Radiographic Imaging Equipment Syllabus for 2011-2012
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Instructor Information

Course Information

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Course

RADR-2309-001 Radiographic Imaging Equipment

Prerequisites

RADR 2370

Course Description

Equipment and physics of x-ray production. Includes basic x-ray circuits. Also examines the relationship of conventional and digital equipment components to the imaging process.

Student Resources Student Resources Website

Department Expectations

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Occupational License Disclaimer

Hours

(3 sem hrs; 3 lec)

Class Type

On Campus Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

Essentials of Radiologic Science, Fosbinder and Orth, 1st edition.

Essentials of Radiologic Science - Workbook, Fosbinder and Mason, 1st edition.

These textbooks are required and should be taken to each class session.

Supplies

\ The student will need a calculator that can perform fundamental mathematics operations, including square root. A personal cell phone CANNOT be used to math calculations during class time. The student calculator described above will be permitted for

Student Performance

\ End-of-Course Outcomes: Compare and contrast conventional and digital equipment; explain the physics of x-ray production; describe basic x-ray circuits; and relate conventional and digital equipment components to the imaging process.

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\ RADR 2309 is included in the Radiography curriculum to provide the future Radiographer with the entry-level knowledge and skills necessary to understand the operation of the exposure equipment in order to use the equipment effectively and to be able to troubleshoot equipment problems.

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• \ Name and describe the function of each of the major components that make up a single-phase, full-wave rectified x-ray machine, including the timer circuit.
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• \ Explain the operation of the high-voltage x-ray generator, including the autotransformer, high tension transformer, filament transformer, and the rectifiers.
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• \ Relate the important differences between single-phase and three-phase power, Including the concept of voltage ripple.
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• \ Discuss the interactions between projectile electrons and the x-ray tube target.
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• \ Identify characteristic and bremsstrahlung x-radiation.
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• \ Describe the x-ray emission spectrum.
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• \ Describe how changes in mA, KVP, filtration, target material and voltage waveform affect the appearance of the x-ray spectrum.
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• \ Identify the parts of the image intensifier tube and describe the function of each.
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• \ Compare the advantages and disadvantages of conventional fluoroscopy with electronic fluoroscopy.
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• \ Explain the concept of brightness gain and be able to calculate minification gain, flux gain, and total brightness gain. Identify the parts of a television camera tube and and CCD device and describe the function of each.
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• \ Identify the parts of a cathode ray tube and describe the function of each.
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• \ Describe the history of the computer.
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• \ Understand the basic operation of a computer to include fundamental input peripherals.
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• \ State reason why binary machine code is used in place of other languages.
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• \ Explain the difference between a microcomputer, minicomputer, and a mainframe computer.
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• \ Describe the basic function of various memory storage and input and output devices.
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• \ Describe the basic function of a central processor unit, read-only memory, and random-access memory.
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• \ Define "bit," "byte," and "word" as used in computer terminology.
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• \ Know the basic principles of tomography and computerized tomography to include spiral CT.
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• \ Know the basic construction and operation of a mammography x-ray machine.
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• \ Define potential difference, current and resistance.
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• \ Describe electrical protective devices.
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• \ Identify the general components and functions of the tube and filament circuits.
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• \ Identify the function of solid-state rectification.
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• \ Compare generators in terms of radiation produced and efficiency.
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• \ Discuss permanent installation of radiographic equipment in terms of purpose, components, types and applications.
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• \ Demonstrate operation of various types of permanently installed and mobile radiographic equipment.
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• \ Discuss mobile units in terms of purpose, components, types and applications.
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• \ Describe functions of components of automatic exposure control (AEC) devices.
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• \ Describe the proper use of an AEC device.
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• \ Explain image-intensified fluoroscopy.
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Students Rights and Responsibilities

Student Rights and Responsibilities

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If you are an active staff or faculty member according to Human Resources, use "Exchange". All other students, use "AC Connect (Google) Email".

Expected Student Behavior

COURSE ETHICS

 

Each student will be required to prepare written assignments and take written examinations as a part of this course. Students should be keenly aware of the instructor’s policies relative to the ethics regarding plagiarism and any other unethical student conduct that may occur relative to a scored activity.

 

PLAGIARISM is the theft of another person’s work or thinking. Words as well as ideas are intellectual property and can be stolen from another person as easily as money or property. As such, plagiarism can be a violation of criminal law. Even in those cases where the law may not be technically violated, plagiarism is unethical.  Frankly, it is simply the wrong thing to do. 

 

In this course, it is considered plagiarism to copy the work of another student.  No student may COPY ANOTHER STUDENT’S WORK on any assignment for credit! Likewise, copying the published work of another person is illegal without the express permission of that person (e.g. internet and journal articles). Portions of a published work may be quoted provided the quote is properly cited.

