N.J. Admin. Code § 7:28-16.2

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 21, November 4, 2024
Section 7:28-16.2 - Definitions

The following words and terms, when used in this subchapter, shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

"Cephalometric device" means a device intended for the radiographic visualization and measurement of the dimensions of the human head.

"Certified components" means components of x-ray systems which are subject to the regulations promulgated under Public Law 90-602, the Radiation Control for Health and Safety Act of 1968, 21 Code of Federal Regulations, Chapter 1, Subchapter J--Radiological Health.

"Certified unit" means any x-ray system which has only certified components.

"Coefficient of variation" or "C" means the ratio of the standard deviation to the mean value of a population of observations. It is estimated using the following equation:

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"Control panel" means the x-ray system component and operational controls that include the indicators for x-ray tube voltage (kVp), tube current (mA), timer setting and beam-on.

"Diagnostic type protective tube housing" means an x-ray tube housing so constructed that the leakage radiation measured at a distance of one meter (39.37 inches) from the source does not exceed 100 milliroentgens in one hour when the tube is operated at its maximum continuous rated current for the maximum continuous rated tube potential.

"Kilovolts peak" (see "peak tube potential").

"kV" means kilovolts.

"kVp" (see "peak tube potential").

"Image receptor" means any device such as, but not limited to, a fluorescent screen or radiographic film, which transforms incident x-ray photons either into a visible image or into another form which can be made into a visible image by further transformations. In those cases where a device is provided to preselect portions of the image receptor, the term "image receptor" shall mean the preselected portion of the device.

"Leakage radiation" means all radiation emanating from the diagnostic source assembly except the useful beam. Leakage radiation also means radiation produced when the exposure switch or timer is not activated.

"mA" means milliampere.

"mAs" means milliampere second.

"Multiple dental radiographic tube installation" means an installation in which one control panel may energize more than one x-ray tube.

"Peak tube potential" means the maximum value of the potential difference across the x-ray tube during an exposure.

"Primary protective barrier" (see "protective barrier").

"Protective barrier" means a barrier of radiation absorbing material used to reduce radiation exposure. The types of protective barriers are as follows:

1. "Primary protective barrier" means the material, excluding filters, intercepting the useful beam for protection purposes to reduce the radiation exposure so that it does not exceed two millirems in any one hour.

2. "Secondary protective barrier" means a barrier sufficient to attenuate the stray radiation to reduce radiation exposure so that it does not exceed two millirems in any one hour.

"Qualified individual" means an individual who meets at least one of the following criteria for diagnostic x-ray equipment:

1. Certification by one of the following agencies in the specialty listed:

i. The American Board of Radiology in Diagnostic Radiological Physics or Radiological Physics;

ii. The American Board of Health Physics in Comprehensive Health Physics;

iii. The American Board of Medical Physics in Diagnostic Imaging Physics or Medical Health Physics;

iv. Certification issued by the Fellowship in the Canadian College of Physicists in Medicine which is equivalent to 1i or iii above; or

v. Certification by other national certifying boards which may be recognized by the Commission on Radiation Protection where the person seeking recognition as a qualified individual has petitioned the CORP in writing and where the CORP has issued a written determination that the certification in question meets the criteria of a qualified individual pursuant to this subchapter;

2. A bachelor's degree from an accredited college in biology, chemistry, radiation sciences, physics, engineering, or mathematics and at least five years of professional technical experience in the field of radiological physics or in the use of medical or dental ionizing-radiation-producing equipment;

3. A master's or doctorate degree in radiological health, radiation sciences, physics, chemistry, environmental sciences, engineering or a related field and at least two years of professional technical experience in the field of radiological physics or in the use of medical or dental ionizing-radiation-producing equipment; or

4. Ten years of professional technical experience in the field of radiological physics or in a radiation protection activity. At least five years of the required health physics experience shall have been with medical or dental ionizing radiation-producing equipment.

"Radiation (ionizing)" means any electromagnetic or particulate radiation capable of producing ions, directly or indirectly, by interaction with matter.

"Scattered radiation" means radiation that, during passage through matter, has changed in direction or in energy.

"Secondary protective barrier" (see "protective barrier").

"Source-to-image distance" or "SID" means the distance from the radiation source to the center of the input surface of the image receptor.

"Source-to-skin distance" or "SSD" means the distance between the radiation source and the skin of the patient. It is also known as the target-to-skin distance.

"Stray radiation" means the sum of leakage and scattered radiation.

"Technique factors" means the following conditions of operation:

1. For capacitor energy storage equipment, the technique factors are peak tube potential in kV and quantity of charge in mAs;

2. For field emission equipment rated for pulsed operation, the technique factors are peak tube potential in kV and number of x-ray pulses;

3. For CT x-ray systems designed for pulsed operation, the technique factors are peak tube potential in kV, scan time in seconds, and either tube current in mA, x-ray pulse width in seconds, and the number of x-ray pulses per scan, or the product of tube current, x-ray pulse width, and the number of x-ray pulses in mAs;

4. For CT x-ray systems not designed for pulsed operation, the technique factors are potential in kV, scan time in seconds, and either tube current in mA and scan time in seconds, or the product of tube current and exposure time in mAs and the scan time when the scan time and exposure time are equivalent; and

5. For all other equipment, the technique factors are peak tube potential in kV, and either tube current in mA and exposure time in seconds, or the product of tube current and exposure time in mAs.

"Uncertified unit" means an x-ray system comprised of components that are not subject to the regulations promulgated under Public Law 90-602, the Radiation Control Act of 1968, 21 Code of Federal Regulations, Chapter 1, Subchapter J--Radiological Health.

N.J. Admin. Code § 7:28-16.2

Amended by R.1991 d.305, effective 6/17/1991.
See: 22 New Jersey Register 3303(a), 23 New Jersey Register 1937(a).
Added definition of "Qualified individual."
Amended by R.1993 d.510, effective 10/18/1993.
See: 25 New Jersey Register 7(a), 25 New Jersey Register 1039(a), 25 New Jersey Register 4770(a).