Which of these is NOT a device used to minimize patient exposure?

Radiation badges are not a device intended to minimize patient exposure but rather serve a different purpose entirely. These badges are used to monitor the amount of radiation exposure that radiation workers receive over time. They help in ensuring safety protocols are followed and that individuals working in environments with possible radiation exposure remain within safe limits.

In contrast, filtration, collimation, and gonadal shielding are all techniques or devices specifically designed to reduce the amount of radiation that reaches the patient during imaging procedures. Filtration involves using materials that absorb low-energy photons, thereby allowing only higher-energy (more useful) x-rays to pass through. Collimation is the narrowing of the x-ray beam to focus on the area of interest, which limits unnecessary exposure to surrounding tissues. Gonadal shielding involves using protective lead shields to cover reproductive organs during imaging, reducing the risk of stochastic effects, such as mutations or cancer, due to unnecessary radiation exposure. Each of these methods directly contributes to minimizing the radiation dose patients receive during diagnostic procedures.