Abstract: An X-ray diagnostic installation which includes an automatic exposure timer. An X-ray diagnostic installation of the above type is so constructed whereby the setting or positioning of the measuring probe is substantially simplified in contrast with the state of the technology. Located in the housing of the primary ray focusing diaphragm, is an adjustable marking installation which is optically reproducible on the patient, for the imaging or reproduction of a measuring area, and in which there is located on the exterior of the shutter housing at least one scale for reading off its positioning, and wherein the measuring probe is connected with setting means which project out of the cassette drawer, having associated therewith at least one scale for reading off the position of the measuring probe.

Abstract: One of the isotopes of an element having several isotopes can be separated from the others in a dense, neutral plasma. Thus initially a neutral plasma is prepared including the element in question. This may consist of positive ions and negative electrons or alternatively of positive and negative ions, or else of a mixture of positive ions, negative ions and electrons. The plasma may then be injected into a magnetic field or may be generated in the field where more energy is imparted to a selected isotope than to the others. Finally, the isotopes are separated from each other on the basis of their differential energies. For example, the selected isotope may be given more energy than the others by stimulating it within the plasma at its resonant frequency which may be close to the cyclotron frequency, either by an electric field or by a magnetic field.

Abstract: A marker for use in recording on a radiograph either of two different characters or symbols, for example an "L" or an "R" corresponding to a "left" or "right" exposure area, and for indicating the orientation of the patient during exposure. A movable element cooperates with a body member to selectively form either of the two characters or symbols. The body member also houses an orientation indicating system which provides a recordable indication of whether the marker, and hence the area of the patient exposed to the X-rays, was horizontal or vertical at the time of exposure.

Abstract: A corpuscular-beam apparatus including a specimen holder having at least two degrees of freedom of translation and at least one degree of freedom of rotation, and control means for correcting the translational coordinates of the specimen holder automatically when the specimen holder is rotated and retaining a predetermined specimen point in its position in the apparatus. The improvement of the invention comprises the control means comprising means for controlling the rotational movement of the specimen holder stepwise in angular increments, the angular increments being chosen small so that the translational movement of the specimen point for each angular increment may be considered linear.

Abstract: An improved sterile container is disclosed for receiving and enclosing an unsterile x-ray cassette holder so as to avoid contamination of a sterile operative field by the unsterile x-ray cassette holder when the cassette holder is being used to take x-rays during surgery in a sterile operative field.The improved container includes sterile fastening means for properly positioning the x-ray cassette holder with respect to the patient to be x-rayed so as to obtain optimal x-ray views without unnecessarily exposing any operating room personnel to the x-rays and so as to minimize the chances that the x-ray cassette holder will slip or otherwise move, with respect to the patient, during the time the x-rays are being taken.

Abstract: A gas analyzer is disclosed which responds to the resonant absorption or emission spectrum of a specific gas by producing an acoustic resonance in a chamber containing a sample of that gas, and which measures the amount of that emission or absorption by measuring the stength of that acoustic resonance, e.g., the maximum periodic pressure, velocity or density achieved. In the preferred embodiment, a light beam is modulated periodically at the acoustical resonance frequency of a closed chamber which contains an optically dense sample of the gas of interest. The light beam is introduced into the chamber through a window transparent to the radiation in the spectral band of interest and located at a position in the chamber which can support a pressure maximum during acoustical resonance of the gas within the chamber. Periodic heating of the absorbing gas by the periodically modulated light beam incident on the gas then causes a cyclic expansion, movement, and pressure within the gas.

Abstract: The method of calibrating an axial tomographic scanner including frame means having an opening therein in which an object to be examined is to be placed, source and detector means mounted on the frame means for directing one or more beams of penetrating radiation through the object from the source to the detector means, and means to rotate the scanner including the source and detector means about the object whereby a plurality of sets of data corresponding to the transmission or absorption by the object of a plurality of beams of penetrating radiation are collected; the calibration method comprising mounting calibration means supporting an adjustable centering member onto the frame means, positioning the adjustable centering member at approximately the center of rotation of the scanner, placing position-sensitive indicator means adjacent the approximately centered member, rotating the scanner and the calibration means mounted thereon at least one time and, if necessary, adjusting the positioning of the center

Abstract: An improved X-ray photoelectron spectrometer is disclosed, which includes circuit means to determine the surface potential of a sample, e.g., an insulator. The circuit means comprise an electron gun, whose potential is modulated at a preselected frequency above and below a selected potential with respect to the spectrometer common potential, e.g., ground. The beam of electrons is directed to the sample surface. The sample's surface potential is offset by an offset power supply with respect to the spectrometer common potential until the AC current which flows through the sample reaches a peak amplitude. A lock-in amplifier is included to measure the AC current in phase with the modulating frequency.

Abstract: An improved radiation measuring and processing unit for a radiation scanning system precisely determines the average intensity of a beam of radiation as it impinges upon a radiation detector during a primary time period of predetermined duration. The unit computes the average intensity by detecting the average rate of a train of intensity representing pulses occurring during a secondary time period whose duration is determined according to the occurrences of the pulses within the primary time period. The system is preferably a transverse section, X-ray scanning system, and the radiation detector generates a data signal having a level indicative of the intensity of the beam of X-radiation after it passes through a subject. The measuring and processing unit includes a pulse generator, preferably in the form of a charge pump integrator, for converting the data signals into the train of data pulses having a repetition rate which varies according to the level of the data signal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device designed to automatically trace designs at a very small scale. The device comprises an electron-optical system forming an elementary image of extremely small dimensions, of a diaphragm. A scanning system makes it possible to display said image, line by line over the surface which is to be printed, in a first direction, while a mechanical system displaces the surface in a direction perpendicular to the first direction. The arrangement is controlled by a logic system supplying code numbers which indicate the programme to be followed in respect of each line. The invention applies to microelectronics.

