Application of X-ray in the Medical Industry - Report Example

APPLICATION OF X-RAY IN MEDICAL INDUSTRY Name Institution Course Date Introduction The various technological advancements witnessed in the previous decades have without a doubt marked the onset of various developments in almost every industry and field including the health care industry. As a matter of fact, this has brought to light the currently resourceful imaging technology which has remained the hallmark of various treatments globally. Actually, X-ray is also part of the imaging technology whose significance in the modern-day treatment cannot be questioned. This particular paper intends to provide a detailed analysis of X-ray including X-ray absorption and its application in medicine. X-RAY X-rays include sections of the electromagnetic spectrum that have wavelengths than visible light. They have wavelengths that range approximately from 10-8 m to 10-12m. Commonly, the deceleration of high energy electrons hitting the metal marks the source of X-rays. There are diverse forms of the electromagnetic spectrum including include microwaves, radio waves, gamma rays, infrared rays, visible rays, ultraviolet rays and the later X-rays. The evolution of X-ray has brought about broad improvement in the field of medicine application. The fact that X-rays have high frequencies has made that fit in the application in various fields with the medical field not being an exception. Furthermore, being the earliest advanced application in the health industry, the case of treatment of an individual form of cancer have been attributed widely to their ability to destroying and damaging power of living tissues (Beasley and Endle, 2001).X-rays properties are classified into two classes. Stochastic and non-stochastic health effects. Stochastic effects are the ones associated with low-level, but long-term exposure to X-ray radiations. Any example of these effects being cancer. The non-stochastic effects (also known as acute effects) on the other side are the ones related to high-level but short-term exposure to the X-rays radiations.For example, the effect of X-ray burn and the radiation sickness. The radiation sickness mostly leads to premature aging and to some extent they result in death, which generally occurs within a period of two months Medical Application of X-ray Absorption In determining the local geometry of matter and electronic content of the matter, X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS) technology is usually applied. The test, XAS, is conducted at a synchrotron radiation source that typically provides tunable and penetrating X-ray rays. Though our naked eyes cannot see the X-rays, there can felt due to their ability to pass through the human body such as in the bones. Having different frequencies, they are absorption radiation enters the tissue of the body at different rates. When an X-ray detector positioned on the other part of the patient body, the X-rays are then selected up by the sensor as they pass through the body thus tuning up those rays into the physical images (Beasley and Endle, 2001). As a product of this, the radiation is practical by the medical industry in so many ways. Of the recognized and approved application of X-rays includes: X-rays are applied in the fracture recognition in the human body. X-ray for their efficiency in detecting fractures, they have energy particle referred to as photons. The photon radiations have the capabilities of penetrating through the skin though they cannot penetrate the bones. These capabilities of photon radiation to penetrate the skin enable to detect small fractures caused in the bones. For their functionality, the Photon radiation is produced by an X-ray machine that contains an X-ray tube. The tube has electron piston that handles the task of shooting particles. Once the particles are released, they are diverted to hit the affected region with an extra high velocity. Furthermore, X-rays are also obtained from atomic processes that befall at the time the electronics knocks the targeted material (Chettle, 2008). For efficient functionality of detecting a fracture, there are two key processes to be followed. The first process is Bremsstrahlung while the counterpart process is the K-shell emission. In the process of Bremsstrahlung, the X-rays are produced by the act of changing velocity of the electron in the event of hitting the target tungsten (Chettle, 2008). For it to take place, the X-ray radiated slows down as they start turning about the nucleus of the tungsten atom. In the case of K-shell emission, an electron rich in a blast from the cannon hits the tungsten atom that has sufficient energy that thrills the electron from the K-shells of the atom. X-rays are used in Radiation Therapy (Radiotherapy) The radiations are applicable in damaging of cancer cell by curing organs such as the neutrons and protons on the infected parts of the body. The technique being modernized, it has lesser side effects on the recipient than the one used in early instances. The treatment using this method usually requires higher radiation doses as contrasted to the dosage required for imaging alone. Larger beams are commonly used in the diagnosis of cancers within the body such as lung, brain, breast and prostate (Chettle, 2008). X- Rays are used in radiographs Radiographs are X-rays images that are obtained by the mean of illuminating short X-ray pulse through the patient’s parts that are usually located in front of X-ray directors. Usually, radiographs are essential in the study of the skeletal system and the pathology. Being a diversified application technology, especially in the medicine industry, radiography is used in the diagnosis of various diseases (Dalton, 1939). The diseases diagnosed include; pneumonia, kidney stones in tissues that are soft, lung cancer, and gallstones. Furthermore, radiographs can also be used to diagnose oral disabilities such as cavities. The functionality of radiograph is articulated to the fact that bones contain calcium. The calcium handles absorbing X-rays efficiently due to their high atomic number. Though radiograph has been applicable for a longer time, the modernized method has a high efficiency as compared to the traditional one (Dalton, 1939). The conventional photograph is less useful in imaging of tissues that are soft such as muscles or the brain. Fig 1. Diagram of an arm is illustrating broken radius and ulna (Dalton, 1939). X-rays are used to generate fluoroscopic images Fluoroscopy refers to an imaging techniques usually used by doctors. The method is used in therapist radiation or by the physicians to get the actual time of moving