Abstract: Tomodensitometer, particularly for examining bodies which perform cyclic movements such as the heart and the pericardiac tissues. To eliminate blurring caused by the heart movements the rotation of the radiodensitometric measuring system is synchronized with the movements in such a way that at the time when the periodic movement of the tissue is at its maximum amplitude the projection direction substantially coincides with the direction of the movement and that the start and finish of the measurements coincide respectively with the start and finish of the immobility periods adjacent to the movement period.

Abstract: The invention relates to a flexible probe for non-destructive inspection of long tubes.The measuring head is connected to the electrical connection by means of a body constituted by a sheath, whose particular characteristic is that it has a limited elongation strain and a low degree of deformation on compression, so that it does not deform either during the introduction of the probe into the tube or during its extraction from the tube, no matter what the tube length.The invention is more particularly applicable to the inspection for faults within long tubes by the eddy current method.

Abstract: Means for locating accurately without ambiguity tomodensitometric sections sloping in any way with respect to an original predetermined plane. At least one locating element is disposed on the part to be examined by conventional tomodensitometry, this element having a baseline situated in the original plane and having at least one characteristic such as density, varying continuously or substantially continuously along a direction perpendicular to this baseline, the variation of this characteristic being measurable on the tomodensitometric images of the different sections; this characteristic may be in particular a dimension of the element: width perpendicular to the direction perpendicular to the base in the case where the element is a triangle.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of optical storage of a numerical image and to methods of analog read-out and numerical processing of an image thus stored as well as to systems which make use of said method.All the digits of a given rank of the numbers constituting the numerical image are recorded on the same medium consisting of a film, for example, in the form of juxtaposed surface elements which, in a given example, are made conventionally opaque to light when the corresponding digit is either 1 or 0 and only in this case in order to constitute a sub-image. A surface element associated with one digit occupies a position within the sub-image which is similar to the position occupied by the number containing said digit in the numerical image.

Abstract: A rotating-anode X-ray tube for producing a flat wide-angle fan-shaped beam with a substantially uniform distribution of energy comprises a cylindrical anode and a cathode axially or peripherally offset from the target area or focus bombarded by the electrons so that the axis of the fan-shaped beam emitted by that area can extend radially to the cylindrical anode surface. An arcuate shield closely paralleling this cylindrical surface is apertured at its center in front of the focus and intercepts stray electrons which would be liable to bombard the anode at points outside the target area so as to give rise to extra-focal radiation. Such a tube is useful in apparatus designed for axial transverse tomography.

Abstract: A tomodensitometric apparatus for the radiological examination of an object by relative rotation with respect to said object of a fixed array consisting of a source of penetrating radiation and a plurality of detectors disposed along a line. In order to correctly position the object in the center of the radiation field prior to the examination and without subjecting the object to a dose of test radiation, the invention provides a movable screen which is placed between the source and the object to be examined. The dimensions of the screen are such as to prevent the radiation emanating from the source from reaching any but at least one of the two outermost-lying detectors in the line of detectors.

Abstract: A multiple cathode X-ray tube for densitometers.This tube contains an anode assembly functioning by transmission, which is arranged along the sides of a regular convex polygon, with several cathodes, each of which sweeps one side of the polygon and a collimation device with several openings placed in front of the anode assembly to produce a series of fine, parallel and coplanar beams, the number of beams being equal to the number of openings. Such a tube makes very fast tomography possible.

Abstract: PCT No. PCT/FR78/00011 SEC. 371 Date Mar. 26, 1979 Sec. 102(e) Date Feb. 28, 1979 PCT Filed July 18, 1978 PCT Pub. No. WO 79/00065 PCT Pub. Date Feb. 22, 1979An apparatus for panoramic radiography of a curved surface such as a dental arch, with an oscillating arm (17) holding an X-ray source (18) at one end and a film-carrier (20) at the other. The arm (17) is mounted free on an axle (16), called the third axle, which a mechanism causes to move along an elliptical trajectory adapted to the jaw of the patient. The arm is also driven in rotation around the third axle by a mechanism (stub 11, slot 24) connected to the primary axle (4) of the mechanism producing the ellipse so that it is always orthogonal to the ellipse. Film (19) is so driven as to prevent deformations of the panoramic projection. The ellipse is described at a variable speed to compensate for the absorption due to the cervical column.

Abstract: A hollow, cylindrical, rotating anode, X-ray tube for tomodensitometers.This tube contains a bell-shaped, hollow, cylindrical anode functioning by transmission, which is swept on its inner surface by an electron beam and produces in cooperation with a collimation device having several openings a series of fine X-ray beams, which are roughly parallel and coplanar, the number of these beams being equal to the number of openings in the collimation device. Such a tube makes very fast tomography possible.

Abstract: Radiographic apparatus reconstituting an image by processing by means of a computer the signals delivered by a detector measuring the coefficient of absorption of a body through which an X-ray beam passes.A plurality of detectors disposed in a fan arrangement are used, whereby it is possible to decrease the number of scanning stations. According to the invention, this number of stations is an odd number for a complete revolution. Further, a number of detectors in excess is used for a given included angle of the fan arrangement so that the response of defective detectors can be eliminated.

