through an X-ray as they
don’t appear very clearly on the
radiograph.
X-rays can help identify other Any form of radiation exposure
issues unrelated to the initial may increase risk of cancer
reason for getting the X-ray. however the chance of this is very
slim.
X-rays can help guide medical X-rays are usually not
professionals with medical recommended for pregnant woman
procedures that involve inserting as it poses a risk to the foetus.
medical devices into patients. Although the risk is low, they more
commonly use other forms of
medical imaging such as an MRI or
an ultrasound.
Overall, many of the limitations regarding X-rays are not significant
enough to be a major cause for concern and X-rays can be of immense
help in the medical field for various reasons.
Radiotherapy(therapeutic)
Radiotherapy (radiation therapy) is a
therapeutic cancer treatment that uses
beams of ionising radiation to kill
P a g e 3 | 17
