--------- GRIDS ---------

Dileep Raj Janardhan DMRD 1st yr

Contents
Terminology Evaluation of grid performance Lead content Grid cut off Potter bucky grid Air gap techniques

Devices used to remove scattered radiation most effectively from a given radiographic field
Invented by DR. GUSTAVE BUCKY 1913

It consists of series of lead foil strips separated by transparent strips Interspaces of grids are filled either with aluminum or some organic compound

Grid function

HOW GRID WORKS

Primary radiation is oriented in the same axis as lead strips &passes b\t them to reach film unaffected. Scattered radiation arises from many parts & is multidirectional .

So most of scattered radiation is absorbed by lead strips &only a small amount passes b\t them.

Terminology
1. 2. 3. 4. Grid ratio Grid pattern Lines per inch Types of grids Linear grid Cross grid Focussed grid Parallel grid

GRID RATIO
Ratio b\t height of lead strips & the distance b\t them .

Cross section of a grid

GRID RATIO r = h\D = 2\0.25 = 8 r = grid ratio h = height of lead strips D = distance b\t lead strips

Grid ratio is usually expressed as two numbers, such as 10:1 First no: - actual ratio Second no: - always 1

Ratio ranges from 4:1 to 16:1

Higher the ratio better the grid function.

GRID PATTERN Orientation of lead strips in their longitudinal axis.

Two basics grid patterns are linear & crossed.

LINEAR GRID lead strips are parallel to each other in longitudinal axis. Adv:is to angle the x-ray tube along the length of grid with out loss of primary radiation from grid cutoff .

CROSSED GRID Two super imposed liner grids that have same focusing distance.
Grid ratio = sum of ratios of two linear grids.

Crossed grid cannot be used with oblique technique ie. angulation of tube

FOCUSSED GRID
Made up of lead strips that are slightly angulated so that they focus in space linear\crossed .

Linear focused grid converge at a line in space c\d convergent line .

Crossed grid converge at a point in space c\d convergent point .

Focal distance is the perpendicular distance b\t grid & convergent point\line .

Grids have a focusing range distance within which grid can be used without loss of primary radiation.
Focusing range is fairly wide for a low grid ratio & narrow for a high grid ratio .

PARALLEL GRIDS lead strips are parallel when viewed in cross section. They are focused at infinity&are used in fluoroscopic spot film .

LINES PER INCH No: of lead strips per inch of a grid Lines/inch = 25.4/D+d. D=thickness of interspaces in mm d=thickness of lead strips in mm

How good is a grid?

An ideal grid absorbs all secondary radiation and none of the primary A grid can be stated as good depending on howmuch improvement in contrast it can bring But there is always a catch! A good grid will need more patient exposure to give better contrast

Evaluation of grid performance

Primary transmission . Bucky factor . Contrast improvement factor .

PRIMARY TRANSMISSION % of primary radiation transmitted by a grid

Apparatus to measure primary transmission

The x-ray beam is collimated to a narrow pencil of radiation & the phantom is placed a great distance from grid, so no scatter radiation reaches the grid.

Two measurements are made 1, with grid in place to determine intensity of radiation transmitted through the grid
2, after removal of grid to determine the intensity of radiation directed at the grid Ratio of this gives fractional transmission, multiplied by 100 gives % of transmission.

Tp = Ip\I`p x 100 Tp = primary transmission Ip = intensity with grid Ip` = intensity with out grid .`

Anticipated primary transmission .

Primary transmission measured experimentally is less than anticipated. If there is no grid cutoff & no primary radiation is absorbed in interspaces, then % of grid surface area made of interspaces = % of primary transmission.

Tp=D\D+d Tp = anticipated primary transmission . d = thickness of lead strips. D = thickness of interspace.

Bucky factor .
Ratio of incident radiation falling on grid to the transmitted radiation passing through grid

It measures total quantity of radiation absorbed from x-ray beam by grid It tells us how much patient`s exposure is increased by grid

Bucky factor is determined by large x-ray field & thick phantom B=

incident radiation/transmitted radiation

Bucky factor indicates absorption of both primary & secondary radiation.

Higher the bucky factor, greater the exposure factor & radiation dosage to the patient High ratio grid absorb more scatter radiation, so high bucky factor

CONTRAST IMPROVEMENT FACTOR Ratio between contrast with a grid to contrast with out a grid

Ultimate test for grid performance

It measure grids ability to improve contrast

Contrast improvement factor depends on kVp, field size & phantom thickness.

And . Contrast improvement factor is more closely related to lead content than any other factor.

Lead content is expressed in g/cm2

There is a definite relation b\t grid ratio, lead content & no:of lines per inch.

