page_title: X-ray generator
section_title: Medicine
hierarchical_section_title: X-ray generator / Applications / Medicine
caption_attribution_description: A mobile C-arm fluoroscopy unit.
context_page_description: An X-ray generator is a device that produces X-rays. Together with an X-ray detector, it is commonly used in a variety of applications including medicine, X-ray fluorescence, electronic assembly inspection, and measurement of material thickness in manufacturing operations. In medical applications, X-ray generators are used by radiographers to acquire x-ray images of the internal structures of living organisms, and also in sterilization.
context_section_description: The main fields in which x-ray machines are used in medicine are radiography, radiotherapy, and fluoroscopic type procedures.Radiography is generally used for fast, highly penetrating images, and is usually used in areas with a high bone content but can also be used to look for tumors such as with mammography imaging.  Some forms of radiography include:
  orthopantomogram — a panoramic x-ray of the jaw showing all the teeth at once
  mammography — x-rays of breast tissue
  tomography — x-ray imaging in sections
  In fluoroscopy, imaging of the digestive tract is done with the help of a radiocontrast agent such as barium sulfate, which is opaque to X-rays.
  Radiotherapy — the use of x-ray radiation to treat malignant and benign cancer cells, a non-imaging application
  Fluoroscopy is used in cases where real-time visualization is necessary (and is most commonly encountered in everyday life at airport security). Some medical applications of fluoroscopy include:
  angiography — used to examine blood vessels in real time along with the placement of stents and other procedures to repair blocked arteries.
  barium enema — a procedure used to examine problems of the colon and lower gastrointestinal tract
  barium swallow — similar to a barium enema, but used to examine the upper gastrointestinal tract
  biopsy — the removal of tissue for examination
  Pain Management - used to visually see and guide needles for administering/injecting pain medications, steroids or pain blocking medications throughout the spinal region.
  Orthopedic procedures - used to guide placement and removal of bone structure reinforcement plates, rods and fastening hardware used to aide the healing process and alignment of bone structures healing properly together.
  X-rays are highly penetrating, ionizing radiation, therefore X-ray machines are used to take pictures of dense tissues such as bones and teeth. This is because bones absorb the radiation more than the less dense soft tissue. X-rays from a source pass through the body and onto a photographic cassette.  Areas where radiation is absorbed show up as lighter shades of grey (closer to white). This can be used to diagnose broken or fractured bones.
caption: Mobile fluoroscopy units can produce images continuously.
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