Abstract: A compact and light weight radiographic collimator including two pairs of radiation absorbent shutters connected together by a parallelogram linkage which provides a nested arrangement when the shutters are in their full open position yet provides an aligned relationship when fully closed. An off-focal vane construction in which the vanes are moved reciprocally is also disclosed.The shutters and vanes may be either manually or automatically adjusted. Manual adjustment is automatically limited to the maximum safe open position.A collimator adjusting drive train using constantly meshing gearing and a slip clutch is employed. A series of filter plates of varying thicknesses are provided. The operator can select the filtration desired by positioning each filter plate in either its filtering or nonfiltering position and then insert the stack of plates into a slot. A sensor provides an indication of when the filter assembly is positioned in the collimator.

Abstract: A nuclear cardiology system for use with a scintillation camera for evaluating cardiac function by real time measurement of the variation of radiation from the heart of a patient to whom is administered a radioactive tracer. The camera provides data describing the location of individual counts representing radiation events coming from the patient. The system segregates, in real time, counts corresponding to radiation from an electronically defined region of interest describing an investigated part of the heart, such as the left ventricle. Synchronized by the patient's electrocardiogram, time gated memory circuitry divides each heartbeat into a series of subintervals, and stores indications of the respective amounts of radiation events emanating from the region of interest during each of the subintervals.

Abstract: A cable supply and take-up for a computed tomography scanner. An annular take-up reel coacts with a cable trough configured in the shape of a segment of an annulus. The trough and guide together provide a cable slack confining space which is rectangular in cross section along any radial plane.The trough is open at its ends. Cable is fed from a stationary external supply through one of the trough open ends and along a cable support wall to a return bend that feeds the cable to engagement with a take-up wall of the guide.A cable bend control spongy disc provides a spring force which urges the cable into engagement with both the guide take-up wall and the trough support wall while maintaining a bend with a substantially smooth and uniform radius of curvature.

Abstract: A real time scanned transducer ultrasonic imaging system is disclosed having an improved mechanical scanning system for reciprocating its transducer. The transducer is immersed in a fluid containing chamber. The drive system includes monitoring equipment which produces signals indicating transducer position. Imaging electronics processes (1) electrical signals produced by the transducer in response to ultrasonic echoes, and (2) the transducer position signals from the monitor. Display apparatus produces substantially real time ultrasonically derived images. The drive system includes a transducer carriage which reciprocates on guide rod structure. A drive arm is coupled to the carriage by a compliant coupling element. A drive shaft attached to the drive arm extends through a wall of the chamber, such that the drive shaft oscillates the drive arm.

Abstract: A diagnostic ultrasound real time B-scanner system has an improved probe assembly for fluid coupling a movable axis transducer to a patient's body. Pressure is maintained both low and constant by means of a passive pressure compensation apparatus. The probe includes apparatus containing the transducer and a fluid medium and including a compliant subject contacting bag. Pressure exerted by the bag on a subject is a function of (1) the pressure exerted on the fluid medium and (2) the orientation of the probe, due to the shifting weight of the fluid. The passive pressure compensator apparatus includes a gravity actuated apparatus for varying the pressure on the fluid medium as a function of the spatial orientation of the probe. This pressure variation compensates for the weight of the fluid medium and stabilizes the coupling pressure on the surface of the patient's body.

Abstract: A two-stage system for enhancing the imaging uniformity of a scintillation camera is disclosed. The camera includes means for detecting radiation events and for producing radiation count signals indicating the location and energy level of individual detected radiation events. The uniformity correction system compensates for imprecision in the camera's indication of both radiation event regional image count density and event energy level. Compensation for energy indication errors is done by a first stage, prior to a second stage correction for residual nonuniformity in regional image count density. The operations of both stages are carried out in real time for each individual radiation count, independently of the production of other counts.The first stage location and stores a representation of the respective peaks of the detected energy pulse height distribution for each of a plurality of regions in the camera's field of view.

Abstract: An electronically scanned phased array diagnostic system for describing internal structure of a subject by the use of ultrasonic energy. The system includes a transducer unit with an array of ultrasonic energy conversion segments and control circuitry for actuating the segments to direct ultrasonic energy into the subject. Imaging circuitry is included for interpreting electrical return signals produced by the segments in response to ultrasonic echoes. The imaging circuitry includes transmission delay circuits for imposing time delays on the return signals for steering and focusing system echo reception. Each transmission delay circuit includes first and second delay elements for impressing first and second delay time components on the return signals. Each pair of the first delay elements are coupled in parallel with separate transducer elements, and serially combined with a downstream second delay element.The first delay elements provide a portion of the reception steering capability.

Abstract: An ultrasonic system and method for examining the structure of a subject body is disclosed. The system includes an improved ultrasonic transducer and power circuitry for electrically stimulating the transducer to produce an incident ultrasonic energy beam along a path extending into the subject. The incident beam produces echoes within the subject, some of which propagate back toward the transducer. The transducer, in response to received echoes, produces electrical signals bearing information about the structure of the subject. The system further includes circuitry for processing the electrical signals and a display apparatus responsive to the processed electrical signals for producing a visual display of subject structure.The transducer includes a concavo-convex piezoelectric emitter for producing ultrasonic energy having a dominant frequency, an acoustical impedance matching transformer and a coupling element.

