XRAY FILTERS AND

BEAM RESTRICTORS
Moderator-Dr.Bhagyavathi.M.k
Presentor-Dr.Bhagyashree Sajjan
 FILTERS

Filter is a sheet of metal placed in the path of x ray

beam.
It absorbs low energy radiation.
Filtration is the process of shaping the x-ray beam
to increase the ratio of photons useful for imaging
to those photons that increase patient dose or
decrease image contrast.
 XRAY EMISSION SPECTRUM
X-RAY emission spectrum is the distribution of the energy of the x-ray photons
emerging from the x-ray source

General form of an xray emission

spectrum is divided into two :
bremsstrahlung and characteristic
radiation.

FILTERATION------> USEFUL PHOTONS : USELESS PHOTONS

HIGH ENERGY PHOTONS: LOW ENERGY PHOTONS
How do you measure filtration?

ALUMINIUM EQUIVALENTS – thickness of aluminum that

would produce the same degree of attenuation as the
thickness of material in question
 TYPES OF FILTERS
 INHERENT FILTERS
 ADDED FILTERS
 INHERENT FILTERS
 GLASS ENVELOPE

 INSULATING OIL

 THE WINDOW OF TUBE

HOUSING

 0.5 – 1.00 mm aluminum

equivalent
ADDED FILTERS
 Added filters are placed in the path of the X-ray beam, which
absorbs low energy photons and transmits a maximum number of
high energy photons.
 Aluminum is the most commonly used single filter, and its filter is
generally placed on the mirror of the collimator
 The collimator by itself adds 0.1 mm Al/Eq of filtration, thereby it
is also considered as added filtration
1)Aluminum with a atomic number of 13 is an excellent filter
material for low energy and a good general purpose filter.
2)Copper with an atomic number of 29 is a better filter for
high energy radiation, it is always used in combination with
aluminum.

Filters thickness
Two millimeters of aluminum absorb nearly all photons
with energies less than 20kev.
National council on radiation protection and measurement
has recommended the following total filtration for
diagnostic radiology the figures include both inherent and
added filtration

Operating kVp TOTAL FILTRATION

Below 50 kVp 0.5 mm aluminum

50 to 70 kVp 1.5 mm aluminum

Above 70 kVp 2.5 mm aluminum

EFFECTS OF FILTERS ON PATIENT EXPOSURE
EFFECT ON EXPOSURE FACTORS:

•The major disadvantage of filtration is reduction in

the intensity of X-ray beam.

•We must compensate it by increasing mAs.

• Filter absorbs many photons ,hence the total number

reaching the patient actually decreases.
COMPOUND FILTRATION

•Consists of two or more materials, and each layer absorbs

the characteristic radiation created in the previous layer.

•In a compound filter, the material with the highest atomic

number is placed closest to the tube, and the lowest atomic
number closest to the patient.

•Aluminum + Copper filter is the most commonly used,

others include Thoreaus filter which is used in radiation
therapy.
COMPENSATION FILTER

Compensation filters are usually designed to solve a problem

involving unequal subject densities by adding an absorber to
compensate for unequal absorption

Two most popular : Wedge and Trough filters

 Wedge Filters & Trough Filters
Thick portion of wedge partially
attenuates x-ray beam over
upper thoracic area while no
filter area receives full exposure
to penetrate thick portion of
spine.
An even image density results.
Trough filter in position for AP
projection of chest.
Note how two side wedges partially
attenuate x-ray beam over lung areas
while mediastinum receives full
exposure.
A better-quality image of chest and
mediastinal structures results.
HEAVY METAL FILTERS
•Heavy metal filters or K-edge filters have an advantage
of producing an x-ray beam that has a high number of
photons in a specific energy range that is useful for
diagnostic radiology. Offer advantage while imaging
barium and iodine.

•It makes use of the K-absorption edge of elements with

atomic number greater than 60

•Heavy metal filters transmits a significantly narrow

spectrum of energies in comparison to aluminum filters
which transmits a relatively broad spectrum of radiation
Molybdenum filters
•Molybdenum filters are used in mammography.
•Mo target transmit 17.5 kev K alpha and 19.6 kev K beta
characteristic radiation to produce good contrast of breast
tissue.
•It attenuate the above 20 kev bremstrahlung radiation and
convert into characteristic radiation.
•Molybdenum filter always used with molybdenum target
and thickness of Mo filter is 0.03mm.
 FILTERS ADVANTAGES

Absorb low energy X ray photon.

Reduce unnecessary radiation to the patient.
It increases quality of radiograph.
 FILTERS DISADVANTAGES

Decrease some energy of X ray photon.

