Course Overview
This course emphasizes the application of physical phenomena in medical radiography. Topics include effect of technique factors on the x-ray spectrum, exposure and dose, attenuation of monoenergetic and poly-energetic x-ray beams, circuits and radioactivity. Image quality will be studied through the analysis of quantum noise, spatial resolution and contrast resolution. Students will learn about solid state physics, detectors, and analog to digital converters in modern imaging equipment. In addition, the physics of CCD cameras, photo stimulable phosphor plates, and other x-ray detectors will be discussed. This course requires the students to perform precise measurement, graph plotting, and data interpretation.
Prerequisite(s)
Credits
6.0
- Not offered this term
- This course is not offered this term. Notify me to receive email notifications when the course opens for registration next term.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, the student will be able to:
- Describe how changes in technique factors will change the x-ray spectrum and resulting exposure
- Describe and perform calculations relating to radiation units such as intensity, exposure and dose.
- Solve mono-energetic x-ray attenuation problems using the attenuation equation and half value layers.
- Calculate the subject contrast of an object based on attenuation calculations.
- Describe the differences between mono-energetic and poly-energetic x-ray attenuation and the effect of beam hardening.
- Compare the two main attenuation mechanisms with respect to their dominance and their effect on scatter and patient absorbed dose.
- Describe and perform calculations relating to binary numbers.
- Describe and perform calculations relating to the spatial resolution of an image and pixel size.
- Describe the effect of aliasing, and predict the presence of aliasing in an image based on the Nyquist theorem.
- Describe and perform calculations relating to image noise, and detective quantum efficiency.
- Describe and draw labeled diagrams for relevant topics relating to solid state physics.
- Describe and perform calculations relating to resistors in series and parallel, and detector circuitry.
- Describe and draw labeled diagrams relating to the structure and forces of the nucleus.
- Read information from a standard Chart of the Nuclides and perform calculations relating to the energetics of nuclear reactions and nuclear decay.
- Describe and perform calculations relating to alpha, beta and gamma decay.
- Perform calculations relating to radioactive decay and half-life.
- Explain the attenuation processes for alpha, beta, and gamma radiation and relate these processes to shielding requirements.
- Perform quality control tests to demonstrate linearity, reproducibility, kV, half value layer, spatial resolution, CR dark noise and uniformity.
Effective as of Winter 2017
Programs and courses are subject to change without notice. Find out more about BCIT course cancellations.