Abstract: A film changer especially for X-ray diagnostic apparatus permitting exposure at rapid frame rates. The film changer includes a supply magazine holding a stack of sheet film, a transfer device for transferring a sheet of film into an exposure station including a fixed and a movable pressure plate covered on the adjacent faces by intensifying screens, and an ejection device for ejecting exposed films into a receiver magazine.The displacements of the movable plate to and from the fixed one are controlled by means of two pairs of cams rotating on parallel shafts as the plates have to be pressed to each other during exposure and moved apart during ejection and loading. The transfer and ejection devices have permanently rotating rollers cooperating with pressure cylinders. The pressure cylinder associated with the ejection rollers is movable to and away from the latter by means of further cams synchronized with those acting on the movable pressure plate so that ejection occurs before loading.

Abstract: The invention relates to a transverse axial tomographic system using a computer.This system includes a single casing in the form of a toroid on which are carried a number of X-ray tubes that can be simultaneously or successively started very rapidly for thus irradiating a body positioned about the axis of the casing and a plurality of detectors receiving the X-rays attenuated by the body.Such a system permits tomographic slices of organs such as the heart while they are moving.

Abstract: An X-ray apparatus for transverse axial tomography by direct exposure of a photographic film.A localizer, constituted mainly by a lead-lined cylindrical tube, is fixed to a pivotal lever in the vicinity of the source of X-rays. It contains, in particular, a set of movable filters and movable opaque shutters each of which is moved by driving means according to the movements of the pivotal lever so that the essential part of the beam never impinges directly on the cassette holder and the rays located at the edge of the beam are less powerful than those located in the center region.A transverse tomography apparatus of general utility.

Abstract: The radiodiagnosis apparatus comprises intensifying screens required for radiography and has such structure that the screens and their supports ca be very easily removed for radioscopy.The radiodiagnosis apparatus according to the invention comprises an exposure device, including a frame (7) fixed to the radiodiagnosis apparatus in the exposure portion thereof and a removable drawer (8) supporting the intensifying screens sliding in this frame.Application to radiodiagnosis apparatus utilizable alternately in radiography and radioscopy.

Abstract: An x-ray tube providing a flat, fan-shaped uniform x-ray beam.The tube includes inside a vacuum glass envelope, a cathode or cathodes, a fixed or cylindrical rotating anode, and an anti-divergence diaphragm. The anti-divergence diaphragm has an opening, through which passes the beam. The walls of the opening have the shape of a sector of the fan-shaped beam in one plane (z-z'), and are flat in a perpendicular plane. A plurality of x-ray absorbing blades are positioned in the opening parallel to the fan-shaped side dividing the opening and the beam passing therethrough, thereby minimizing overall divergence of the beam. A plurality of cathodes may be used in the rotating anode tube, each separately focusable to provide beams of different intensity, and alternately operable.

Abstract: A method and circuit arrangement for improving the definition of the focal spots of X-ray tubes which comprises periodically varying the bias voltage applied to the concentrating electrode of the tube, focalizing the eletron beam emitted by the filament, between a negative minimum or zero value and a negative maximum value, with a voltage waveform whose frequency is higher than 10 kilohertz, wherein this bias voltage has to assume at least the two extreme values frequently, while a direct-current high voltage is being applied between the cathode (filament) and the anode (target) during the exposure time.

Abstract: A rotary anode X-ray tube capable of operating at very high voltages of several hundred thousand volts.The rotor and the stator of the motor for the rotary anode are electrically connected to the anode which is itself raised to a positive DC potential, while the cathode is raised at a symmetrical negative potential. The rotor and the stator are separated by a thin non-magnetic wall which makes part of the vacuum enclosure, said wall being connected to the remainder of the enclosure by means of a fold of glass.

Abstract: A radiological apparatus, especially for the examination of objects by tomographic scanning, and equipped with a plurality of X-ray detectors. Each detector includes a scintillator crystal which is coupled to a photomultiplier by a light collector. The light collector is shaped in such way that all or a substantial majority of the light emitted by the scintillator crystal is reflected into the photomultiplier. In particular, the surface of the collector is made reflecting and the various portions of the reflecting surface are configured to reflect light emerging from a corresponding crystal face in a direction which misses the scintillation crystal and which permits entry in the photomultiplier tube. Various embodiments are presented wherein the surface is composed of circular, parabolic and polygonal cylinders.

Abstract: A control system for an X-ray apparatus in which the selected values of tube voltage, tube current and exposure time are used to compute optimized values of the current-time product which is compared with stored values of permissible tube performance to produce tube settings and initiate tube cut-off. The transmission of control data is performed digitally while the computing is performed in an analog computer.

Abstract: A syringe for injecting fluid into a body or for removing body fluids is coupled to move together with the piston of a double acting hydraulic actuator having two chambers. For the purpose of aspirating fluid into the syringe, the second chamber of the actuator has within it a liquifiable gas which exerts a constant pressure on the piston. The expulsion of fluid from the syringe is accomplished by the admission of a hydraulic medium under pressure to the first chamber of the actuator. The apparatus also includes a calibrating mechanism which preselects a quantity of hydraulic medium proportional to the quantity of fluid to be expelled from the syringe.