Grid cut off

Loss of primary radiation that occurs when image of lead strips are projected wider than they would be with ordinary magnification.

It is the result of poor geometric relation b\t primary beam & lead foil strips

Cut off is complete & no primary radiation reaches the film when projected image of lead strips are thicker than the width of interspaces. Ie. IN FIGURE if C > B

Situations that produce grid cutoff.

1. focused grid used upside down 2. lateral decentering (ie. Grid angulation ) 3. focus grid distance decentering 4. combined lateral & focus grid distance decentering

Upside down focused grid .

There is severe peripheral cut off with dark band of exposure in center & no exposure at periphery Higher the grid ratio-narrower the exposure When crossed grid is used a small square in center is exposed .

Lateral decentering
There is uniform of loss of radiation over the entire surface producing a uniformly light radiograph Eg. x-ray tube being positioned lateral to the convergent line

Factors that affect the magnitude of cut off from lateral decentering of film .
1,grid ratio. 2,focal distance . 3,amount of decentering .

Calculation of loss of primary radiation with lateral decentering.

L = r b / F0 x 100 L = loss of primary radiation r = grid ratio b = lateral decentering distance Fo = focal distance of grid .

Focus grid distance decentering

Target of x-ray tube is correctly centered to grid, but positioned above or below the convergent line. If target is above the convergent line far focus distance decentering . If target is below the convergent line near focus grid decentering .

The central portion of film is not affected, but periphery is light The cutoff is greater with near than far focus grid distance de-centering

The loss of primary radiation is directly proportional to the grid ratio & distance from convergent line

Equation for calculating the loss of primary radiation. Near focused grid .
L = r c (1\f1 - 1\f0) x100
L = loss of primary radiation F0 = grid focusing distance F1 = target grid distance below the convergence line r = grid ratio c = distance from center of grid

Far focus grid distance decentering.

L = r c (1\f0-1\f2) x100 f2 = target grid distance above convergent line .

Parallel grids are focused at infinity so they are always used with near focus grid distance decentering.

Combined lateral & focus grid decentering .

Most commonly recognized type of grid cutoff Two types tube is above or below convergent line The amount of cut off is directly proportional to grid ratio & decentering distance And inversely proportional to focal distance of grid

Combined decentering is easy to recognize It causes an uneven exposure resulting in a film that is light at the farther side & dark at the nearer side

With equal decentering error the amount of cut off is greater with combined decentering below the convergent line than with combined decentering above the convergent line .

MOVING GRIDS
Dr. Hollis E Potter

Potter bucky grid Grids are moved in order to blur out the shadow cast by lead strips seen otherwise as grid lines on the x ray Most moving grids continuously move 1 to 3cm back & forth through out the exposure.

ADVANTAGE Moving grids eliminate grid lines from the film

Precautions for avoiding grid lines

.

1. Grid must move fast enough to blur its lead lines. If moved slowly either grid lines / random density variations in film are seen 2. Transverse motion of grid should be synchronous with the pulses of x-ray generator, so that the shadow of each strip is superimposed on the shadow of its neighbor

Disadvantages of moving grids

cost subject to failure may vibrate x-ray tube put limitation on minimum exposure time as they move slowly increase radiation dose to patient.

Why does the radiation dose have to increase further in moving grids than non moving types?

1. Due to lateral decentering there will be a 20% reduction in primary radiation 2. Photons are spread out uniformly on the film by a moving grid where as in non moving type, photons concentrate in between lead strips giving 15% more blackening in nonmoving type

Grid selection
8:1 grids will give adequate result below 90 kVp Above 90kVp 12:1 grids are preferable There is little decrease in transmitted radiation beyond 8:1grid & no change between 12:1&16:1, so 12:1is used .

AIR GAP TECHNIQUES

Alternate way of eliminating scatter radiation with large radiographic fields. Intensity of scatter radiation is max at patient s surface & diminishes at increasing distance from surface

Optimum gap width

Large gap helps remove more scatter However a large gap compromises on sharpness, so Focus film distance is lengthened to 6 to 10 feet

4 guidelines to select gap width

1. The thicker the part, the more advantageous a larger gap 2. An increase in film focus distance to compensate for loss of image sharpness 3. Wider gap means more patient exposure, so increase film focus distance also 4. The first inch of air gap more important than the following inches of air gap

Used in
Chest radiography Magnification radiography

Air gap Vs grids

X-ray exposure factors are greater with air gap technique where as patient exposures are greater with grid technique as they absorb some primary radiation, requiring an increase in exposure dose

Reference :
Christensen s Basic Physics of Radiology

Thank you.