The student will be able to:

1. describe the x-ray circuit components and principles.
2. evaluate the principles and application of automatic exposure control (AEC) systems and its effect on radiation protection.
3. describe the troubleshooting methods used to maintain diagnostic x-ray tubes.
4. describe the importance of a good quality management system and how it is accomplished.
5. evaluate the effects of image quality factors on image brightness, contrast, spatial resolution and distortion of digital images.
6. describe the considerations that must be analyzed for setting optimal patient exposure factors.
7. create a personalized technique chart.
8. compute the technical factors for pediatric patients.

1. X-ray circuit
   1. Electricity
      1. Potential difference
      2. Current
         1. Direct
         2. Alternating
      3. Resistance
   2. Protective devices
      1. Ground
      2. Circuit breaker
   3. Transformers
      1. Step-up
      2. Step-down
   4. Components and functions
      1. Primary circuit
      2. Secondary circuit
      3. Filament circuit
   5. Rectification
      1. Purpose
      2. Solid state
      3. Types
         1. Single phase
         2. Three phase
         3. Falling load
         4. High frequency
   6. Automatic exposure control devices
      1. Ionization chambers
      2. Maximum reaction time
      3. Back-up time
      4. Positioning considerations
         1. Cell locations
         2. Cell size
         3. Cell sensitivity
      5. Compensating for variations of patient size and pathology
2. Automatic exposure control devices
   1. Ionization chambers
   2. Solid-state detector
   3. Minimum response time
   4. Back-up time
   5. Alignment/positioning considerations
      1. Cell locations
      2. Cell size
      3. Cell sensitivity/balance
      4. Compensation issues
      5. Patient size
      6. Pathology/metal
      7. Beam size
      8. Image receptor variations
3. Troubleshooting diagnostic x-ray tubes
   1. Extending tube life
      1. Warm-up procedures
      2. Rotor considerations
      3. Filament considerations
      4. Tube loading
      5. Tube movement
      6. Heat units
   2. Radiographic cooling chart
   3. Anode cooling chart
   4. Tube housing cooling chart
4. Quality control
   1. Definitions
      1. Quality improvement/management
      2. Quality assurance
      3. Quality control
   2. Benefits
      1. Patient
      2. Reduction in radiation exposure
      3. Efficiency of patient care
      4. Departmental
      5. Consistency in production of quality diagnostic images
      6. Cost-effectiveness
   3. Elements
      1. Standards for quality
      2. Communications
      3. Quality management manual
      4. Responsibility and administration
      5. Test equipment, procedures and training
      6. Record-keeping
      7. Test review
      8. Evaluation
      9. Continuing education
   4. Generator calibration
      1. kVp
      2. Milliamperage
      3. Timer accuracy
   5. Miscellaneous
      1. Illuminator calibration
      2. Video monitor calibration
5. Digital radiographic quality factors
   1. Effect of mAs, kV, OID, SID, focal spot size, grids, beam restriction, patient motion, patient thickness and beam alignment on:
      1. Image brightness
      2. Contrast
      3. Spatial resolution
      4. Distortion
6. Factors affecting the selection of technical factors
   1. Patient factors
      1. Anatomic thickness
         1. Sthenic
         2. Hyposthenic
         3. Hypersthenic
         4. Asthenic
      2. Body composition
         1. Mass density
      3. Pathology
         1. Destructive diseases
         2. Additive diseases
      4. Prime factors
         1. mAs
         2. kV
         3. SID
      5. Other factors
         1. Post mortem
         2. Foreign bodies
         3. Casts and splints
7. Technique charts
   1. Caliper measurement
   2. Fixed kV/variable mAs
   3. Variable kV/fixed mAs
   4. Anatomically preprogrammed radiography
8. Pediatric techniques
   1. Short exposure time
   2. Non-grid
   3. Fixed vs. AEC
   4. Technical factors for birth-12 years of age
      1. Using a percentage of the adult technique
      2. Using comparison of pediatric body parts to adult body parts in determining technical factors

Not applicable.

Quizzes
Midterms
Final examination
Circuit group project

Lecture
Discussion
Cooperative learning exercises
Demonstration

Bushong, Stewart. Radiologic Science for Technologists. 2021.

Fauber, Terri. Radiographic Imaging and Exposure. 2021.

Clover Learning online platform

1. Weekly reading assignments from assigned chapters, approx. 1 chapter per week
2. Assigned videos and practice quizzes on the Clover Learning platform