Respiratory System

        
   
 

 

  

Arthoscope

Bronchoscope

X - Ray

Apnea Monitor

CAT Scans

Stethoscope

  Purpose: X-ray allows the doctor to see though human tissues into the bones to locate areas of fracture, or injury. It can also be used to examine soft tissues like the lungs, heart, and intestines.

Usage: The machine is placed in front of the patient and the X-ray is shone through the patient onto the fluorescent screen.

Portable: Usually no

Parts of Machine:

  • Electrode pair (cathode and anode) that sits in a vacuum tube – anode draws the electrons across the tube
  • Lead case – ensure that there are no leakage of radiation at untargeted areas
  • Camera – detect the X-ray radiation by exposing the radiation to photographic film
  • Motor – rotates the anode to keep it from melting
  • Oil bath – absorbs heat to prevent anode from melting
  
   
   

An X-ray machine works on the principle of the having X-ray radiation penetrating some parts of the body tissues, but not the others, like the bone. The cathode, which is a heated filament gives out electrons, and the anode (a flat disc) draws them across the tube. The free electron collides with the tungsten atom and knocks an electron out of a lower orbit. The empty position is filled by an electron from a higher orbit, and the excess energy is released as a photon. The photon, when come into contact with the photographic film, will expose the film and is shown by the light areas on the film. Sometimes, in order to detect soft tissues, patients have to swallow a contrast media mixture, usually a barium compound. The contrast media will be injected into the patient's bloodstream if the doctors want to examine blood vessels or other elements in the circulatory system.

Fluoroscopy – X-rays are passed through the body onto the fluorescent screen to create a moving X-ray image. This can also be recorded in the form of a video.

Computed Axial Tomography (CAT) – It is the process of generating 3D images from a number of X-ray photographs.

  • It can kill cancerous cells
  • X-ray can detect the exact location of internal injuries relatively quickly and very accurately

  • Too much exposure will cause radiation sickness, characterized by barfing and loss of hair
  • Too much exposure will kill tissues
  • Too much exposure might mutate the DNA and cause cancerous cells to develop

   
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