Description

A cabinet x-ray system contains an x-ray tube installed within a shielded enclosure. The enclosure is made of a material, usually lead, that stops most of the x radiation from leaving the enclosure. The enclosure also serves as a physical barrier that excludes people from the space where x-rays are produced.

Cabinet x-ray systems create images of the inside of products, parcels and luggage without damaging their contents. As an item passes through the cabinet, the x-ray image is transmitted to a monitor.

Cabinet x-ray systems are sometimes referred to as closed x-ray systems, x-ray inspection systems, x-ray screening systems, x-ray security systems, and baggage x-ray systems.

Uses

Cabinet x-ray systems are primarily used for security screening and industrial quality control. Some examples include:

• Airport baggage security screening
• Cargo inspection of trucks crossing international borders
• Food inspection to check for foreign objects
• Circuit board inspection to find manufacturing defects
• Tire inspection to identify manufacturing defects

Some cabinet x-ray systems are used for medical applications, such as analyzing tissue samples for tumor metastases. These systems are medical devices and subject to additional FDA regulations.

Risks/Benefits

Cabinet x-ray systems allow inspection of the interior of various items. This enables detection of contraband, contaminants, and manufacturing defects without damaging or destroying the item being examined.

The FDA’s radiation safety performance standard for cabinet x-ray systems requires that external radiation emission from a cabinet x-ray system not exceed an exposure of 0.5 milliroentgens in one hour. Most cabinet x-ray systems emit less than this limit. In addition, the standard also requires safety features that include warning lights, warning labels, and interlocks to protect users and the public from radiation emissions.