Application of x-rays

As we know that the X-rays are generated from X-ray machines. The possible use of X-rays is in:

1. health care for visualising bone structures and other dense tissues such as tumours.
2. Non-medicial applications include security and
3. material analysis.

The Surgical mobiles X-rays machines can produce images continuously. There are two main fields in which x-ray machines are used in medicine:

1. radiography and
2. dentistry.

Lets discuss them in some detail.

The use of x-rays machines in Radiography:

In medicine the Radiography is used for fast, highly penetrating images. The Radiography is usually used in areas with a high bone content. Some forms of radiography are as under:

1. orthopantomogram: It is a panoramic x-ray (image) of the jaws showing all the teeth at once in a single image,
2. mammography: The scaning and imgaes of breasts with x-rays to check the general health and to find any abnormality in the breast tissues
3. tomography: It is the collection of multiple images taken from different directions with x-ray so that we have imaging in differnt sections.
4. Radiotherapy: cancer or tumer treatment, the x-rays are used as radiation to treat the malignant cancer cells, This a non-imaging application of x-rays in health care.
5. Fluoroscopy: It is used in cases where real-time visualization is necessary (and is most commonly encountered in everyday life at airport security).
6. angiography: The x-rays are used to examine blood vessels in real time, the process is called angiography.
7. barium enema: This is a procedure used to examine problems of the colon and lower gastrointestinal tract.
8. barium swallow: This is very similar to a barium enema, but used to examine the upper gastroinstestional tract.
9. biopsy: the removal of tissue for examination from the body of a patient with x-rays.

As, the X-rays are highly penetrating ionizing radiation, therefore, the X-ray machines are used to take pictures of dense tissues such as bones and teeth. This is because bones absorb the radiation more than the less dense soft tissue in the other parts of the body. X-rays from a source pass through the body and onto a photographic cassette. Areas where radiation is absorbed show up as lighter shades of grey (closer to white). This can be used to diagnose broken or fractured bones. In fluoroscopy, imaging of the digestive tract is done with the help of a radiocontrast agent such as barium sulfate, which is opaque to X-rays.
The use of X-RAYS in Security:
Hand-luggage inspection machine at an airport.
The X-ray machines are used to screen objects non-invasively. Luggage at airports and student baggage at some schools are examined for possible weapons, including bombs. These machines are very low dose and safe to be around. The main parts of an X-ray Baggage Inspection System are the generator used to generate x-rays, the detector to detect radiation after passing through the baggage, signal processor unit (usually a PC) to process the incoming signal from the detector, and a conveyor system for moving baggage into the system.
What is the Operation of x-rays when they are used in Security:
When baggage is placed on the conveyor, it is moved into the machine by the operator. There is an infrared transmitter and receiver assembly to detect the baggage when it enters the tunnel. This assembly gives the signal to switch on the generator and signal processing system. The signal processing system processes incoming signals from the detector and reproduce an image based upon the type of material and material density inside the baggage. This image is then sent to the display unit.
Colour classification with X-rays:
X-ray images of a backpack. Organic and inorganic materials are discriminated in using dual energy techniques. The color of the image displayed depends upon the material and material .