Abstract: A gantry for computerized tomographs that can be freely moved up to or away from a patient on an operating table has been developed. It consists of a gantry main body (1) and mobile trolley section (2) that runs along a guideline formed on the floor with the gantry mounted.

Abstract: A method for determining the distribution of a radioactive material in a medium is provided which comprises the steps of: (a) providing a plurality of radiation detectors at a set of predetermined locations, each of said detectors producing an electrical output indicative of the amount of radioactive material in the vicinity of the detector; (b) moving the medium containing the radioactive material and the plurality of radiation detectors relative to one another so as to position the medium relative to the detectors at each of a set of predetermined positions; and (c) recording the electrical output of each of the detectors at each of the predetermined positions. Apparatus for practicing the method is also provided.

Abstract: The tube current in an X-ray tube is controlled by a closed loop control circuit in which a tube current feedback signal is used to control X-ray tube filament current. The gain of the feedback loop is maintained substantially constant over a wide range of tube currents by inserting a signal proportional to the reciprocal of the tube current command.

Abstract: A tomographic inspection system wherein the electron beam of a microfocus X-ray tube is deflected in a circular scan pattern onto the tube anode in synchronization with a rotating detector that converts the X-ray shadowgraph into an optical image and derotates the image so as to be viewed and integrated in a stationary video camera. A computer system controls an automated positioning system that supports the item under inspection and moves successive areas of interest into view. In order to maintain high image quality, a computer system also controls the synchronization of the electron beam deflection and rotating optical system, making adjustments for inaccuracies of the mechanics of the system. The computer system can also operate under program control to automatically analyze data, measure characteristics of the item under inspection and make decisions regarding the acceptability of the item's quality.

Abstract: A rotating anode X-ray tube is provided which includes an anode disk having a central axis of rotation and a circumferential peripheral edge lying in a plane perpendicular to that axis of rotation. A ring-shaped target is mounted to the disk adjacent the peripheral edge and the disk includes a mechanism formed integrally solid with the disk and remote from the target for mounting the disk to a support shaft of a rotor within a vacuum housing to permit rotation of the disk about the axis of rotation of the disk. The disk is formed integrally solid along the aforementioned plane, including that portion of the disk coincident with the axis of rotation and the disk has a thickness which increases progressively in a radially inward direction from the peripheral edge, including that portion of the disk between the target and the mechanism for coupling, to counteract a radially inward increase in the disk upon high speed rotation of the disk.

Abstract: A process for improving the technique of measuring residual stress by x-ray diffraction in pieces of nickel-base alloys which comprises covering part of a predetermined area of the surface of a nickel-base alloy with a dispersion, exposing the covered and uncovered portions of the surface of the alloy to x-rays by way of an x-ray diffractometry apparatus, making x-ray diffraction determinations of the exposed surface, and measuring the residual stress in the alloy based on these determinations. The dispersion is opaque to x-rays and serves a dual purpose since it masks off unsatisfactory signals such that only a small portion of the surface is measured, and it supplies an internal standard by providing diffractogram peaks comparable to the peaks of the nickel alloy so that the alloy peaks can be very accurately located regardless of any sources of error external to the sample.

Abstract: An X-ray image processing apparatus includes an arithmetic operation section for processing the X-ray image data, to eliminate X-ray scattered components (first blurring factor) and a veiling glare (second blurring factor) which occurs when an image intensifier converts X-ray image to a photo-image, and a TV camera converts the photo-image to an image signal. The X-ray image data obtained by eliminating the scattered components and the blurring components derived from the veiling glare includes only blurring components (third blurring factor) derived from the characteristics of an X-ray tube, an image intensifier, and TV camera. A blurring restoration filter circuit is provided, for forming a filter for restoring the blurring from the third factor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a patient support apparatus useful during x-raying. The apparatus includes a frame having a graduated scale along the length of at least one side thereof. The frame has means for supporting an x-ray film cartridge shuttle thereon and permitting movement of the x-ray film cartridge shuttle along the length of the frame. The apparatus also includes a rod for positioning the x-ray film cartridge shuttle along the length of the frame. The rod has a graduated scale along the length thereof. The units of the graduated scale of the rod correspond to the units of the graduated scale of the frame.

Abstract: The ash content of coal suspended in a slurry is determined by bombarding a sample of the slurry flowing past a window of a measuring chamber with radiation from an annular nucleonic source, such as Cm-244, for emitting radiation within the range of about 7 to about 30 KeV and causing the sample to emit both backscattered and iron fluorescent x-rays. These x-rays are detected by a radiation detector which produces first and second electrical signals representative of the intensity of each. The density of the sample flowing from the measuring chamber is measured, such as by a nucelonic density gauge, to produce an electrical signal representative of the density and the ash content is determined from the detected intensities of the backscattered and iron fluorescent x-rays and the sample density.

Abstract: A spot film device suitable for use with the radiographic system and having a device for carrying and oscillating a grid which serves to absorb X-rays scattered from an object to be radiographed. Rotation force generated by a motor is used not only to move the grid between radiographic and parking positions but also to oscillate the grid. This enables the grid carrier system to be made comparatively simple in construction. In addition, the grid is oscillated over a certain range by the rotation force transmitted from the motor, so that comparatively high reliability can be guaranteed in oscillating the grid.

