Viewpoint

The

Abuse
Thomas

of Radiographic
T. Thompson, M.D.

Tubes

Introduction
With spective diagnosis there pitals
that

Causes
this fall of probased groups pressure and (DRGs), on hosit is likely will share

of Radiographic Failure
failure always and simply of heat tube by of an related x-ray

Tube

ufacturers now recognize major problem and place is scribing on the nately proper generator many warmup console; technologists

this decals

as a de-

the advent reimbursement related

on almost

The duction, ened amount Although into

target

tube pro-

procedure unfortudo procedure, not

to heat controlling of factors

will
radiology

be great costs;

life can

be lengththe come in the tube.

to reduce efforts Such

follow the however.

recommended

departments

generated tubes
(2)

in their expenses.

to reduce cost threatening, the operating

department

operating containment but one expenses

without

a number x-ray by:

(anode),

play,

are

damaged a cold
the fila-

Filament
Filament major (mA) filament,

Evaporation
evaporation is another as current x-ray tube to a before (In some
of power is

pressures are way to reduce

of the radiology

basically ment over

(1) overheating
heating

an unduly

extended

pen-

diminishing it, is to seek radiographic Almost tubes have technical

mon evaporation,

the resources available to to extend the useful life of tubes. 95 percent to the damaged error. The
include: (2) anode

od, (5) overloading misusing the high trol.

the tube and (4) speed rotor con-

problem. Normally, flows through the the filament

is heated

of damaged manufacturer as a result effects

(1) filament (5)

predetermined temperature the x-ray exposure is made.

cases, a nominal amount

returned been
errors

of

Overheating
Warming important useful erated target step

a Cold
up an x-ray in

Anode
tube is an the

placed posures filament power prior

on the

filament

between

ex-

of comprolonging

to achieve heating. to the filament to an exposure.)

a standby In this

level of case, the just event,

erosion,

is boosted In any

cracked frozen these

anodes bearings. types

and (4) burned out or For the most part, are controllacontrol, could signifithe useful life of the

life of the tube. If heat is genin a cold target too quickly, the will not expand
it

of damage

uniformly,
will crack.

and
This

the filament are released heating

is placed

is heated so that electrons or boiled off. Filament until

the gap

ble and, their cantly extend x-ray tube.

in many cases, process is similar cookware

it in a hot oven.

continues
across

a high
between

voltage
the

to taking and
a Such

pottery placing
dish, if

out of a freezer gradually, to a sudden, a high

will same cause heat

cathode
celerates

and
the

anode.
electrons

(This with heat

voltage
the

acgap,

across

warmed exposed Similarly,

target but get the may

will not crack; dramatic likely load heat

load

but

causes generating
makes

them
the

to collide x rays and

exposure.)

the anode and, time thus,

the

change to do so. on a hot

damage, tarmanMost

in temperature Dr. Thompson is Professor of Radiology at the University of Miami, and Director of Radiology of the University of Miami Hospital and Clinics.

is very

Heating

filament duces

over what

a prolonged is known as

pro-

not do significant it to crack.

filament

on a cold

evaporation; minute particles of tungsten metal are deposited on the

Volume

5, Number

September

1985

RadioGraphics

397

Thompson

Radiographic

tubes

glass ly, an occur

envelope electrical with the

of the tube. short high voltage

Eventualwill arcing

tage

exceeds

the kilowatts

allowed

for

circuit

an instantaneous particular tube.

instances, protects load. heat occurs study:

exposure on that Except for isolated

times faster than standard thus, provides for more pation of heat), the wear x-ray tube experienced leads life. Control may matic. whenever be manual High of a high or, more speed exposure to

speed (and, rapid dissifactor on the that This tube rotor autois used exceed

between the cathode, lope and the anode. bution from sures heated to filament

the glass enveA major contnievaporation results

the design of the generator against instantaneous overis more of the likely tube, to result,

bearings is nine times at standard speed. a great decrease speed often, in

Damage

delaying or withholding expoafter the filament has been and the rotor has been brought

however,

from
primarily lumbosacral

exceeding

the

capacity

total and this

up to speed.

Most filament

evapora-

in two types of spine studies and only way to protect the heat capacity of a lumbosacral the in-service spine edu-

rotation factors

tion problems can through the in-service the cases, place control rotation control. switches seconds) is activated is made. This equipment

be corrected education of In some have that to remake

tomography. The against exceeding the tube during series, is through

operators.

certain limits; in the manual mode, conversion to high speed rotation is made by activating a button or toggle switch. Again, unfortunately, the rotor control is often left on high speed, even when it is unnecessary; this eventually the tube.
is used, it

however, one may two position switches

of filament heating and anode independent of exposure Single provide between delay position a delay the time provides exposure (about 0.8 the control the exposure time for

cation of technologists, assuming exposure techniques are satisfactory. There are two ways to protect against exceeding the heat capacity of the tube in the course of a tomographic examination. One, if two technologists work together to perform tomography, be made If a single entire longer the exposures faster than technologist will invariably the tube can cool. the

leads
should

to destruction

of

If a high

speed rotor control be automatic to

and the time

prevent

this occurrence.