Abstract: A stretcher-like table or cradle for use as a body support during radiological examination. The table includes means whereby it may be arcuately pivotally manipulated about each of two mutually perpendicular horizontal axes. For specific uses in mammographic procedures, the support surface or web of the table is provided with a cut-away areal zone through which the gravitationally suspended breast of the female subject depends. Selective and controlled pivotal tilting of the table makes precise orientational positioning of the suspended tissue feasible, so as to provide improved fidelity and enhanced diagnostic value for the radiographic film images produced.

Abstract: A method for inspecting a nuclear fuel rod or irradiation capsule in which a heat transfer medium consisting of a liquid metal having a radioactive element uniformly admixed therewith is charged, e.g. poured, into a gap defined between the nuclear fuel material and the sleeve enclosing the fuel material in the nuclear fuel rod or into gaps defined between the nuclear fuel material and the innermost tube and between the adjacent tubes in an irradiation capsule comprising a plurality of concentric tubes enclosing the nuclear fuel material in multiple layers. A film sensitive to the radioactive element is wound about the sleeve of the nuclear fuel rod or about the outermost tube of the capsule, and the conditions of the film after the film has been exposed to the radioactive element are detected.A heat transfer medium for use in the method which may be sodium or NaK having .sup.24 Na admixed uniformly therewith.

Abstract: An x-ray tomography apparatus has a couch for a human subject to lie on, a cylindrical capsule to enclose part of the body, a flexible water filled bag to stabilize a portion of the human body being x-rayed, an x-ray source mounted on a rotatable frame, and an arcuate row of x-ray detector plates enclosed in a metal container filled with xenon gas. The detector plates are positioned on the rotatable frame opposite the x-ray source so that the x-rays pass through the subject and are received by the detector plates. The detector plates and x-ray source are continuously rotatable about the subject, having slip ring power and electrical connections. The couch is servo motor powered and is switched at the completion of one rotation of the rotatable frame to automatically index the subject forward.

Abstract: An intense light source, preferably of high monochromaticity, having its beam modulated at a frequency f.sub.o through a wavelength range including an absorption line of a species to be detected, energizes a chamber containing a sample of the species. The modulation frequency may also be a multiple or sub-multiple of the natural resonant accoustic frequency of the sample chamber. A microphone in the sample chamber provides an output signal proportional to the concentration of the species. The radiation beam is further incident upon a calibration chamber containing a predetermined concentration of the species. A microphone in the calibration chamber provides a calibration signal for comparison with the sample signal to determine the concentration of the species in the sample cell. Means are provided for adjusting the center of the wavelength modulation range so that it bears a known relation to the center of the species absorption line.

Abstract: A universal intraoral radiographic system for taking periapical as well as bite-wing radiographs comprises a bite block, a bite block holder and an x-ray beam alignment means. The bite block includes a bite portion having a substantially vertically extending film-holding slot permitting the film to extend therethrough into any desired position. A film-locking slot extends substantially horizontally through the bite portion so as to receive the bite block holder which locks the film in place within the film-holding slot. The x-ray beam alignment means or target comprises a substantially planar piece of radio transparent material which may have circular indicia for aligning an x-ray beam of circular cross-section or rectangular indicia for aligning an x-ray beam of rectangular cross-section. The system may also be used to practice the occlusal technique by utilizing an occlusal film holder having a coupling portion adapted to be received by the film-holding slot.

Abstract: The flowable material is directed through an irradiation zone in a thin layer and in a free fall. In one embodiment, the material is accelerated by one or more rollers prior to entry into the irradiation zone. The thin layer may be directed vertically or horizontally past one or more electron beams.

Abstract: A scanning Auger microprobe in a cylindrical mirror analyzer is provided wherein an aperture plate at the exit stage is controllably variable in aperture size and is positioned near the second order focus point and at the minimum trace of the analyzer. Control of the aperture size is provided in both an infinitely variable arrangement and in a three size exit aperture arrangement.

Abstract: A shielding arrangement for a rod shaped UV radiator, particularly for use in making the air in a room germ free which comprises a rod shaped UV radiator and a number of shielding plates which are held parallel to each other at a predetermined spacing. The shielding plates are aperture disks which are disposed horizontally in the room, each having a hole with dimensions such as to at least admit the UV radiator vertically in the direction of its rod axis. The holes of the individual aperture disks are axially lined up with each other. The shielding arrangement is dimensioned such that the UV light can emerge essentially only between respective adjacent aperture disks.

Abstract: An apparatus for matching the refractive index of the attenuating fluid to the windows in dye cell apodizers and a method for accomplishing the same, which includes an apodizer window and a support therefor together with a heating device associated with the window and a control means for regulating the temperature of the heating device.

Abstract: Isotopic separation is accomplished by (1) a second photon irradiation step for selective ionization of a first isotopic species and (2) selective precipitation of a generally immiscible liquid from the saturating vapor phase on the ionized species. The first photon corresponds with a sharply defined spectral portion of the irradiation which exclusively excites the first species to a vibrational level. The second photon further excites this species to its ionization level. Selective precipitation is by coulombic attraction between the ionized species and the vapor. The procedure is applicable to any vapor phase ionizable material.