4/13/2023

REVIEW 1
EXPERT
“BELIEVE IN YOURSELF,
take on your CHA L L ENGES ,
DIG D E E P
within yourself TO C O N Q U E R FEARS.
Never let anyone bring you down.
YOU G OT TO K E E P GOING.”
CHANTAL SUTHERLAND
Canadian Jockey and Model

I.P.E.: IMAGE PRODUCTION AND

 INTENSIFYING S C R E E N

• Prof. Michael Pupin of Columbia Univ. (1896)

• 1st application of screen in radiography
• Found in a radiographic cassette that
contains
phosphors
• convert x-ray energy to light,
exposes
radiographic film
• Amplifies the image-forming x-rays that reach
the screen-film cassette
• Introduced by Edison (1896)

I.P.E.: IMAGE PRODUCTION AND

 INTENSIFYING S C R E E N S

• Less than 1% of the incident x-rays

interact with the film to contribute
to the latent image.
• The intensifying screens converts
the remnant radiation to light then
produces the latent image. They act
an amplifier of the remnant radiation.

I.P.E.: IMAGE PRODUCTION AND

• About 33% of the x-rays striking the
screens interact with the screens
producing a large number of visible light
photons.
• The use of intensifying screens
results in considerable lower radiation
dose to the patient but has disadvantage of
causing a slight blurring of the image
• Most conventional radiographic cassettes
have a pair of screens that sandwich
the film. This design used double emulsion
film I.P.E.: IMAGE PRODUCTION AND
 S C R E E N CONSTRUCTION

Four Distinct
Layers
• Protective
Coating
• Phosphor
• Reflective Layer
• Base

I.P.E.: IMAGE PRODUCTION AND

 PROTECTIVE COATING
• Closest to the radiographic film
• 10-20 µm thick (Bushong)
• 25 µm thick (Carlton & Adler)
• 0.7 to 0.8 mil thick
• Resistant to the abrasion and
damage caused by handling
• Helps to eliminate the buildup of
static electricity and provides a
surface for routine cleaning without
disturbing the active phosphor.
• Transparent to light
I.P.E.: IMAGE PRODUCTION AND
 PHOSPHORS
• Active layer
• 50 to 300 µm thick (Bushong)
• 150 to 300 µm thick (Carlton &
Adler)
• 1 to 2 mils thickness high
speed; 4 mils for par speed
screens
• Converts the x-ray beam into
light
• Emit light when stimulated
by x-
rays
• Prior to 1980 the most
common phosphor was a
crystalline form of Calcium I.P.E.: IMAGE PRODUCTION AND
Tungstate.
 PHOSPHOR MATERIALS

• Calcium tungstate (CaWO4) =

introduced by Thomas Edison
• Scheelite = natural calcium tungstate
• Barium lead sulfate = used for high
kVp techniques
• Zinc sulfide = used for low kVp
techniques

I.P.E.: IMAGE PRODUCTION AND

RE F L ECT I VE LAYER
• Between the phosphor
and base
• 25 µm thick
(Bushong) &
(Carlton & Adler)
• Made of Titanium
dioxide and
Magnesium oxide
• Increases efficiency of
the radiographic
intensifying
screen, nearly
I.P.E.: IMAGE PRODUCTION AND
 BASE
• Layer farthest from the film
• 1 mm thick and serves
principally as a mechanical
support for the active
phosphor layer.
• 10 thick (Du
mils Pont)
• Made of high- cardboar
grade
or polyester d
plastic. I.P.E.: IMAGE PRODUCTION AND
 FAVORABLE PROPERTIES O F
RADIOGRAPHIC
INTENSIFYING S C R E E N BASE
• Rugged and moisture resistant
• Resistant to radiation damage
and discoloration with age
• Chemically inert and not prone to interact
with the phosphor layer
• Flexible
• Lacking impurities that would be imaged
by x- rays
I.P.E.: IMAGE PRODUCTION AND
 CONVERSION E F F I C I E N C Y

• Calcium tungstate 5%
• Rare-earth phosphors 15 20
to %

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I.P.E.: IMAGE PRODUCTION AND

 INFLUENCES O F THE ACTION
O F INTENSIFYING SCREEN
• Thickness of the
phosphor
layer
• Concentration of
the crystals
• Size of the
crystals

I.P.E.: IMAGE PRODUCTION AND

 LUMI N E S C E N C E

• The x-ray photon is absorbed by the

target atom
• The outer shell electron is raised to
an excited state
• Itreturns to a ground statewith emission
of light photon

I.P.E.: IMAGE PRODUCTION AND

 LUMI N E S C E N C E

• Any material that gives of light in

response to a stimulus is a luminescent
material
Two types of luminescent material
• Fluorescent: gives off light only
during stimulus. Good for screens
• Phosphorescence: continues to give off
light after stimulus. Bad for screens
called Lag or Afterglow
I.P.E.: IMAGE PRODUCTION AND
 PROPERTIES OF S C R E E N S
• Phosphor composition: Rare earth
screens are very efficient in conversion of
x-ray to light.
• Phosphor thickness: the thicker the
phosphor layer, the higher the number of x-
rays converted to light.
• High speed screens have thick layer.
Detail screens have a thin layer
• Reflective layer will increase speed
and blur I.P.E.: IMAGE PRODUCTION AND
 S C R E E N S P E E D (SENSITIVITY)
• Controlled primarily by the following
• Phosphor used
• Phosphor size (larger phosphors are faster)
• Active layer thickness (thicker layer is faster)
• Efficiency of reflective layer (higher efficiency makes
screen faster)
• kVp used (higher kVp increases screen speed)
• Presence of yellow dye in active layer (yellow dye
absorbs some of the phosphors light and reduces
speed)
• Conversion efficiency – ability of the phosphor to
absorb x- ray energy and convert it to visible
light rays; higher conversion efficiency results in
faster screens I.P.E.: IMAGE PRODUCTION AND