Abstract: The containerized fluid supply includes one or more bottles housed in a container for supplying prepackaged quantities of constituent chemicals of fixer and developer solutions. Each bottle includes a septum sealed over its mouth, which septum is pierceable to release the bottle contents. In order to prevent improper mixing of chemicals, the various bottles can be fitted within a given container only in one way and a particular container can be used with only a particular mixer.

Abstract: An X-ray table of the tiltable type in which a tower assembly is movably carried by a table body. The tower assembly includes a mast or column that is carried by a carriage and movable relative to the carriage in a path transverse to the longitudinal extent of the table. The carriage is longitudinally movable relative to the table body. The carriage support is provided by cylindrical ways and bearing clusters each including four circumferentially spaced bearings that are arranged in diametrically opposed pairs. One bearing of each pair is eccentrically mounted for preload adjustment. The bearings of one pair are positioned such that their axes are perpendicular to the plane of resultant forces imposed on the bearings and the ways when the table is in a vertical orientation.

Abstract: An X-ray table comprising a body having end, front and rear side members formed of inside and outside skin members having parts thereof spaced from one another and connected together by reinforcing members welded to the skin members and a method of making such a table. According to the method the side members are constructed as subassemblies with the inside and outside skin members of the end and front sides merely welded at their upper edges. Subsequently the vertical side members of the table body are assembled in a fixture without stress in the sheet metal parts. The outside members are then welded together at the junctures thereof. Finally the inside skin members of the end side members are welded to the reinforcing members previously welded to the end outside skin members and the front inside skin members is welded to the reinforcing members.

Abstract: A radiation imaging system and method is disclosed for producing an enhanced television image from a light image produced by an image intensifier tube having an unusually large output face and corresponding to a pattern of penetrative radiation from a subject. A source directs radiation such as X-rays through the subject and the image tube converts the emergent radiation pattern to a corresponding visible light image at an output phosphor. A television apparatus including a pickup tube views the output light image at a tube input face by way of a lens assembly and converts the light image to electrical, including video, signals. A television monitor reconverts the electrical signals to a visible television image of enhanced quality representing the pattern of radiation from the subject.The illuminated portion of the image tube output phosphor is similar in size and has the same shape as the input face of the television pickup tube.

Abstract: An improved method for computed tomographic scanning is disclosed. A beam of electromagnetic radiation subtending an angle .phi. is alternately translated and rotated past a patient. The intensity of the beam is detected by an array after the radiation passes the patient and a reconstructed image created from the detected intensities. Each rotation of the array is through an angle less than the angle .phi. subtended by the array producing redundant intensity readings for similarly oriented beam paths through the patient. This redundant intensity data is modified according to a scheme which tends to reduce motion and misalignment artifacts within the patient.

Abstract: A frequency program synthesizing apparatus and method is disclosed for controlling delay circuitry in ultrasonic imaging systems. The ultrasonic system includes a multi-element ultrasonic transducer for propagating ultrasonic energy into a subject, display apparatus for producing visual information about the subject from the ultrasonic energy, and imaging electronics for processing image information representing electrical signals from the transducer and employs the processed signals to cause the display to generate a visual image of internal subject structure.The imaging electronics includes delay circuitry which required programs of precisely controlled stepped clocking frequencies, and have frequency program synthesizers for producing the clocking signals.

Abstract: Apparatus and method are disclosed for detecting and indicating the occurrence of strain in a main cable interconnecting a movable tower and counterweight assembly in a tiltable X-ray table.The strain indication constitutes an audible signal produced by an audible signal generator in response to the strain indication.The X-ray table has a top pivotable through the horizontal, and circuitry and apparatus for preventing further pivoting of the table top when the top has been moved to its horizontal position following the production of a strain indication.The audio signal is generated constantly following the strain indication, and ceases when the table top is moved to the horizontal.

Abstract: A sector scanning search unit which supports a transducer for oscillation about a virtual pivot axis extending medially across the face of the transducer. The scanner unit is an elongate hand held unit in which the transducer is supported near one end of a chassis. The transducer's face is oriented transversely of a longitudinal axis of the chassis and on a side of the transducer opposite its supporting structure. The sector scanner is also provided with a mechanism for readily adjusting the magnitude of the sector being scanned, even while such scanning is taking place.

Abstract: A sector scanning search unit which supports a transducer for oscillation about a virtual pivot axis extending medially across the face of the transducer. The scanner unit is an elongate hand held unit in which the transducer is supported near one end of a chassis. The transducer's face is oriented transversely of a longitudinal axis of the chassis and on a side of the transducer opposite its supporting structure. The sector scanner is also provided with a mechanism for readily adjusting the magnitude of the sector being scanned, even while such scanning is taking place.

Abstract: A skin package with a plastic base sheet and a method of making it, the base sheet has projections and recesses therebetween. A heat-softened cover sheet is forced down over a product and brought into engagement with the base sheet by establishing a pressure differential.The base sheet is formed by establishing a pressure differential while the sheet is heat softened and on a perforated platen of a skin packaging machine. There the base sheet is inverted so that those portions of the sheet which have been drawn into the perforations provide the projections.

Abstract: A scintillation camera of the multiple phototube type. A thin light pipe and masks are employed to diffuse the light so that the camera operates on a principle of light diffusion rather than phototube "viewing" as described in the prior art.

Abstract: An x-ray tube is described including a focusing cup electrode coated with a high work function material, such as platinum or gold, to prevent the field emission of electrons from such cup. The method of applying the non-emitting coating is preferably sputtering or ion plating, but may also be electroplating followed by vacuum fusion in the case of gold or other low melting point metals.