INTENSIFYING SCREENS

Jose generoso Tolentino angkang

Screen construction
•Less than 1% of the x-rays incident on
radiographic film interact with the film
and contribute to the latent image.
•30% of the x-rays striking a radiographic
intensifying screen interacts with the
screen.
 Intensifying screen
•The Radiographic Intensifying Screen
amplifies the image-forming x-rays that reach
the screen-film cassette.
•Reflective Layer – Increases the efficiency of
the radiographic screen. Doubling the light
•Base – Mechanical Support
Benefits & Disadvantage
•Lowers Patient Dose & Blurs the
Image (Not Much)
PROTECTIVE COATING
•Helps eliminate the build up of static
electricity.
•Resistant to abrasion and damage by
handling
•Provides a surface for cleaning without
disturbing phosphors
phosphor
•The Active Layer of the Screen
•Emits light by stimulation of x-ray
•Calcium Tungstate was used in the past
•Rare Earth Materials – Gadolinium,
Lanthanum in modern.
 Intensifying screen req’d
Proper Spectral Matching
DQE – Detective Quantum Efficiency
CE – Conversion Efficiency
High Atomic Number, X-ray absorption is High
Afterglow
Phosphor must not be affected by environmental
conditions
Isotropic emission
•Radiation with equal intensity in all
directions
luminescence
•Any Material that emits light in response to
some out side stimulation.
Properties of the screen
•Rugged and moisture-resistant
•Resistant to radiation damage and
discoloration
•Chemically inert
•Flexible
•Lacking impurities
Screen speed

•It’s a relative number on how fast x-rays

are converted to light
•100 (slow) to 1200 (very fast)
Intensification factor
•IF = exposure required without screen
exposure required with screen
 Entrance skin exposure
• A pelvic examination using a 100 speed Intensifying
screen is taken at 75 KvP, 50 mAs, results to an ESE
of 200 mR.
• A similar examination taken without screens would
result in an ESE of 6400 mR
• What is the approximate IF of screen-film
combination?
solution
•IF = exposure required without screen
exposure required with screen
•IF = 6400 = 32
200
Properties cannot be controlled
•Phosphor composition
•Phosphor Thickness
•Reflective Layer
•Dye
•Crystal Size
•Concentration of phosphor crystals
Image noise
•Appears as speckled on a radiograph, salt
and pepper appearance
•Higher conversion efficiency results in
increased noise.
Quatum mottle
•A prinicipal component of image noise.
•Only half as many x-rays are required, and
this result in increase.
Image detail
•Spatial Resolution
•Contrast Resolution
Advantage of proper use
•Increased
Flexibility of KvP selection
Adjustment of radiographic contrast
Capacity of magnification radiography
Spatial resolution when using smaller
focal spots
Advantage of proper use
•Decreased
•Patient Dose
•Occupational Exposure
•X-ray tube heat production
•X-ray exposure time
•X-ray tube mA
•Focal Spot size
Most common cause to poor screen – film
contact
•Worn Contact Felt
•Loose, bent, or broken hinges and latches
•Warped screen caused by excessive
moisture
•Warped cassette front
•Sprung or cracked cassette frame
•Foreign matter under the screen