X-RAY SET

Typical Number in Hospital: 12

Cost Bands: 5,6,7,8

References: 7

Therapeutic X-ray sets exist for the treatment of skin and superficial disorders, and these consist of an X-ray generator and suitable positioning and beam collimating equipment. However, the majority of X-ray apparatus is for the production of images on film or video screens for diagnostic purposes.

All diagnostic sets consist of an X-ray source (tube) and a detection system which may be photographic film, an image intensifier, or photomultiplier tube, usually with X-ray to optical ray conversion by a fluorescent screen or scintillator. Sets may be designed to undertake a single type of examination, such as dental imaging, or may be generalized sets able to perform single film X-rays, cine, video, tomography, bi-plane etc. Some of these variations are listed below:

1. General purpose. Able to take single films. The unit usually has a couch with the tube mounted above, and the film below. The tube can usually be moved to various positions and angles including the horizontal position for chest films, in which case the cassette and Bucky are in a separate stand.

2. Fluoroscopes. Moving picture images can be obtained using an image intensifier and cine, or video system. Many sets can perform fluoroscopy as well as single films.

3. Cardioangiography sets. Fluoroscopic images and films can be produced, often in two planes simultaneously.

4. Tomographic units. Films showing a single plane within the body can be produced by rotating or moving the tube and film simultaneously so that only images from the chosen plane remain in focus throughout the movement.

5. Dental sets. Small pieces of X-ray film are placed inside the mouth and low-power X-rays applied through the cheeks. Sometimes the X-ray source is placed inside the mouth and the film wrapped around the jaw (Panoral X-ray).

6. Panoral sets. A view through all of the teeth can be obtained by placing a low-power X-ray source inside the mouth and detecting the results on a film wrapped around the jaw.

7. Mammography sets. Good contrast in the soft tissues of the breast can be obtained using a special X-ray tube with a molybdenum anode which produces a narrow band of soft X- rays.

8. CT Scanners. A narrow beam of X-rays is scanned across a section of the body and the X-ray absorption of each point within the scanning plane is determined and displayed by computer.