EEE 4101

Biomedical Signals and

Systems
X-Ray and its application
Introduction
• In 1895 Conrad Rontgen, a German physicist, discovered a previously
unknown type of radiation while experimenting with gas-discharge
tubes.
• He found that this type of radiation could actually penetrate opaque
objects and provide an image of their inner structures. Because of
these mysterious properties, he called his discovery X rays.
• In many countries X rays are referred to as Rontgen rays in honor of
their discoverer, who received a Nobel prize in 1901 for his work.
• Soon after the discovery of X rays, their importance as a tool for
medical diagnosis was recognized. Later it was found that X rays could
also be used for therapeutic purposes. Both applications of X rays are
the domain of the medical specialty known as radiology.

• X-ray machines were the first widely used electrical instruments in

medicine. In fact, hospitals still spend more money for the purchase
of X-ray equipment than for any other type of medical
instrumentation.
Properties of X-Rays
• X-rays are electromagnetic in nature. Wavelength of X-ray lies in the
range from 1 Å to 100 Å.
• X-rays are having high-energy waves as compared to visible light, UV,
infrared radiations, microwaves, and radio waves.
• X-rays have the ability to ionize the atoms and molecules of matter.
• They can travel with the velocity of light i. e. 3 x108 ms-1.
• X-rays do not possess any charge. That is why magnetic or electric fields
don’t deflect these rays.
• An X-ray can produce a photoelectric effect also fluorescence in certain
metals.
Application of X-RAYS
• These are useful in diagnosis. With the help of X-rays we can view structures
of bone and it also helps to detect the breakage in human bones.
• To minimize the absorption of low energy X-rays, hard X-ray are useful. To
prevent transmission of the lower energy a filter is placed over the X-ray
tube.
• The high atomic mass of calcium atoms in teeth and bones are present. This
helps to absorb X-ray, allowing most of the other radiation to pass through
the body.
• CT scans (Computer tomography), radiotherapy and fluoroscopy also involve
X-ray diagnostic techniques.
• These are also useful cancer treatments with therapeutic techniques
• These are useful for crystallography, astronomy, microscopy, industrial
radiography, spectroscopy, fluorescence and to implode fission
devices.
• This also have use in the creative field. It helps to create art and also
to analyze paintings.
• Banned uses of X rays include hair removal and shoe-fitting
fluoroscopes. These were popular in the 1920s.
• These are also useful for airport security. They are used as a scanner
to scan the luggage of passengers in airports and other places.
Working Principle of X-Rays
 Production of X-rays: X-rays are generated
using specialized machines called X-ray tubes.
These tubes consist of a cathode (negatively
charged electrode) and an anode (positively
charged electrode) placed in a vacuum-sealed
chamber. When a high voltage is applied across
the cathode and anode, electrons are emitted
from the cathode and accelerated toward the
anode. When these high-energy electrons
collide with the anode material, some of their
X-Ray generation
energy is transformed into X-ray photons.
Interaction with Matter:There are two main ways X-rays interact with matter: scattering and
absorption.
•Scattering: Some X-rays may be deflected or scattered by the atoms in the material, changing
the direction of the X-ray photons without significantly losing energy. This type of interaction can
contribute to the background in X-ray images.
• Absorption: Most of the interaction with matter involves absorption. X-ray photons can be
absorbed by atoms. As a result, the X-ray photons lose energy. The attenuation of X-rays is
used to create contrast in X-ray images.
Image Formation: In medical imaging, X-rays are used to create images of the internal
structures of the human body. A patient is positioned between the X-ray source and a detector
(usually a digital sensor or photographic film). As X-rays pass through the body, they are
attenuated by different tissues, such as bones, organs, and muscles, to varying degrees. The X-
ray detector captures the transmitted X-rays, and the data is processed to create an X-ray image
Safety Considerations: While X-rays are invaluable in medical diagnostics and various other
applications, their ionizing nature also means they can damage living tissue and increase the risk of
cancer in high doses. Therefore, X-ray procedures are carefully controlled to minimize exposure, and
protective measures such as lead aprons and collimators are used to shield patients and healthcare
professionals from unnecessary radiation.
Overall, X-rays are a powerful tool for non-invasive imaging that has revolutionized medical
diagnostics and other fields by allowing us to see inside objects and materials that would otherwise
be hidden from view.
• An X-ray machine mainly utilizes the basic properties of the X-rays for
its operation.
• The natural tendency of X-rays is to penetrate soft areas with ease
and get absorbed by dense areas.
• This ability of the X-rays serves to be the working principle of the X-ray
machines and helps the user obtain detailed images of the internal
structure of the body organs or the objects with ease.
• The use of X-rays for the purpose of imaging significantly eliminates
the need to cut open the object or the body part to obtain the image
of the internal structure of the target object or body organ.
• The X-rays used by the X-ray machines are produced by accelerating
electrons at a relatively higher velocity and then directing them
towards a target.
• On hitting the target, the electrons tend to decelerate and lose
energy. During the process, a major portion of the kinetic energy
possessed by them gets converted into heat energy and the rest
portion into x-rays.