 

Unethical conduct during a quiz or examination is also simply the wrong thing to do. To say the least, for a student pursuing a health-related career, unethical conduct may be considered a reliable predictor of unacceptable job performance in the medical environment. If a student makes a choice to “cheat” on a test, will that student also make similar choices relative to accurate patient care? Probably so! This instructor takes the position that a dishonest student in the classroom may likely pose a threat to the safety of any patient who comes into contact with that student.  Healthcare employers take a similar position. The health care industry will not tolerate this type of unprofessionalism.     

   

At Amarillo College, there are grave academic penalties for any unethical conduct on the part of any student. The policy and penalty for such conduct is provided in the General Catalog as follows:

 

 

“A high standard of conduct is expected of all students.  It is assumed that obedience to the law, respect for properly constituted authority, personal honor, integrity and common sense will guide the actions of each member of the college community both in and out of the classroom.  Any student who fails to perform according to expected standards may be disciplined.”

 

One should conclude from this statement that unethical course conduct is absolutely unacceptable by Amarillo College policy. To be more specific, in this course, plagiarism, dishonesty, or any other unethical course conduct, is cause, at the minimum, for a final course grade of “F” regardless of other grades earned to-date in the course. At the maximum, it may be cause to request the college administration to dismiss the student from the radiography program and Amarillo College with no option to re-enroll at a later date.

 

WARNING!  This ethics policy is STRICTLY enforced!

 

This instructor practices zero-tolerance in any matter related to a violation of course ethics. A student should not risk earning a failing grade in this course, and possibly any future enrollment privileges at Amarillo College, as the result of unethical behavior.

 

 

IT IS MORE IMPORTANT TO DO YOUR BEST

THAN TO BE THE BEST!

 

 

CLASSROOM DISTRACTIONS

 

It is assumed that each college student, as an adult, is expected to adhere to standard classroom protocol to avoid distracting others while a class is in progress. This can include talking with others at inappropriate times, sleeping, eating, etc. Such behavior is not acceptable.

 

A more recent technology-driven distraction is the use of a cell phone during a class session. The use of a cell phone during a class session is absolutely not acceptable. The student should take time to silence his or her cell phone BEFORE the class session begins to avoid a difference of opinion with the instructor should the phone "ring" during the class session. Likewise, texting during a class session is absolutely not acceptable.

 

Grading Criteria

\ The final course grade will be computed as follows:
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\ 1. All major examination point totals will be averaged and the average will count 50% of the final course grade.
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\ 2. A comprehensive final examination will count 20% of the final course grade.
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\ 3. All quizzes and any out-of-class assignment point totals will be averaged and the average will count 30% of the final course grade.
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\ The following grade scale applies throughout this course:
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\ A = 92 – 100

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\ B = 83 – 91

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\ C = 75 – 82

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\ F = less than 75.
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\ A grade of ‘D’ is not possible in this course.
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\ Decimal scores from all graded activities will be rounded as follows:
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\ 0.1 - 0.4 — rounded down to the next whole number.
\ 0.5 - 0.9 — rounded up to the next whole number.
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\ The final course average will be rounded in the same way.

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\ Under very special circumstances, it may be necessary for the instructor to issue a final course grade of “incomplete” to provide additional time for the student to satisfactorily complete the course. Such circumstances are rare and must be authorized by the instructor. A final grade of “incomplete” will NOT be used to give an “additional-chance” to pass the course.
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\ When a final grade of “incomplete” is appropriate, a written contract to remove the “I” will be prepared by the course instructor and signed by the instructor and student. Normally, the grade of “I” must be converted to a passing grade within 90 days of the conclusion of the course.
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\ Under a very rare circumstance, a time extension of an additional 90 days is possible. Each case will be handled on an individual basis and no one case shall set a precedent for another case. If the “I” is not removed in accordance with the contract, the final course grade will be recorded as an “F”.

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\ If a student is absent on the day of a major examination, quiz, or out-of-class assignment, the student may make-up the missed work as follows:
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\ 1. The missed work must be made up by 8:00 am on the next school day following the absence.
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\ 2. The missed work may earn a maximum of 85% of the original point value.
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\ Should the student be unable to complete the missed work within this deadline, he or she may petition the instructor for an extension of time. Such a request must be made directly to the instructor BEFORE the deadline period expires. Each request will be handled on an individual basis and the decision of the instructor will be final.
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\ Sometimes, a student may know in advance of an upcoming absence. If that absence is on a day when a scored activity is to be recorded, the student may petition the instructor, IN ADVANCE AND IN WRITING, for an excused absence. If approved, an excused absence will not carry with it the loss of any points on the scored activity due to the absence.
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\ NOTE: If missed work is not completed in accordance with this policy, the specific activity must be scored as ZERO credit and averaged as such into the final course grade. There can be NO exceptions!

