Abstract: A child height measuring and data recording device comprises generally planar rigid panels having transverse pins at their ends for snapping into slots in connectors which articulate the sections for folding and unfolding. One panel is fastened to a wall and the others may be folded over it when not in use or unfolded to hang along the wall during making measurements and recording data. The front faces of the respective panels have parallel coextensive data channels. One channel has means for retaining photographs and the other has English and metric linear scales for measuring height. A hinged and captured connector is used for constraining the panels in folded condition.

Abstract: A detector for X-radiation or other ionizing radiation comprises a pair of curved metal bars lying in spaced apart parallel planes. Ceramic members are bonded to the respective bars in facing relationship. Each ceramic member has a plurality of radially extending circumferentially spaced grooves facing similar grooves in the other member. A plurality of electrode plates are held in juxtaposed and circumferentially spaced apart relationship by disposing their respective upper and lower edges in the grooves of opposed ceramic members. The faces of adjacent electrode plates define gas-filled gaps in which photoelectron-ion pairs are produced when radiation enters from the front edges of the plates. The above described assembly is disposed within a pressurized gas-filled chamber having an X-ray transmissive window adjacent the front edges of the plates. A cover encloses the chamber. It has insulator feed-throughs for connecting the electrode plates with external electric circuits.

Abstract: In a gamma camera system a computer calculates the x and y coordinates of scintillations and a pulse height analyzer determines if they are within the proper amplitude limits for being displayed on a cathode ray tube at corresponding coordinates. Means are provided for correcting nonuniformity or lack of correspondence between the positions of the scintillations and their calculated coordinates. In an accumulation mode, a first memory matrix stores pulse counts for incremental areas of the radiation field when a uniform source is presented to the detectors. When a predetermined maximum number of counts is reached in at least one memory location accumulation is interrupted at which time other locations have fewer counts in them. In the run mode counts are stored in corresponding locations in a second memory matrix and these counts are compared continuously with those in locations in the first memory.

Abstract: In a scanner for computed tomography an X-ray source and a multiple cell X-ray detector are mounted on a rotatable support on opposite sides of the rotational axis for orbiting about a body to thereby scan it with a diverging X-ray beam. The source and detector are each on a carriage which enables driving them jointly toward or away from the axis of rotation while the body stays fixed so that regardless of the width of the body portion its boundaries will be substantially tangent to the boundary rays of the beam and after penetrating the body the beam and the X-ray image which it entrains will always cover the entire length of the detector and use all of its cells.

Abstract: An x-ray source and a detector array are mounted on opposite sides of a generally horizontally extending longitudinal axis of a rotating base. The rotating base is journaled on a tiltable frame. The frame is supported on curved tracks for tilting by translating along a curved path about a fixed transverse virtual axis of rotation which is perpendicular to and intersects the rotational axis of the rotating base. Tilting the frame permits making an x-ray scan through a layer of a patient which is at an acute angle relative to the longitudinal axis. The azimuth drive for the rotatable frame utilizes a toothed belt. A self-acting friction brake is provided for constraining the rocking base. A hoist is provided for making installation and removal of the x-ray source convenient.

Abstract: An x-ray source and a detector array are mounted on opposite sides of a generally horizontally extending longitudinal axis of a rotating base. The rotating base is journaled on a tiltable frame. The frame is supported on curved tracks for tilting by translating along a curved path about a fixed transverse virtual axis of rotation which is perpendicular to and intersects the rotational axis of the rotating base. Tilting the frame permits making an x-ray scan through a layer of a patient which is at an acute angle relative to the longitudinal axis. The azimuth drive for the rotatable frame utilizes a toothed belt. A self-acting friction brake is provided for constraining the rocking base. A hoist is provided for making installation and removal of the x-ray source convenient.

Abstract: A method of making three-dimensional simulated stained glass objects from resins. A sheet of resin having the ornamental pattern of the object printed on it is preformed substantially to the shape of the object. The preform is inserted in an injection mold for being reinforced on one side or another with a thicker resin layer. Mounting flanges, bosses, ribs, interlocking joints and other mating configurations are formed with the reinforcing layer to enable combining a molded three-dimensional section with other three-dimensional sections to form more complex objects. The printing on the flat resin sheet is pre-distorted, as required, so that when it is formed to the contours of the object the printing will assume a proper undistorted form.

