Abstract: A radiation image read-out apparatus comprises a sheet feed section capable of selectively holding a cassette for housing a single stimulable phosphor sheet carrying a radiation image stored thereon or a magazine for housing a plurality of stimulable phosphor sheets each carrying a radiation image stored thereon. The sheet feed section is provided with a sheet take-out device for taking the stimulable phosphor sheet out of the cassette and the magazine. A read-out section is provided for reading out the radiation image by exposing the stimulable phosphor sheet to stimulating rays which cause the stimulable phosphor sheet to emit light in proportion to the stored radiation energy, and photoelectrically detecting the emitted light. A sheet conveyor conveys the stimulable phosphor sheet taken out of the sheet feed section to the read-out section.

Abstract: A programmable X-ray film changer for use, for example, in making angiograms, is provided with an improved pressure plate mechanism, feed and removal mechanism, photographic plate indexing mechanism, a clutched single cycle drive mechanism, a receiving photographic plate cassette and control methodology. The improvements in combination permit a substantial reduction of the number of parts in the film changer resulting in increased reliability, a decrease in the expense of manufacture, and decreased weight. Furthermore, the X-ray photographic film changer is arbitrarily orientable in space and independent of gravity feed mechanisms or the interference of gravity with respect to its operation. The improved pressure plate is normally substantially flat and is bowed to form a convex surface by a pressure plate bowing mechanism. Misfeeds of multiple numbers of photographic plates are thus tolerated by the natural resiliency of the pressure plate.

Abstract: A sheet film package includes a tray for storing sheet films, a first cover member for covering a film access opening defined in the tray, and a second cover member joined to the first cover member inwardly of an area where the first cover member starts to be peeled off. After the sheet film package has been loaded in a device such as an image recorder, the first cover member is cut off at the peeling-starting area by a cutter mechanism in the device, and the second cover member is pulled to peel the first cover member off the tray from the cut-off peeling-starting area, so that the film-access opening can reliably be opened in a bright room.

Abstract: A film package has a flexible light-shielding bag with a stack of sheet films stored therein, the flexible light-shielding bag having at least opposite ends sealed in a direction in which the flexible light-shielding bag can be pulled out, said opposite ends being folded back on one surface and joined together by a seal. The film package is placed in a holder which can be inserted into and removed from a main body of a film loading device.

Abstract: As an X-ray detecting means in an energy subtraction processing method, there is used a composite member comprising a plurality of stimulable phosphor sheets exhibiting different levels of characteristics of absorbing the low energy component of a radiation and overlaid one upon another, or a composite member comprising a plurality of stimulable phosphor sheets and at least one filter made of a material absorbing the low energy component of a radiation which are overlaid one upon another, or a stimulable phosphor sheet comprising a substrate made of a material absorbing the low energy component of a radiation and stimulable phosphor layers provided thereon. The composite member or the stimulable phosphor sheet is exposed to a radiation passing through an object including a specific structure to record therein at least two radiation images between which the image information at the portion of the specific structure is different.

Abstract: An X-ray radiography apparatus having a supply magazine, a film-removing unit, an X-ray imaging unit, a reference position detector, a suction detector, a distance detector, a discriminator, and a display unit. The supply magazine contains a stack of unexposed films. The reference position detector detects when the suction unit passes a reference position located above the supply magazine. The suction detector detects when a sheet film has been attracted to the suction unit. The distance detector detects the distance the suction unit has moved vertically, from the outputs of the reference position detector and the suction detector. This distance is equal to the distance between the reference position and the topmost unexposed film stored in the magazine. The discriminator determines the number of unexposed films remaining in the supply vessel from the distance detected by the distance detector.

Abstract: A telescoping adjustment assembly for head positioning means used in a cephalostat. The assembly having sleeves retractably engaged by slide arms, the outward ends of the arms and sleeves carrying brackets for supporting the head positioning means. Substantially no portions of the slide arms or sleeves extend outwardly of the brackets so that the assembly is compact and allows use with tomographic x-ray equipment so that the support portions for the brackets do not shadow the radiograph or provide physical impediments to the rotation of a co-axial x-ray tube and film holder. The assembly is further useful for both fixed-type cephalostats, and angularly adjustable cephalostats of the type wherein lateral and anterior, posterior, and oblique cephalometric studies may be made, wherein the stable, compact adjustment assembly provides very accurate positioning of the cranium, dentition, TMJ, etc.

