Basics of X-ray and Mammographic Systems

Click on labels, arrows, or tube components for more information.
(http://www.dunlee.com/content.cfm/principles_xray_tubes)

X-Ray Tube

• Components
  • Metal housing
  • glass insert (envelope)
    • inside housing
    • filament assembly
    • rotating anode (target)
    • vacuum (air evacuated)
• Oil fills space between glass insert & metal housing
  • electrical insulation
  • conducts heat from insert
• X-ray production
  • heat filament
  • apply large positive voltage to anode (target) relative to filament
  • X-ray beam passes through
    • glass insert
    • oil
    • port.
• Inside of housing wrapped with lead (except for tube port)