et te s

f ca s s
p e s o
Ty

ARATHY MARY JOHN

Types of cassettes

Single–screen cassette

Curved cassette

Gridded cassette

Multisection cassette
 SINGLE SCREEN

• These have single intensifying screen

used with single sided emulsion film.

• Principle application in mammography.

 CURVED CASSETTES
Used where necessary close contact between
object and flat cassette cannot be achieved
e.g. intercondylar projection of flexed knee.
USED TO OBTAIN PANORAMIC VIEW OF
MANDIBLE AND MAXILLA IN OPG.
 GRIDDED CASSETTE
• These have a stationary, secondary
radiation grid in the front well of the
cassette between screen and front of the
cassette.
• It is used where conventional Bucky system
is unavailable. e.g. in ward mobile work.
 MULTISECTION CASSETTES

• Most commonly used in tomography.

• With one radiographic exposure, a set of

films each bearing a image of different layer
height within the body.

• Designed to hold 3-7 films with their

respective intensifying screens and spacers.
 X rays

screens

Foam sponge
filim

The spacers- radiolucent sponge

• Upto 7 cuts on 7 different films can be
recorded with a single exposure.
• Multisection tomography is of particular value
in chest radiography as all films are exposed
during the same respiratory phase.
MULTISECTION CASSETTES
• They have another application in
technique known as multiple
radiography.
• Varying speed intensifying screens , no
spacers.
• Give a desired range of image densities
 OTHER TYPES OF CASSETTES
VACUUM CASSETTES
• Supplied with vacuum pump.
• Made of flexible vinyl material.
• A valve is attached at one edge.
 Cassettes are available in range of sizes-
 18×24 cm and 24×30 cm being the most popular.
Due to their flexibility used
in:
Taking radiography under
a flexed joint.
In mammography.
 CASSETTES AND AUTOMATIC EXPOSURE
DEVICE

• Here cassettes are used with phototiming device

with cassette placed behind it.

• Lead foil is not used here.

 FORMATTER CASSETTE
• Used for imaging from cathode ray tube and
TV monitor in ultrasound, nuclear medicine,
CT, DSA and MRI
• It is used in conjunction with formatter or
video- imager.
• It can hold two single sided emulsion film
and two removable slide.
• They do not contain intensifying screen.
 ANGIOGRAPHY CASSETTE
• Here a film supply cassette is used.

• It can hold up to 30 films of size 35x35 cm.

• During the process the exposed films are

transferred from AOT film supply cassette to AOT
film take up cassette.
AOT FILM SUPPLY CASSETTE
AOT FILM TAKE UP CASSETTE
 PHOTOFLUOROGRAPHY CASSETTE

• Here images are recorded from output

phosphor of an image intensifier.

• Is usually carried out on 70 mm or 105 mm

roll films, or on 100 mm sheet film.
 LOADING AND UNLOADING OF CASSETTE

1. UNLOADING:
• Under safe light,
• Cassette is placed face downwards on the
bench and the locking clip is released.
• The cassette is turned then over and the
front of the cassette tipped so that so that
the film falls from the cassette well.
• The film is removed with the free hand and
the cassette closed
2.LOADING :
• Under safe light.
• Cassette is placed face downwards on
the bench, and opened from the back.
• The unexposed film, lightly gripped at its
edge, is lowered gently into the cassette
well.
• The cassette is closed by bringing over
the back and engaging the locking clip.
 CASSETTE MAINTENANCE
• Record on the cassette the date it was
introduced into the department.
• Keep a record of cassette maintenance,
-e.g. when inspected, when cleaned, when
tested for light leakage, etc.
• Cassettes should be inspected regularly for signs
of damage and withdrawn from service if
necessary.
 Care of x-ray cassettes

Proper
Limit the
loading
number
andofunloading
cassettes of
carried at
Avoid
aKeep
time.them
contact
cassettes. always
with in
fluids
vertical position

Treat the cassettes gently.

 CHECKING A CASSETTE FOR POOR FILM
SCREEN CONTACT

• Film-screen contact has a significant influence

on radiographic image quality.
• Film-screen contact leads to accurate diagnosis.
• The cassette should be tested for contact at
least once in a year.
• PROCEDURE:
• Clean the screen and cassette with screen
cleaning solution recommended by
manufacturer.
• Allow screen to dry completely.
• Load cassette with film and wait for
approximately 3 minutes for trapped air to escape
out of the cassette.
• Place a wire grid (3.15 mm mesh width for
conventional radiography) on top of the cassette.
• Expose the wire grid at 70 kV, so that exposed
film has density of approx. 2.8.
• Process the film and view an illuminator from a
distance
• OBSERVATION:
• Appearance of overall uniform density
indicates uniform film-screen contact.
• Areas, which appear dark, indicate areas of
poor or lack of contact. Such dark areas in
diagnostically important parts of the image
are not acceptable.
 TESTING A CASSETTE FOR LIGHT LEAKAGE

• Light-proofness of cassette is a basic requirement

to protect from loss of data of a radiological
examination.
• PROCEDURE:
• Cassette is fitted with a pair of screens and
loaded with X-Ray film.
• It is exposed for 10 minutes to a 100 watt frosted
tungsten filament lamp located at a distance of 1
metre (39 inches) from the cassette
 EVALUATION
• Increase of density of more than 0.1 on the
edge indicates light leakage.
• Diagnostically important areas for light-
proofness are all 4 edges to a maximum extent
of 3 mm (1/8th inch)