Abstract: The apparatus enables the taking of multiple X-ray photographs of the legs and pelvis of a patient. A platform is rotatably mounted on a base member, and is provided with means for keeping the patient still in a standardized standing position. With only minor vertical and horizontal adjustment of an associated substantially point source of X-rays, side and front X-rays can be taken without movement of the patient, apart from rotation of the platform. Radio opaque marker means provided on otherwise radio-transparent spaced screens produce, on the X-ray film, images which can be interpreted to provide information for compensation of distortions in images on the X-ray film due to the use of a point source of radiation.

Abstract: A portable cephalostat is shown as having a frame-like base subassembly which provides for an area upon which a patient's head is to rest and a support for supporting locating arms which serve to locate the patient's head in a selected position; the base subassembly provides for the placement of a first film, to be exposed, below the patient's head and for the placement of additional film, also to be exposed, generally to one side of the patient's head and generally parallel to and spaced a first distance from the mid-sagittal plane of the patient's head; provision is also made for the placement of other film, also to be exposed, generally to the same one side of the patient's head and generally parallel to and spaced a second distance from the mid-sagittal plane of the patient's head; further provision is made for the placement of still further additional film, to be exposed, generally transverse to the patient's head and spaced from the top thereof; an indicator is provided for, upon attaining the desired l

Abstract: X-ray energy-difference images are obtained simultaneously by exposing a body to a broad energy spectrum x-ray beam while a radiographic film package is disposed between front and rear x-ray intensifying screens. The film package has two superimposed films with a light-opaque sheet between them. The front screen, on which the polyenergetic image beam emerging from the body is incident, is excited to luminescence by x-ray photons predominantly in one energy band and the rear screen is excited predominantly by photons in another band. The light opaque sheet preferably contains x-ray filter material for additional filtering of photons to increase the fraction of photons at said other band to which the rear screen is sensitive. A shadowgraph of a marker is formed on the film emulsions during x-ray exposure to aid in matching congruent picture elements on each film when the developed films are being read out to obtain signals corresponding to their intensities.

Abstract: In the disclosed device a film loader loads film sheets of different length to be exposed by X-rays. A transport arrangement transports the sheets to positions at which they are to be exposed. A holder keeps the upper edge of the film sheets at the same height in the exposure position regardless of the sheet length.

Abstract: Apparatus for reading out individual X-ray images recorded on a double-emulsion radiographic film or on separate films that were coincident when exposed simultaneously to a polyenergetic or broad X-ray photon energy spectrum beam emergent from a body and where an image corresponding to one obtained with a low energy part of the spectrum is formed on one film and an image corresponding to a higher energy part of the spectrum is formed on the other. One readout apparatus is for the case of two separate films which, after development, are illuminated from the back and optically scanned to derive analog signals representative of the intensities of spatially corresponding picture elements on each film. Another apparatus is for the case where the two images are on opposite sides of a film and are represented by alternate fine image information lines obtained by interposing a grid during the X-ray exposure. Another is for the case where a reflective layer is disposed between the film images during readout.

Abstract: In radiography, a plurality of radiographic films are used for recording radiographic images of an object viewed from the same direction. For instance, a stack of radiographic films stacked together with intensifying screens is exposed to X-rays passing through an object to record the images on the films simultaneously. Alternatively, the plurality of radiographic films are exposed to X-rays passing through the object one by one with the object held still at a position. The images on the plurality of radiographic films are superposed together by electrical signal processing means to obtain an image having averaged density. Then, the gradient of the gradation of the averaged image is enhanced. The radiographic films may be stacked together with self-supporting intensifying screens to reduce the thickness of the stack of the films and intensifying screens when recording the radiographic images.