Attendance

\ Due to the highly technical nature of this course content, the student who plans to succeed in this course should also plan to attend all course sessions regularly. Depending on the contents of another student's class notes is risky at best. Habitual absenteeism often results in an inability to complete the course successfully.

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\ Likewise, prompt arrival for class is absolutely expected. A student who arrives late to class will not be allowed to take the daily quiz or participate in bonus point activities. An arrival after 8:00 am is considered a tardy arrival. The atomic classroom clock (WCAH 106) will serve as the official timepiece. A tardy arrival is very disruptive to the class already in progress and shows disrespect to the instructor and other students who have arrived on time. In order to take the daily quiz or any bonus quiz, the student must be in the lecture room at the time the quiz is handed out to the class.

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\ Attendance and tardy arrivals will be recorded. A student who is present for all class sessions will be allowed to drop their two lowest quiz grades at the end of the semester. A student who has only one absence will be permitted to drop the lowest quiz grade. There can be no exceptions since the instructor is not prepared to act as "judge and jury" in deciding which absense is justified and which is not.

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\ A tardiness in excess of 15 minutes will be recorded as an absence for the day.
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\ UPON RETURNING TO CLASS FOLLOWING AN ABSENCE, IT IS ALWAYS THE SOLE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE STUDENT TO COMPLETE ANY MISSED WORK ACCORDING TO THE MAKE-UP POLICY.
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Calendar

Additional Information

GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE

 

If a student has a grievance with the course instructor, the following “due process” protocol will apply. The student must follow the protocol steps in the order shown.

 

1.        Make every effort to resolve the concern directly with the course instructor. The instructor should be contacted by the student before the conclusion of the course.

 

2.        If the concern cannot be resolved to the satisfaction of the student after meeting with the course instructor, the student should seek satisfaction from the immediate supervisor of the instructor within one week of the student–instructor meeting.

 

3.        If the concern cannot be resolved to the satisfaction of the student after meeting with the faculty supervisor, the student should seek satisfaction from Dean of Health Sciences within one week of the student–division chairperson meeting.

 

4.        If the concern cannot be resolved to the satisfaction of the student after meeting with the dean, the student should seek satisfaction from the Vice-President of Academic Affairs (VPAA) within one week of the student–Dean meeting.

 

5.        If the concern cannot be resolved to the satisfaction of the student after meeting with the Vice-President of Academic Affairs, the student should seek satisfaction from the college President within one week of the student–VPAA meeting.

 

6.        The  decision of the college President will be final.

 

STUDY TIPS FOR SUCCESS

 

If you want to earn a passing grade for this college course, it is highly recommended that you consistently should use some type of study system. Such a system, designed for college-level work, should include most or all of the following tips:

 

Plan to study lecture information no less than twelve clock hours each week (outside of class time);

 

Begin to prepare for each major examination as soon as new information is presented and review daily;

 

Never study more than twenty consecutive minutes without taking a short break;

 

Re-write lecture notes within twelve hours of the time the notes were first recorded;

 

Consult your textbooks as needed for additional information;

 

Consider making study note cards (“flash cards”) to learn “factual” information;

 

Don’t get comfortable while studying;

 

Avoid distractions while studying;

 

Study aloud (if your location permits); and,

 

Review previous notes often throughout the semester.

 

Stay organized and stay on schedule. Preparation for a major exam should begin at least one week in advance of the test date. Select manageable note and textbook sections to study each day.

 

12. Study with a positive attitude and keep the lines of communication open between yourself and the course instructor.

 

 “What gets in the way of effective performance in the classroom? I believe that "anxiety" is the culprit. Many students put themselves down by believing that they are "stupid" and "ineffective," especially in comparison with their peers. These feelings of inadequacy can lead to the paralyzing anxiety that "blocks" successful performance in the classroom – especially on tests. In order to overcome anxiety, I recommend the following:

 

1. Gain temporary control of your anxiety by practicing relaxation techniques during especially anxious times. Deep breathing combined with muscular tensing and relaxing can be helpful. Massage and meditation can help too.

 

2. Work on feeling better about yourself. Try replacing negative thinking with positive thoughts. Praise yourself once in a while and forgive yourself for mistakes.

 

3. In general, try being your own best friend!"

By Dr. Salene Cowher

 

 

 

GOOD PREPARATION IS THE BEST DEFENSE FOR TEST ANXIETY.