photos of some internal parts of the body through the aid of fluoroscopy. Usually, the fluoroscope consists of a screen and an X-ray source. The latest fluoroscope screen is typically connected to CCD video camera and an X-ray object intensifier that enables the object to be noted and played on a monitor. This method can use peculiarity materials like barium gulps to scrutinize oesophageal situations and the cardiac catheterization to education the blockages of the coronary artery (McConnell, Eyres and Nightingale, 2005). X-ray is used for CT scanning In the medical field, the CT scanning is used to produce computed tomographic objects. The CT scanning is a medical objecting system where portions of particular body area are generated from massive series of two-dimensional images of X-rays taken from various directions. The ensuing cross-sectional images can at last be combined. The grouping effects in a three-dimensional picture that shows the inside of the body. Finally, the images are applied in the distinctive medical field for a diagnostic and therapeutic purpose. The illustration in figure 2 tries to elaborate functionality of CT scanning. Figure 2. Sample diagram to illustrate the CT scanning in operation (McConnell, Eyres and Nightingale, 2005) Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) This application is the introduction of highly magnetic and massive computers in X-ray diagnosis. Instead of using X-ray beams as other methods, MRI uses a magnetic field around the affected body to encrypt images. They do work by exposing the patient into magnetic field tubes that force the ions into the body tissues (McConnell, Eyres and Nightingale, 2005). Problems associated with X-ray diagnosis Though imperative in the medical industry, X-ray has problems that cannot be avoided. For instance, the peril of radiation is very rampant to unborn babies. Therefore, the potential investigation should be balanced to the unborn babies. Furthermore, X-ray is the primary sources of human-made exposure to radiation. This usually results from the increased use of X-ray in CT scanning, radiotherapy, radiographs among others. Also, there is variation in X-ray dosage (McConnell, Eyres and Nightingale, 2005). The dose can either affect the functionality of the body. X-ray been a diverse field, it does deal in other areas apart from medicine industry. Some of none medical use of X-ray includes; X-ray crystallography that is used in recording and analyzing of nature lattice. Besides, X-ray astronomy that is used in observational astronomy, X-ray microscopic, industrial radiography, industrial CT, and airport security (McConnell, Eyres and Nightingale, 2005). Success of X-ray application in medical industry The functionality and operation of an X-ray are attributed to the fact that the radiation rates vary due to variable tissues of the body. Most of the X-ray are more efficient in soft tissues while others apply to hard or thick fabric. Also, the success of the engineering of X-ray in the medical is the fact that they have the ability to penetrate the patient’s body, especially the skin. The penetration ability gives a clear vision of the tissue under observation. For an example, the fracture of ulna and radius can be easily identified because of the penetration power of the X-rays in the body. The idea of penetration power can be applicable in a various way such as studying of teeth problem by the dentists. Besides, the diagnostic X-rays increase the risk of developing cancer among other hitches when unprotected to the body. In fact, the World Agency for Research on Cancer (WARC) which is a World Health Organization (WHO) categorizes X-rays as a carcinogen. The fact that is also reinforced by the U.S government. The organization, in that case, projects that the previous computed tomography donates about 0.4% of the current incidences of cancer in the United States. This number is predictable to raise at a rate of about 1.5 to 2% by 2007 rate of CT scan (McConnell, Eyres and Nightingale, 2005). Relevance of X-ray in the present era For the last decades, most doctors have employed the idea of X-ray diagnosis to patients. Taking an example, health officers applies the idea of X-ray when carrying out coronary angioplasty. This idea of X-rays besides helps surgeons to broaden some thin arteries that are found near the heart (McConnell, Eyres and Nightingale, 2005). More so, this X-rays can also be used to screen a catheter alongside one of the patient arteries. Conclusion X-ray been a diversified field, it has much importance in the industrial area. Of the few application used are: the X- ray are used in radiotherapy, the X-ray is used in identification of fractured bones, they are used in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), they are employed in CT scanning, they are also used to generate fluoroscopic images and finally they are used in radiographs (Beasley and Endle, 2001). The capability of the X-ray radiation to pass through the human body tissue, and their ability to be absorbed at a varied rate by the diverse body tissue has prepared it to have a very extensive solicitation in the medical industry. The CT scanning yields diagnostic objects of different individual body parts that are hand-me-down by the health officers to scrutinize those areas. It is also viewed that X-rays are realistic by the physicians and the surgeons in the curing of cancer and other connected body disabilities. The radiations are also used to perceive and investigate disorders in the lenient body tissues and recognize accepted items in the human body. Finally, X-rays are also seen useful by the doctors as a lay down during individuals operations like the coronary angioplasty (Beasley and Endle, 2001). Besides that, the X-rays also have some hazards when exposed to the human body. As discussed above, X-rays can cause cancer, body burn and radiation sickness that can lead to death. Therefore, great care needs to be undertaken by the doctors when carrying out this operation to lower the chances of these risks occurring. For practical functionality of X-ray, they are usually attributed to two concepts: Their ability to penetrate the skin body and their high speed of reaction when they enter the body tissues. Bibliography Beasley, N. and Endle, K., 2001, X rays, Seattle, Wash.: I Knew That, Inc. Chettle, D., 2008, ‘X-ray spectroscopy in medicine’, X-ray Spectrometry, 37(1), pp.1-2. Dalton, P., 1939, ‘Radio therapy in medicine’, Journal of the British Institution of Radio Engineers, 1(1) pp.7-16. McConnell, J., Eyres, R. and Nightingale, J., 2005, Interpreting trauma radiographs, Oxford, UK: Blackwell. Read More

