What does a higher bucky factor indicate?

A higher bucky factor indicates that more radiation exposure is required to achieve the same image quality when utilizing a grid during imaging procedures. The bucky factor itself represents the amount of additional radiation that is absorbed by the grid compared to a non-grid technique. As such, when the bucky factor is higher, it reflects the grid's effectiveness in reducing scatter radiation, meaning that to maintain image quality and achieve adequate diagnostic images, an increase in radiation dose is necessary.

In practice, if an imaging system has a high bucky factor, radiographers need to adjust their exposure settings accordingly to compensate for the increased absorption by the grid and ensure that sufficient radiation reaches the image receptor to produce a clear and diagnostic image. This understanding of the relationship between the bucky factor and radiation exposure is crucial for optimizing patient safety and image quality in fluoroscopy and radiography.