Abstract: A device for actuating the change mechanism of a slide projector in synchronizm with an audio tape recorder and player comprises a tone decoder including a voltage controlled oscillator in a phase-locked loop associated with a frequency comparator. The oscillator produces slide change signals constituted by square wave pulses in the audio frequency range. The signals are recorded on the tape where slide changes are desired by operating a momentary switch which couples the signals to the recorder through its microphone jack. During playback, the audio signal is fed through a tuned operational amplifier to the tone decoder which responds to the presence of a signal component that compares in frequency with that of the oscillator by performing a switching function which may be used to activate the slide changer of the projector.

Abstract: An x-ray tube anode has a body or substrate comprised of molybdenum or an alloy thereof and a surface layer on which an electron beam impinges to generate x-rays, comprising an alloy of tungsten, rhenium and molybdenum. A method of making the anode is also disclosed.

Abstract: In apparatus wherein a massive component, such as the spot film device of an x-ray table, is driven to various positions with an electric motor drive, a handle is attached to the component for urging it in the desired direction. The handle is attached to the component with beams that flex slightly. A piezoresistive strain gage assembly is mounted on one of the beams for developing an error signal in response to the handle being urged in either direction. The signal is amplified and used to control the power assist driving motor. Means are provided for compensating the vertical component of gravitational force when the handle and the object to which it is attached are angulated. Means are also provided for disabling the drive motor if an electronic element fails.

Abstract: An x-ray source, whose output is collimated into a thin fan-shaped beam, and detector means spaced from the source are mounted for scanning and orbiting jointly about a body in a partial or complete revolution and x-ray intensities to provide data for reconstructing an image. The detector and source combination and the body are moved relative to each other in an axial direction for scanning the body layers in sequence. In one embodiment the x-ray source is pulsed as it scans and in another the fan-shaped beam is on continuously and readout is done sequentially so in either case a large number of intensities for each layer are obtained. A high precision encoder system is used to synchronize x-ray pulses and readouts spatially and with line frequency. Means are provided for storing the cables which lead to the rotatable source, and the detectors and other moveable components. An embodiment for scanning a body part such as a breast has means for conditioning and controlling water in which the part is immersed.

Abstract: In a spot film device, the inner and main carriages for a film cassette are positioned with reversible servo motors. An x-ray grid is mounted on the bottom of the main carriage and a cross grid is mounted on tracks beneath the carriage such that the cross grid may be used or not used for fluoroscopy and both grids may be used for radiography. Field defining masks are also mounted for translating selectively with the carriage. Individual reversible servo motor drives are used to advance and retract the masks and cross grid. Means are provided for absorbing shock or negating drive system momentum when the masks or grid are stopped abruptly. Reduced power is applied to the mask and grid drive motors when the masks and grid reach their stops for holding them against their stops. A motor driven palpator cone, having unique driving and locking means is provided. Means are provided for loading and unloading cassettes from either the front or rear of the spot film device.

Abstract: In computed tomography, a computer calculates CT numbers corresponding with the X-ray attenuation by elemental volumes in a body undergoing an X-ray beam scan. Analog signals corresponding with the sequence of CT numbers modulate a raster scanned cathode ray tube to produce a display of the image. Means are provided for controlling the display tube to display elements within a range of CT numbers or gray scale window. New means are provided for causing zones in the image corresponding with picture elements near the selected level or center of the gray scale to blink from gray to white such that when the level is set to correspond with a gray scale level of interest, the blinking zones will have CT numbers corresponding with the level setting. This permits identification of the CT numbers of the zones. The blink mode may be activated while the full image is displayed on the screen and zones of interest may be visualized in the total picture.