Increased exposure factor.
Higher tube loading is required.
BEAM RESTRICTORS
 BEAM RESTRICTORS
Beam restrictor is a device that is attached to the
opening in the x-ray tube housing to regulate the size
and shape of x-ray beam.
Purpose is to control and decrease scatter radiation
production
I. Decreased patient radiation dose
II. Improved radiographic contrast due to decreased
fog
Penumbra
• The centre of the x-ray field is
exposed by the entire focal spot, but
the periphery sees only a portion of it.
• This partially exposed periphery of
the x-ray field is called PENUMBRA.

TECHNIQUE TO REDUCE THE WIDTH

OF THE PENUMBRA:
- By positioning the aperture
diaphragm as far away from the x-ray
target as possible.
CONES AND CYLINDERS
CONES


Comprised of lead, attached to the collimator
Ideal geometric configuration

But flare of the cone is larger than flare of xray
beam

Only the base plate that attaches device to tube
housing is part that restricts beam
CYLINDERS

Comprised of lead, attached to the collimator

Beam restriction takes place at the far end of
barrel, so less penumbra


Disadvantage :Limitation of available field sizes
 COLLIMATORS
• Best all round x-ray beam restrictor device.
ADVANTAGES:
• Provides an infinite variety of rectangular xray fields.
• Light beam shows the centre and the exact
configuration of the x-ray field.
• Helps to limit penumbra.
• Provides adjustable rectangular or square field.
• Reduce scatter radiation that increase image
contrast.
•It reduces patient dose.
STRUCTURE OF A COLLIMATOR
• Two sets of shutters to control the dimension.
- each shutter contains 4 or more lead plates, which move in
independent pairs.
- when the shutters are closed, they meet at the centre.
• Light beam is from a light bulb in the collimator.
 Precautions while using collimator
X ray field is illuminated by light
beam from bulb
Light beam is deflected by mirror
at 45 degree
Target of x-ray tube and bulb
placed at same distance from mirror
and both should coincide at the
second shutter
If too far from x-ray target, x ray
beam will be smaller than light
beam
• A collimator can also identify
the centre of the x-ray field
which is accomplished by
painting a cross line on a thin
sheet of plexiglass mounted on
the end of the collimator.

• A backup system is available

in case if the light burns out
with the help of a calibrated
scale which will determine the
x-ray field size for various
target-film distances.
AUTOMATIC COLLIMATORS
• POSITIVE BEAM LIGHTING DEVICES

• Shutters are motor driven.

• When a cassette is loaded into the film holder, sensors will
identify the alignment of the cassette.
• Then the information is relayed to the collimator motors,
which will position the shutters to exactly match the size of the
film being used.
• These devices must be accurate to within 2% of the source to
image distance (SID).
• A perfectly aligned collimator will leave an unexposed border on
all sides of the developed film.
TESTING XRAY BEAM AND LIGHT
BEAM ALIGNMENT
• Alignment has to be checked periodically.

MATERIALS REQUIRED:
• Four L shaped wires.
• 17 x 14 inch x-ray film
• Lead letter “R”
Procedure
• Place the film on the top of the x-ray table

• Open the shutter to a convenient size ( 10 x10 in)

• Carefully position the L shaped wires at the corner

of the light field

• Place the R in the right lower corner.

• Then make an x-ray exposure. ( 100 cm,3.3mAs,

40kVp) and expose the film.
• Without touching the film or wires, enlarge the field size
to 12x12 in. and expose the film for the second time.

The dark centre shows the position of the xray beam and
the wires indicate the position of the light beam.
HOW TO ADJUST A MISALIGNED MIRROR?

• Return the processed x ray film to its original

position. The R in the right lower corner assists in
orienting the film properly.

• Position the light beam to the images of the wires,

as we did earlier for the film exposure and adjust the
mirror in the collimator until the light beam coincides
exactly with the x ray field (the dark area on the film)
FUNCTION OF XRAY BEAM RESTRICTORS

• Basic function is to regulate the size and shape of

the x ray beam.

• Advantages of closely collimated beams:

- Smaller area of the patient exposed
- Less scatter radiation
SUMMARY
•Filters are sheets of metal placed in the path of x ray beam to
absorb low energy radiation before it reaches the patient.
•They reduce skin exposure.
• Well collimated beam generate less scatter radiation.
•Collimators are best general purpose beam restrictors, they
offer two advantages over the other types: xray field is
illuminated, which permits accurate localization of patient; and
the x ray field can be adjusted to an infinite variety of
rectangular shapes and sizes.
REFERENCE

Christensen’s physics of diagnostic radiology

THANKYOU