| Summary: | <p>Currently, x-ray rooms are designed by employing measured scatter and transmission data obtained nearly thirty years ago. Subsequently, there is a clear need to reevaluate this information as the use of modern equipment is becoming increasingly common. For example, x-ray tubes with medium frequency generators are replacing single phase units. Recent literature has re-evaluated transmission data. However, the scatter found in x-ray rooms has not been studied in detail.</p> <p>Two programs using Monte Carlo techniques have been developed for this purpose. The first program models the x-ray room including a slab phantom simulating the patient, a DAP meter, air and the room walls. The second program implements a realistic model of a patient in the imaging system. The results of the two programs have been validated by comparison with each other and by measurements.</p> <p>The results confirm that the patient is the primary source of scatter in a x-ray room. However, large variations in the scatter values are observed for different x-ray examinations and when the imaging parameters are changed. The results also show that there is a significant scatter contribution from other materials in the primary xray beam including the air, DAP meter and x-ray collimators. The first program has been used to calculate the scatter at a door positioned behind a protective screen at the radiographer's console. It predicts that no shielding in the door is required for the imaging system investigated.</p> <p>Therefore, a valuable computational tool has been developed which will aid the decision process in the design of clinical x-ray rooms.</p>
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