Of the recognized and approved application of X-rays includes: X-rays are applied in the fracture recognition in the human body. X-ray for their efficiency in detecting fractures, they have energy particle referred to as photons. The photon radiations have the capabilities of penetrating through the skin though they cannot penetrate the bones. These capabilities of photon radiation to penetrate the skin enable to detect small fractures caused in the bones. For their functionality, the Photon radiation is produced by an X-ray machine that contains an X-ray tube.

The tube has electron piston that handles the task of shooting particles. Once the particles are released, they are diverted to hit the affected region with an extra high velocity. Furthermore, X-rays are also obtained from atomic processes that befall at the time the electronics knocks the targeted material (Chettle, 2008). For efficient functionality of detecting a fracture, there are two key processes to be followed. The first process is Bremsstrahlung while the counterpart process is the K-shell emission.

In the process of Bremsstrahlung, the X-rays are produced by the act of changing velocity of the electron in the event of hitting the target tungsten (Chettle, 2008). For it to take place, the X-ray radiated slows down as they start turning about the nucleus of the tungsten atom. In the case of K-shell emission, an electron rich in a blast from the cannon hits the tungsten atom that has sufficient energy that thrills the electron from the K-shells of the atom. X-rays are used in Radiation Therapy (Radiotherapy) The radiations are applicable in damaging of cancer cell by curing organs such as the neutrons and protons on the infected parts of the body.

The technique being modernized, it has lesser side effects on the recipient than the one used in early instances. The treatment using this method usually requires higher radiation doses as contrasted to the dosage required for imaging alone. Larger beams are commonly used in the diagnosis of cancers within the body such as lung, brain, breast and prostate (Chettle, 2008). X- Rays are used in radiographs Radiographs are X-rays images that are obtained by the mean of illuminating short X-ray pulse through the patient’s parts that are usually located in front of X-ray directors.

Usually, radiographs are essential in the study of the skeletal system and the pathology. Being a diversified application technology, especially in the medicine industry, radiography is used in the diagnosis of various diseases (Dalton, 1939). The diseases diagnosed include; pneumonia, kidney stones in tissues that are soft, lung cancer, and gallstones. Furthermore, radiographs can also be used to diagnose oral disabilities such as cavities. The functionality of radiograph is articulated to the fact that bones contain calcium.

The calcium handles absorbing X-rays efficiently due to their high atomic number. Though radiograph has been applicable for a longer time, the modernized method has a high efficiency as compared to the traditional one (Dalton, 1939). The conventional photograph is less useful in imaging of tissues that are soft such as muscles or the brain. Fig 1. Diagram of an arm is illustrating broken radius and ulna (Dalton, 1939). X-rays are used to generate fluoroscopic images Fluoroscopy refers to an imaging techniques usually used by doctors.

The method is used in therapist radiation or by the physicians to get the actual time of moving photos of some internal parts of the body through the aid of fluoroscopy. Usually, the fluoroscope consists of a screen and an X-ray source. The latest fluoroscope screen is typically connected to CCD video camera and an X-ray object intensifier that enables the object to be noted and played on a monitor. This method can use peculiarity materials like barium gulps to scrutinize oesophageal situations and the cardiac catheterization to education the blockages of the coronary artery (McConnell, Eyres and Nightingale, 2005).

Read More