In what direction are lead strips oriented in a focused grid?

In a focused grid, lead strips are oriented in such a way that they are angled towards the focal spot of the x-ray tube. This design is crucial because it helps to effectively absorb scatter radiation while allowing the primary x-ray beams to pass through without significant attenuation. The angled lead strips align with the divergent paths of the x-ray photons originating from the focal spot, resulting in improved image quality by reducing the amount of scatter that reaches the imaging receptor.

This orientation helps to maintain the desired image contrast by ensuring that only the x-rays which are properly directed towards the image receptor are utilized, while scatter radiation—which is typically less defined and can degrade image quality—is absorbed. The angled lead strips are essential for accommodating the geometry of the x-ray beam and providing optimal patient imaging, particularly in focused grid designs that are tailored for specific distances from the source to the imaging receptor.