Abstract: A microfocus X-ray tube having a rotating anode wherein X-ray are generated by electron beam bombardment of the anode and wherein the electron beam is bent as by a magnetic field to impinge on a selected surface of the anode.

Abstract: The invention concerns an X-ray tomographic detector.This detector comprises a sealed chamber (4) containing a gas able to be ionized by X-rays having traversed a device or an object. This chamber comprises on a front face an X-ray inlet gate (5) and contains an X-ray detection unit (11). Connections means (27, 28, 29, 32, 33) traversing a rear face of the chamber (9) to link the detection means to measuring (14) and feed (15, 16) means outside the chamber. The detection means comprise electrodes (19) and a polarization plate (18) separated by an insulating brace (3) transparent to X-rays. According to the invention, this brace has the shape of frame. This frame rests firstly on the polarization plate (18) and secondly on conductive strips (22, 24) brought to the same potential reference (16) as that of the electrodes.Application for X-ray tomography.

Abstract: A comfort-enhancing improvement upon a known dental film packet having sensitized film and protective opaque sheets enclosed by a light-tight envelope that includes an opposed pair of generally parallel walls covering the sheets, those walls being joined together along facing marginal areas thereof surrounding the sheets so as to define a main body portion and a perimetric edge portion of the envelope. The improvement comprises a pliant bead of substantially non-porous, non-toxic, polymeric elastomeric material, preferably a silicone resin, that is molded in situ around at least part of the perimetric edge portion to encapsulate that part of the edge portion with such material and thereby provide the encapsulated part with a softer, smoother, and more rounded peripheral surface.

Abstract: An X-ray table top is moveably supported by a shaft extending from a support mechanism on a base to the end of the table top at one longitudinal side thereof offset from the longitudinal axis of the top. The support mechanism includes means for raising and lowering the table top, Trendelenburg tilting the top about an axis transverse of its longitudinal axis and canting it about the longitudinal axis or an axis parallel thereto. The offset support connection to the table top allows unobstructed access to both sides, the foot end, and to the head end of the table top for anesthesiological personnel and equipment.

Abstract: An x-ray imaging system incorporating a television imaging chain is disclosed. The system includes automatic gain control circuitry, operable upon the video signal produced by the camera of the television imaging chain. The gain control circuitry affords automatic gain control capability for increasing the video gain in response to an undesired decrease in video output signal level. The gain control circuitry, however, is constrained in that it includes circuitry for establishing a minimum video gain which is always maintained during a study, irrespective of increases in brightness of an overall sample window area of the image, which could otherwise cause undesirable darkening of areas of interest in the image when the sample window also includes uninteresting structure which happens to exhibit a bright field.

Abstract: A light distributor for use in an X-ray diagnostics installation wherein a light image corresponding to an X-ray image is generated by an X-ray image intensifier, and the light image is to be recorded using a number of different image recorders as a housing with input optics facing toward the X-ray image intensifier for generating a parallel light beam path, and has at least two movable mirror surfaces secured flat on a carriage. The carriage and mirror surfaces are arangement obliquely in a plane which is parallel to the beam path, and the carriage is displaceable along guides within this plane so that one of the mirror surfaces can be laterally moved into the beam path to deflect the light from the image intensifier onto a desired image recorder. At least one of the mirror surfaces is partially reflecting.

Abstract: A medical examination system includes components for generating an internal image of a patient, such as an x-ray image, and components for generating an image of the external surface of at least a portion of the patient. The signals obtained from the surface scan of the patient are used to control the positioning of other components, such as the patient support and/or the primary radiation diaphragm. The internal and surface images can be compared to achieve precise positioning of the patient and/or a setting of the primary radiation diaphragm to avoid blooming.

Abstract: A whole-body patient positioning and repositioning support for fixedly securing a patient in an original position during radiation treatment and for repositioning the patient to the same original position for subsequent radiation treatments. The support includes a foamed-in-place mold within a disposable plastic shell carrying a grid of radio-opaque members for generating a patient registration grid on X-rays for use in the evaluation and adjusting of the position of the patient to the original position using a sheet or straps between the patient and the mold.

Abstract: The present invention provide an x-ray film cartridge support for a bed-like stretcher. When the x-ray film cartridge support is attached to the crossbars of a stretcher, the support remains stationary thereon during the taking of x-rays especially when the support is attached to the stretcher head end when it is in an inclined position relative to the horizontal foot end. The support is removably mounted so that x-rays of necessary portions of the patient can be taken without movement of the patient on the stretcher.

Abstract: A device for attachment to an X-ray film cassette to indicate whether or not the film has been exposed to X-radiation comprises a phosphor screen (12) which fluoresces on exposure to X-radiation. A photocell (14) detects the light emitted by the screen and generates a control signal which is used to alter the display status of a liquid crystal display (24) from a first condition which indicates that the film in the cassette has not been exposed to X-radiation to a second condition where it indicates that exposure has taken place. A latch circuit (20) is used to retain the altered display even after exposure to X-radiation ceases. The device therefore gives a clear indication of whether or not the film in the cassette has been exposed to X-radiation. The circuit is powered from a nickel cadmium cell (26), the power supply circuit of which incorporates a micro switch (28).