Radiology: Chapter 11 - Vocab

Automatic processing

The processing of radiographs by machine, eliminating the need for human interaction to move the films through the processing solutions; this employs a standardized procedure for processing films as it is basically an automated time temperature method

Clear film

A film that after processing does not show an image

Coin test

A test carried out in the darkroom to test the effectiveness of the safelight

Dark image

A dense or black image

Dark room

A room with controlled lighting where x-ray film is handled and processed

Daylight loader

The device attached to an automatic processor that allows the operator to develop film in ambient light

Dense image

A dark or black image

Developer

The solution used in the processing of exposed x-ray film that softens the emulsion and precipitates silver from the silver bromide crystals of the film emulsion that have been energized by x-rays

Developer cutoff

The blank area on processed radiographs that results from an insufficient level of solution in the darkroom developer tank

Drying rack

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Electrostatic artifact

Black linear streaks or black spots on the radiograph caused by static electricity

Film hanger

The device that carries the film through the manual processing procedure

Film roller

That part of an automatic processor that moves the film along from one step to another in the automatic processing sequence

Fixer

The solution used in the processing of exposed x-ray film that removes the unaffected silver bromide crystals from the emulsion and hardens the image

Generators

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Latent image

The term used to describe the x-ray film after it has been exposed; contains the latent image that will be made visible by film processing

Light leak

The area where unwanted white light is entering a darkroom

Light tight

A term used in radiography to indicate that there is no white light exposure

Manual processing

The process of developing radiographs where the film hangers are manually placed in the processing solutions

Overdeveloped

The condition of a radiograph being too dark because of the film's having been left in the developer solution too long

Rapid processing

The processing of radiographs by either elevated solution temperature or concentration, which markedly shortens the time needed to produce an image; used when the time it takes to process the film is shortened and is more important than the exacting of th

Reference film

An ideally processed film which is kept on the darkroom view box,, to which densities and contrasts can be compared to check the strength of the processing solutions

Replenisher

A concentrated form of either the developer or fixer solutions that is used to maintain the volume and concentration of the solutions

Reticulation

An unsatisfactory image caused by a sudden change in temperature from one processing solution to another

Safelight

Illumination used in the darkroom that does not affect the film emulsion

Sight development

A film processing technique in which the time the film stays in the developer is subjectively determined by periodically looking at the developing image under safelight conditions

Stop bath

The solution in which films are placed after the developer

Thermometer

The device found in the developer solution sued to measure the temperature of the solution

Thermostatic valve

A device used to control the temperature of the incoming water in the manual developing tanks

Thin image

A light image, lacking in density

Time temperature technique

A technique used to process x-ray films in which the time the film stay sin the developer is calibrated to the temperature of the solution within a stated acceptable range

Torn emulsion

Film processing error that occurs when the emulsion is removed from the acetate base in a finished radiograph

Underdeveloped film

A thin film that is the result of a weak solutions or incorrect developing time

Visible image

The image present on a radiograph after the film has been processed

Water bath

The second and fourth solutions in the manual processing of dental radiographs

Wet reading

Interpretation of a radiograph approximately 3 minutes after its initial fixation