There are three categories of x-ray beam restrictors: aperture diaphragms, cones and cylinders, and collimators. They all function to regulate the size and shape of the x-ray beam. Closely collimating the beam provides two main advantages: it exposes a smaller area of the patient, and it reduces scatter radiation. Properly aligning the light and x-ray beams is important for patient safety and image quality.

1. XRAY BEAM
RESTRICTORS
-KRITHIKA

2. THREE CATEGORIES
• APERTURE DIAPHRAGMS
• CONES AND CYLINDERS
• COLLIMATORS

3. APERTURE DIAPHRAGMS
• Simplest type
• Made up of a sheet of lead with a hole at its centre.
ADVANTAGE:
- Simplicity ( lead being soft, the aperture can be easily altered to any
desirable size and shape)
DISADVANTAGE:
- large penumbra at the periphery of the xray field

5. Penumbra
• The centre of the xray field is exposed by the entire
focal spot, but the periphery sees only a portion of it.
• This partially exposed periphery of the xray field is
called the PENUMBRA.
TECHNIQUE TO REDUCE THE WIDTH OF THE
PENUMBRA:
- By positioning the aperture diaphragm as far away
from the xray target as possible.

6. CONES AND CYLINDERS
• CONES:
- flare shaped.
• CYLINDERS:
- beam restriction at the far end of the barrel, so less
penumbra.
- may be equipped with extensions to increase their
length for better beam restriction.

7. COLLIMATORS
• Best all round xray beam restrictor device.
• ADVANTAGES:
- Provides an infinite variety of rectangular
xray fields.
- light beam shows the centre and the exact
configuration of the xray field.

8. STRUCTURE OF A COLLIMATOR
• Two sets of shutters to control the
dimension.
- each shutter contains 4 or more lead plates,
which move in independent pairs.
- when the shutters are closed, they meet at
the centre.
• Light beam from a light bulb in the
collimator.

10. • The light beam is deflected by a mirror mounted in the path
of the xray beam at an angle of 45 degree.
• The target of the xray tube and the light bulb should be the
exactly same distance from the centre of the mirror.

12. • A collimator can also identify the center
of the xray field which is accomplished
by painting a cross line on a thin sheet
of plexiglass mounted on the end of
the collimator.
• A backup system is available in case if
the light burns out with the help of a
calibrated scale which will determine
the xray field size for various target-film
distances.

13. AUTOMATIC COLLIMATORS
• POSITIVE BEAM LIGHTING DEVICES
• Shutters are motor driven.
• When a cassette is loaded into the film holder, sensors will identify the alignment of
the cassette.
• Then the information is relayed to the collimator motors, which will position the
shutters to exactly match the size of the film being used.
• These devices must be accurate to within 2% of the source to image distance (SID).

14. • A perfectly aligned collimator will leave an unexposed border on
all sides of the developed film

15. TESTING XRAY BEAM AND LIGHT
BEAM ALIGNMENT
• Alignment has to be checked periodically.
MATERIALS REQUIRED:
• Four L shaped wires.
• 14 to 17 inch xray film
• Lead letter R

16. Procedure
• Place the film on the top of the x-ray table
• Open the shutter to a convenient size ( 10x10in)
• Carefully position the L shaped wires at the corner of the light field
• Place the R in the right lower corner.
• Then make an xray exposure. ( 40in.,3.3mAs, 40kVp) to mark the position of
the x-ray field on the film.

17. • Without touching the film or wires, enlarge the field size to
12x12 in. and expose the film for the second time.
The dark centre shows the position of the xray beam and the wires
indicate the position of the light beam.

18. HOW TO ADJUST A MISALIGNED MIRROR?
• Return the processed xray film to its original position. The R
in the right lower corner assists in orienting the film properly.
• Position the light beam to the images of the wires, as we dis
earlier for the film exposure and adjust the mirror in the
collimator until the light beam coincides exactly with the xray
field (the dark area on the film)

19. FUNCTION OF XRAY BEAM
RESTRICTORS
• PATIENT PROTECTION
• TO DECREASE SCATTER RADIATION

20. PATIENT PROTECTION
• Mechanism by which collimation protects the patient:
-smaller the xray field, smaller the volume of the patient that is
irradiated.
For example, if a 20x20 cm field is collimated to a 10x10cm, the area of the
patient that is irradiated decreases from 400 to 100cm2. (since area is a square
function, one half of decrease in x-ray beam diameter effects a 4 fold decrease
in patient exposure)

22. IDEAL SHAPE OF THE FIELD
• This depends upon the part of the patient to be examined and not the shape
of either the film or collimator.
• Round field are ideal for certain parts like gallbladder and paranasal sinuses.

23. Formula to calculate the size of the aperture
• The sizes of the aperture and the xray field are proportional to the target-aperture
and target-film distances.
a/b = A/B
a- size of the aperture
b- x ray field
A- distance between aperture and the target
B- target-film distance

24. DECREASED SCATTER RADIATION
• Quantity of scatter radiation reaching the film is directly proportional to the
field size.
• So collimators by decreasing the field size, the reduce the amount of scatter
radiation.
• Xray field of or more than 30x30cm size= maximum scatter radiation

25. COLLIMATION AFFECTS EXPOSURE FACTORS.
• Small xray fields produce little scatter radiation, so the
blackening also decreases.
• TO KEEP THE FILM DENSITY CONSTANT,
WHENEVER FIELD SIZE IS REDUCED, THE
EXPOSURE FACTORS MUST BE INCREASED

26. SUMMARY
• THREE TYPES OF XRAY BEAM RESTRICTORS
• BASIC FUNCTION IS TO REGULATE THE SIZE AND SHAPE OF
THE XRAY BEAM.
• 2 ADVANRAGES OF CLOSELY COLLIMATED BEAMS:
- SMALLER AREA OF THE PATIENT EXPOSED,.
- LESS SCATTER RADIATION

27. Reference
• Christensen’s physics of diagnostic radiology

28. THANK YOU