Abstract: In a spot film device, the inner and main carriages for a film cassette are positioned with reversible servo motors. An x-ray grid is mounted on the bottom of the main carriage and a cross grid is mounted on tracks beneath the carriage such that the cross grid may be used or not used for fluoroscopy and both grids may be used for radiography. Field defining masks are also mounted for translating selectively with the carriage. Individual reversible servo motor drives are used to advance and retract the masks and cross grid. Means are provided for absorbing shock or negating drive system momentum when the masks or grid are stopped abruptly. Reduced power is applied to the mask and grid drive motors when the masks and grid reach their stops for holding them against their stops. A motor driven palpator cone, having unique driving and locking means is provided. Means are provided for loading and unloading cassettes from either the front or rear of the spot film device.

Abstract: Composite noise and information signals are amplified and filtered to segregate high and low frequency bands that correspond with noise from an intermediate frequency band which corresponds with the information signal. The absolute values of the two noise band signals are summed, weighted, and compared with the information band signal in an operational amplifier whose output tends toward a signal of one polarity with respect to a reference voltage due to noise and tends toward the opposite polarity due to the information band frequency. The signal is integrated and used to control an alarm circuit and environmental noise indicating devices. Means are provided to reduce sensitivity of one of the devices in the presence of high noise and to restore sensitivity if a valid information signal occurs. The other device is used to warn of persistent environmental noise that might be eliminated.

Abstract: Raster lines are obscured in a photograph of an image displayed on a video monitor. A photographic film is used as an integrating mechanism. The TV raster is vertically displaced during the camera shutter open time a total deflection of one horizontal line, thus blending the information between horizontal lines. Vertical raster deflection is accomplished by adding a series of delays to the normal vertical sync and then generating a processed composite sync to drive the external sync input to the monitor. The shutter is open for several video frames, each frame being deflected vertically by an integer amount greater than the previous frame until the total raster deflection equals one horizontal line.

Abstract: In a display device, a precoiled plastic tape bearing informational indicia runs over a back-up surface to present the front side of the tape for observation and for manual access to enable translating the tape. The tape also runs over stationary pins which allow the tape to coil when translated in one direction. Opposed ends of the tape are provided with apertures which are entered by the pins when one end portion of the tape is nearly uncoiled so that further translation and complete uncoiling of the tape is prevented. The tape end portion is automatically disengaged from the pins by the inherent coil forming stress in the tape when reverse translation is initiated.

Abstract: An X-ray source and a detector array are mounted on opposite sides of a generally horizontally extending longitudinal axis of a rotating base. The rotating base is journaled on a tiltable frame. The frame is supported on curved tracks for tilting by translating along a curved path about a fixed transverse virtual axis of rotation which is perpendicular to and intersects the rotational axis of the rotating base. Tilting the frame permits making an X-ray scan through a layer of a patient which is at an acute angle relative to the longitudinal axis. The azimuth drive for the rotatable frame utilizes a toothed belt. A self-acting friction brake is provided for constraining the rocking base. A hoist is provided for making installation and removal of the X-ray source convenient.

Abstract: An x-ray source and a detector array are mounted on opposite sides of a generally horizontally extending longitudinal axis of a rotating base. The rotating base is journaled on a tiltable frame. The frame is supported on curved tracks for tilting by translating along a curved path about a fixed transverse virtual axis of rotation which is perpendicular to and intersects the rotational axis of the rotating base. Tilting the frame permits making an x-ray scan through a layer of a patient which is at an acute angle relative to the longitudinal axis. The azimuth drive for the rotatable frame utilizes a toothed belt. A self-acting friction brake is provided for constraining the rocking base. A hoist is provided for making installation and removal of the x-ray source convenient.

Abstract: An X-ray source and a detector array are mounted on opposite sides of a generally horizontally extending longitudinal axis of a rotating base. The rotating base is journaled on a tiltable frame. The frame is supported on curved tracks for tilting by translating along a curved path about a fixed transverse virtual axis of rotation which is perpendicular to and intersects the rotational axis of the rotating base. Tilting the frame permits making an X-ray scan through a layer of a patient which is at an acute angle relative to the longitudinal axis. The azimuth drive for the rotatable frame utilizes a toothed belt. A self-acting friction brake is provided for constraining the rocking base. A hoist is provided for making installation and removal of the X-ray source convenient.