What Are the Applications of Tungsten Wire in Medical Radiation Therapy?

Tungsten wire has many applications in medical radiation therapy, mainly including the following aspects:

Cathode in X-ray generator: Tungsten wire is commonly used as the cathode in X-ray tubes. When high-voltage current passes through the tungsten wire, it heats and emits electrons, which collide with the anode to produce X-rays.

Linear Accelerator (LINAC): Tungsten filaments are used in medical linear accelerators, a device used for radiation treatment of cancer. In LINAC, high-energy electrons are accelerated and used to illuminate tumor tissue. Tungsten filaments are used to generate and sustain these high-energy electron beams.

Tungsten targets for radiotherapy: Tungsten is also used as a target material for radiotherapy to generate high-energy X-rays. Doctors can use these X-rays to target cancer cells to reduce or destroy them.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): Although tungsten is not a common material used in MRI, in some cases it can be used to make parts of MRI coils. MRI coils are used to generate magnetic fields and detect signals from human tissue.