Physical structure of matter X-ray Physics

5.4.19-00 Contrast medium experiment with a blood vessel model

What you can learn about

 X-ray radiation
 Bremsstrahlung
 Characteristic radiation
 Law of absorption
 Mass absorption coefficient
 Contrast medium

Principle:
A liquid contrast medium is to be in-
jected into a model of a blood vessel,
which is hidden from sight and ex-
posed to X-ray radiation, to enable
the inner structure of the model to
be examined on a fluorescent screen.

What you need:

X-ray basic unit, 35 kV 09058.99 1
Plug-in module with Cu X-ray tube 09058.50 1
Blood vessel model for contrast medium 09058.06 1
Potassium iodide, 50 g 30104.05 1
Glass beaker, short, 250 ml 36013.00 1
Reagent bottle, brown, 250 ml 46213.00 1
Glass rod, l = 200 mm, d = 6 mm 40485.04 1

Complete Equipment Set, Manual on CD-ROM included

Contrast medium experiment with a
bood vessel model P2541900

Figure shows the model filled to different extents with contrast medium.

Experimental steps:
1. A 50% potassium iodide solution
is to be injected into the blood
vessel model.
2. The fluorescent screen of the
X-ray basic unit is to be observed
to follow the course taken by the
injected solution in the blood ves-
sel model.

254 Laboratory Experiments Physics PHYWE Systeme GmbH & Co. KG D - 37070 Gttingen
 LEP
Contrast medium experiment with a blood vessel model 5.4.19
-00

Related topics Prepare the 50% potassium iodide injection solution which is to
X-ray radiation, Bremsstrahlung, characteristic radiation, law of be used as contrast medium by dissolving 50 g of potassium
absorption, mass absorption coefficient, contrast medium. iodide in 100 ml of water.
With the goniometer removed, first place the blood vessel in the
small safety trough provided, then position the trough directly in
Principle front of the fluorescent screen in the experimenting area. Lead
A liquid contrast medium is to be injected into a model of a the connecting tubes, closed with stoppers, through the working
blood vessel, which is hidden from sight and exposed to X-ray channel to the outside. Fill one of the two syringes with contrast
radiation, to enable the inner structure of the model to be exam- medium, then connect the two syringes to the ends of the tubes,
ined on a fluorescent screen. with the filled syringe connected to the lower inlet of the model.
Set the X-ray tube to operate with an acceleration voltage of
Equipment Ua = 35 kV and an anode current of Ia = 1 mA. No diaphragm
X-ray basic unit, 35 kV 09058.99 1 tube is to be used, as the model is to be completely irradiated
Plug-in module with Cu X-ray tube 09058.50 1 by a bundle of X-rays. Darken the room so that the course of the
Blood vessel model for contrast medium 09058.06 1 contrast medium can be observed on the fluorescent screen.
Potassium iodide, 50 g 30104.05 1 Now carefully, and with feeling, press the contrast medium out
Glass beaker, short, 250 ml 36013.00 1 of the filled syringe into the blood vessel model.
Reagent bottle, brown, 250 ml 46213.00 1 The contrast medium must be removed from the model before
Glass rod, l = 200 mm, d = 6 mm 40485.04 1 the model is taken out of the experimenting area. To do this,
remove only the syringe which was fitted on empty from the end
of the one connecting tube, then lead the end of this tube into
Experimental steps the storage container. Press the liquid out of the filled syringe.
1. A 50% potassium iodide solution is to be injected into the Subsequent to this, be sure to re-plug the free tube ends with
blood vessel model. stoppers! After dismantling, rinse the model, connecting tubes
2. The fluorescent screen of the X-ray basic unit is to be and syringes several times with water. The model is also to be
observed to follow the course taken by the injected solution emptied of water as far as possible.
in the blood vessel model. Caution! Take great care to ensure that no liquid can run out and
into the experimenting area. Also carefully check that the con-
Set-up and procedure necting tubes are always securely closed with stoppers before
Set up the experiment as shown in Fig. 1. the tubes are drawn through the working channel.

Fig. 1: Experimental set-up for the demonstration of the effect of a contrast medium.

Phywe series of publications Laboratory Experiments Physics PHYWE SYSTEME GMBH & Co. KG D-37070 Gttingen 25419-00 1
 LEP
5.4.19 Contrast medium experiment with a blood vessel model
-00
Theory and evaluation
In radiological diagnostic, many organs and tissues of the
human body can only be distinguished from each other with
great difficulty. For this reason, a contrast medium is used to
attain a better differentiation between the different tissue struc-
tures.
In roentgenologic examinations of blood vessels, highly concen-
trated solutions of iodine are particularly often used for this pur-
pose. They absorb radiation to a higher extent than body tissues
and so, when injected into a vessel, for example, result in
roentgenograms with greatly improved contrast.
If X-rays of intensity I0 penetrate matter of layer thickness d,
then the intensity I behind the layer is given by
I = I0 e-m(l)d (1)
(see experiment 5.4.11-00)
The quantity m with measuring unit cm-1 is called the linear
attenuation coefficient and is dependent upon the wavelength l
of the primary radiation and the atomic number Z of the
absorber.
Since the linear attenuation coefficient is proportional to the
mass, the mass absorption coefficient m/r (r = mass density) is
often used, with measuring unit cm2/g.
The attenuation in intensity is caused by the following process-
es:
(1) Photoelectric effect
(2) Scattering
(3) Pair production
The third of these pertains to gamma radiation and is not evident
here.
Fig. 2a, b show the model filled to different extents with contrast medium.
2 25419-00 Phywe series of publications Laboratory Experiments Physics
Thus, the absorption coefficient for X-rays is comprised of the
following components:
m=t+s
t = The photoelectric absorption coefficient
s = The scattering coefficient
For the wavelength range used here, the photoelectric effect is
of primary account for absorption. We therefore have: t > s.
The following equation (determined empirically) applies with suf-
ficient precision:
  k 1l3Z3 2
t m
(2)
r r
Z = atomic number
Accordingly, it is evident that the absorption increases drastical-
ly with the wavelength of the primary radiation as well as with the
atomic number of the absorbing element.
As iodine has a much higher atomic number (Z = 53) than most
atoms in human tissue, it has a very high absorption power and
is very well suited for use as contrast medium.
When, as a comparison, an experiment is also carried out with
water as contrast medium, it will be found that in this case the
inner structure of the model is difficult to see.
It can also be shown that the brightness of the fluorescent
screen, and so also the contrast, decreases when the intensity
of the bundle of X-rays is reduced by decreasing the accelera-
tion voltage or the anode current.
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