The
control

issue
and

of high
bearing

speed
deterioration

rotor

the filament to be heated and for the rotor to come up to speed, but it is impossible with such a switch to voluntanily extend heating. Filament more stations rapidly are used. the time evaporation if high Another of filament occurs disadvan-

performs

procedure, to complete, interval between

it will take a little but, by extending exposures, this

raises another problem. The operation of an x-ray tube at standard anode rotation speed is essentially vibrationless. speed from
frequencies

As the anode (or returned high speed)

of rotation

is taken to normal are

through

to high speed resonant

which

milliamperage

tage to the constant use of high mA stations is that the focal spot enlarges, thereby degrading spatial (1). resolution in the radiograph

serves to protect the tube. Two, a time delay switch may be installed on the generator that will prevent exposures from being made too rapidly to permit adequate anode cooling.

there

the rotor must rotor to rotate prolonged

pass. Permitting at these speeds causes vibration

the for

periods

and rapid destruction Hence, anodes must

of the tube. be quickly ac(very difficult anodes) and high speed to friction pro-

Misuse Exceeding Tube Heat Capacity

of High

Speed

Rotation

celerated

to high

with The question rotation of the x-ray perplexing letter in Graphics of high speed tube anode is a Grays Radioquickly standard duced greater current higher problem, tube rently erated pable
30,000

large

speed diameter from The

brought speed.

heat

The importance of x-ray tube rating charts has been taught by

one. In Dr. Joel a recent issue of

(2),

radiologic technology programs for many years. Yet in actual practice,

he stated

that

the Mayo

by the bearings at speeds than 9-10,000 rpm prevents tubes from being operated at speeds. Toshiba without in field To overcome has developed this a

few technologists ever refer To overcome the problem

ceeding most with instantaneous modem technique generators overload tube

to them. of exratings,

Clinic was ordering high speed tubes for single phase equipment. This offers some in shortening operation, proximately (rpm);
Whereas,

advantages tube

but

may

result tube

life. In normal

bearings that is curtrials. This tube is opflux and is caapproximately clinical may have trial merit is

are designed relays that

the anode 5,000 times speed, speed

rotates apper minute rpm. is three

in a magnetic of speeds of rpm. this If the tube

will come into play of milliamperage,

if the combination time and kilovol-

at high high

9-10,000 rotation

successful,

398

RadioGraphics

September

1985

Volume

5, Number

Radiographic

tubes

Thompson

in CT

scanning, forms

digital

radiography sequence

and in other radiography.

of rapid

target This from

angle permits a larger

may one

be made steeper. to dissipate heat on the target

exposures portant

will

result.

This

is an im-

consideration To select an x-ray

in protecting tube, first de-

area

CT tubes.
termine from the manufacturer what tubes are available for the equipment in question. hanger particular
100

Choice
X-ray various size, and a tube lecting heat target tubes angle, capacity.

of Tubes
are available of focal target The useful with spot life of

without increasing the area of the focal spot as it is projected on the plane of the film. As the target angle steepens, however, the area that can be covered by the beam decreases.

In some tube.

cases,

the

tube a

can be retrofitted In general, with a 0.6/1.2 for most mm in diameter and

to receive an anode a 12_iso mm focal

combinations

Hence,
target

small focal spots require

angles distance and provide than less

steep
film focal

diameter,

coverage
receptor spots. can

at a standard

source-image
do large

target spot

angle is adequate

may be compromised by Sethe wrong tube at the outset application.

applications.

A small
The heat capacity also be increased of the tube by increasing

investment

in an exposure

for a particular

The
facturers

National

Electrical
XR5-1974) tolerances

Manustandard stipuin x-ray they are be

Association

the
target

diameter
diameter

of the
over

target.

As the
the heat area that is incan

counter is money well spent, and the next time a tube is replaced, insist on a tube report from the tube manufacturer.

(NEMA Standard latesacceptable focal smaller spots than and to be measured.

increases, a larger of heat

distributed creasing be

specifies Focal

how

the amount

spots cannot

the nominal

size, but for

dissipated per unit time. diameter targets, however,

longer to come up to operating

Larger take
speed

Summary To avoid
placement, the specific select

focal spots of less than 0.8 millimeters, the tolerance is plus 50 percent; of 0.8 through of greater cent. spot 1.5 mm, than actually smaller plus 40 percent; 1.5 mm, measure plus and 30 per0.9 spot, mm

unnecessary
a tube

tube
designed at hand,

refor and

than do smaller targets; and this may become a limiting factor in some radiographic applications.

application

Hence,
may The

a nominal

0.6 mm focal stanthe

There the market

culate

are all kinds of devices on designed to detect or calof heat in the tube, designed of heat the heat the tube capaciat 70 life tube

then insist that technologists a few basic rules: (1) follow

observe meticu-

and
dards.

still be within is the spatial

recording. the heat and

acceptable
the focal

the amount

better token,
smaller the

resolution

in the

and there are other devices to facilitate the dissipation from sensors operate ty,
can

lously the warmup routine prescribed by the manufacturer-never make a diagnostic exposure with a cold tube;
(2) do not delay

the exposure been heated

once and

the the

radiographic

By the same area lower of the

the tube.

In many

cases, to have of heat the tube

filament rotor in any has

has

the smaller

the focal spot is, the

dissipating hence the

are designed at 80 percent by operating of heat

(5) consult

target,

but

been brought up to speed; the tube heat rating chart extended study and take care the specified speed limits anode and rotause high

kilowatt

rating

of the x-ray

tube.

To

percent

capacity,

not to exceed

increase the kilowatt rating with a focal spot of specified

of a tube size, the

be just about doubled! a few more seconds delay

And, only between

( 4) never
tion

unnecessarily.

References
1. Thompson U. Selecting medical x-ray film. Applied Radiology 1974; 3:47-50.
Gray JE. Letter to the Editor. Ra-

2.

dioGraphics

1983; 3(2):324.

Volume

5, Number

September

1985

RadioGraphics

399