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Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:
A. Radiation Concepts
1. Describe the branches of science.
2. Differentiate between matter and energy.
3. Describe the basic structure of matter.
4. Identify the various types of energy.
5. Explain the basic concepts of atomic theory.
6. Differentiate between the radiations along the electromagnetic spectrum.
7. Describe the wave and particle theories for electromagnetic radiation.
8. Identify the properties of x-rays.
9. Explain the standard units of measurement.
B. X-Ray Equipment
1. Describe various diagnostic-equipment, table, tube-support, and ancillary
equipment configurations.
2. State incoming line current characteristics.
3. Explain the functions of the basic components of the main and filament
x-ray circuits.
4. Differentiate phototimers from ionization chamber exposure controls.
5. Describe the placement and function of a phototimer and ionization
chamber automatic exposure control.
6. Describe potential problems that could be caused by minimum reaction
times.
7. Justify the use of backup time when using automatic exposure controls.
C. The X-Ray Tube
1. Discuss the necessary characteristics of filament metals and
construction.
2. Describe the control of thermionic emission from the filament.
3. Select exposure factors and techniques that will extend tube life.
4. Explain the function and design of a grid-biased focusing cup.
5. Discuss the characteristics of anode targets.
6. Explain the line-focus principle and its effect on anode target design.
7. Explain the anode heel effect and its effect on primary beam intensity.
8. Explain the production of off-focus radiation.
9. Describe the function of a rotating anode induction motor, stator and
rotor.
10. Discuss the construction of the glass envelope and protective housing.
11. Calculate safe exposures when provided with a tube-rating chart, anode
cooling curve and housing cooling curve.
D. X-Ray Production
1. State the percentage of electron energy that is converted to x-ray photon
energy in the x-ray tube.
2. Describe a bremsstrahlung target interaction.
3. Describe a characteristic target interaction.
4. Identify the factors affecting characteristic K-shell photon production.
5. Explain the shape of the x-ray photon emission spectrum curve.
E. Radiation Protection
Concepts and Equipment
1. Describe the nature of ionizing
radiation.
2. Identify the types of biological effects
of ionizing radiation.
3. Identify the principle sources of
ionizing radiation.
4. Define the quantities and units used for
measurement of radiation.
5. Describe devices used to detect and
measure radiation, including field survey
instruments and personnel monitoring
devices.
F. Radiation Protection
Procedures for patients and Personnel
1. Differentiate between the various
advisory groups and regulatory agencies
involved in developing radiation protection
standards.
2. Explain the concept of dose limits
related to the use of radiation.
3. Describe the ALARA concept.
4. Explain the basic principles of reducing
exposure to radiation.
5. Describe techniques used to minimize
radiation exposure to patients and personnel.
6. Discuss the precautions that should be
taken to minimize potential fetal exposures.
G. Filtration
1. Define filtration, inherent filtration, added filtration, compound
filtration, compensating filtration, and total filtration.
2. Explain the concept of half-value layer equivalency measurements
of filtration.
3. Describe the effect of filtration on the entire x-ray beam.
H. The Prime Factors
1. Explain the relationship between milliamperage (mA), exposure time, mAs
and x-ray emission.
2. State the reciprocity law.
3. Calculate mAs when given mA and exposure time, mA when given mAs and
exposure time, and exposure time when given mAs and mA.
4. Explain the relationship between kVp and x-ray emission.
5. State the 15 percent rule.
6. Calculate the new kVp value needed to maintain density when changes are
made in mAs, using the 15 percent rule.
7. Explain the relationship between distance and x-ray emission.
8. State the inverse square law.
9. Calculate x-ray emission (mR) when distance is changed.
10. Calculate the mAs needed to maintain density when changes are made in
distance, using the density maintenance formula.
I. X-Ray Interactions
1. Define attenuation.
2. Explain the interactions between x-rays and matter in the following:
a. photoelectric absorption
b. coherent scattering
c. Compton scattering
d. pair production
e. photodisintegration
3. Describe the relationship between x-ray interactions and technical factor
selections.
J. Beam Restriction
1. Identify the factors that affect the amount of scatter radiation
produced.
2. Discuss the primary methods used by radiographers to control the amount
of scatter radiation reaching the film.
3. Explain the purpose and construction of beam-restricting devices.
4. Compare the advantages and disadvantages of the various beam restricting
devices.
5. Describe the effect of beam restriction on image quality and patient
dose.
K. The Patient As A Beam Emitter
1. Explain the process of attenuation.
2. Describe the basic composition of the human body.
3. Describe the effect of the human body on the attenuation of the x-ray
beam.
4. Explain the relationship of the subject (patient) to the density,
contrast, recorded detail and distortion of the recorded image.
L. The Pathology Problem
1. Explain the effect a pathological condition can have on radiation
absorption.
2. Describe the effect of pathology on radiographic images.
3. Differentiate between pathological conditions that result in increased
attenuation vs. those that result in decreased attenuation of the x-ray
beam.
4. Identify pathological conditions which result in an increased attenuation
of the x-ray beam.
5. Identify pathological conditions which result in a decreased attenuation
of the x-ray beam.
M. The Grid
1. Describe the purpose of the grid.
2. Explain the construction of the grid.
3. Describe various grid patterns.
4. Differentiate between parallel and focused grids.
5. Differentiate between the uses of a stationary grid and a moving grid.
6. Explain the relationship between grid selection to patient dose and
radiographic density.
7. Calculate changes in technical factors to compensate for changes in grid
selection.
8. Describe methods for evaluating the performance of a grid.
9. Describe common errors that are made when using a grid and the effects of
these errors on the radiographic image.
N. Radiographic Film
1. Describe the components of radiographic film.
2. Explain the production of silver halide crystals.
3. State the purpose of various additives to radiographic film.
4. Discuss the differences between direct exposure film, screen film and
films for various special applications.
5. Describe latent image formation.
6. Explain the fundamentals of proper film storage and handling.
7. Discuss automated daylight loading systems.
8. Explain the responsibilities involved in proper radiograph
identification.
9. Identify common radiographic film artifacts.
O. Film Processing
1. Explain the process of film development.
2. Describe the synergistic properties of automatic processor reducing
agents.
3. Identify the primary chemical and its function for each of the developer
and fixer agents.
4. Explain the process of film fixation.
5. Explain the washing and drying processes of film archiving.
6. Describe the functions of the subsystems of an automatic processor.
7. Discuss the design of a radiographic darkroom, including entrances, pass
boxes, centralized and decentralized plans.
8. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the various types of silver
recovery units.
P. Intensifying Screens
1. Explain the purpose of radiographic intensifying screens.
2. Describe the function of each layer of an intensifying screen.
3. Evaluate the desirability of phosphor materials according to atomic
number, conversion efficiency, spectral emission, and fluorescence.
4. Describe luminescence.
5. Analyze the effect of phosphor crystal size, layer thickness, and
concentration on intensifying screen resolution.
6. Explain the effect of film/screen contact on resolution.
7. Describe how to remedy quantum mottle.
8. Classify intensifying screens according to intensification factor,
descriptive rating and relative speed number.
9. Describe the components of a radiographic cassette.
10. Describe the proper cleaning and care of radiographic cassettes and
screens.
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