Abstract: Method and device for controlling the operations of a mammographic X-ray apparatus. In the apparatus the breast (4) to be photographed is pressed between a press plate (2) and a film cassette (5) or an equivalent depicting member. In the method the compression force (F) applied by the holder means to the breast (4) to be photographed, or a quantity that represents this force (F) indirectly, is measured. On the basis of the measurement, the velocity (V) of the compression movement of the press mechanism is regulated. The apparatus comprises a C-arm (1), at one of whose ends the X-ray tube (6) is placed and at the other end the film cassette (5). The C-arm (1) is rotatable around a shaft (8) by means of a motor (9). The device comprises a detector (3) or a series of detectors which measures the compression force and by means of which the operation of the press motor (7) for the breast holders is arranged to be controlled.

Abstract: An X-ray rotary anode (1) comprising a graphite carrier body (3) and a tungsten target layer (11) can withstand a high-temperature load when an intermediate layer is provided which is composed of a layer of silicon carbide (7) and a layer of titanium nitride (9).

Abstract: A sheet extracting mechanism is provided with a suction cup for attracting one of stacked sheets, a negative pressure source for supplying a suction force to the suction cup, a detector for detecting the pressure in the suction cup, a moving mechanism for moving the suction cup thereby extracting the sheet adhered to the suction cup by the section force, and a discriminator for comparing the suction force in the suction cup with a predetermined pressure, at a predetermined position located a predetermined distance from the bottom of the stack of sheets, thereby identifying the amount of the stacked sheets. The suction cup is temporarily stopped at the predetermined position corresponding to a predetermined number of remaining sheets, and the remaining number of sheets is identified equal to or less than the predetermined number when the suction cup no longer touches the sheet, thereby becoming unable to attract the sheet.

Abstract: An outer gantry (20) is movably mounted on wheels to move along tracks (22). An inner gantry (30) rotatably mounted on the outer gantry includes at least a pair of guide rods (56, 58) on which detector heads (32, 34) are slidably mounted. Motors (92, 102) selectively translate the detector heads along the guide rods. A chain and sprocket arrangement (116, 114; 128, 126) constrains the heads against canting and maintains opposite sides of the detector heads in alignment as the detector heads move and as the inner gantry rotates. Each detector head includes a roller bearing track or channel portion (140) on which a horizontal track portion (142) of a collimator (144) is hung vertically. A collimator connecting assembly (150) connects a bottom portion of the collimator to the detector head and secures it against further horizontal movement.

Abstract: A plurality of electrometer probes scan the charge pattern of a photoconductor (1), the distance between the electrometer probes (6) and the photoconductor (1) being measured via an alternating voltage applied to the photoconductor (1). The alternating voltage is scanned by the electrometer probes and is filtered out to extract distance measuring signals. The output signals of all electrometer probes (6) are used for determining image values of the X-ray image, the output signals of at least some of the electrometer probes (6) also being used, via a suitable filter (23), for determining the distance measuring signals. An adjusting device adjusts the distance between the electrometer probes (6) and the photoconductor (1) continuously to a reference value, in dependence on the value of the measuring signals, during the scanning operation.

Abstract: In a stowed configuration, a gantry (32) of a CT scanner is mounted by helical, wire rope shock isolators (78) to a floor (12) of an ISO shelter at about a 60.degree. angle relative to a central axis (48) of the shelter. Mechanical assemblies (84, 100) limit movement of a tiltable gantry portion (82) relative to fixed gantry portions (60, 62, 64). A CT scanner control console (36) is mounted adjacent an opposite end of the ISO shelter on shock isolators (140). A patient couch (34) is mounted on shock isolators (122) in a stowed configuration in the available space between the gantry and the console. To deploy the system, foldable walls (26, 30), a foldable ceiling panel (28), and a foldable floor panel (24) of the ISO shelter are folded out. The patient couch is lowered onto casters (124) and moved into alignment with a central axis of the gantry. Jacks (128, 130) lower the patient couch from the casters and shock isolators onto the floor of the ISO shelter for fixed engagement.

Abstract: A patient table assembly (10) is fixedly mounted on pedestals (14, 16) with a table top (12) passing through a central aperture (116) of a rotatable inner gantry (110). The inner gantry (110) is rotatably mounted in an outer gantry (80) which selectively moves parallel to the table top along tracks (82). The foot end pedestal (14) has an arm (30) and a flange and contour block arrangement (36) which receives a foot end (40) of the table top fixedly therebetween. A slide (58) clamps the head end of the table top to an arm (50) connected with the second pedestal. A front wheel carriage (90) includes a pair of wheels (98) which are rotatably mounted to a pivot member (92) for limited rotation about the outer gantry (80). Detector heads (112, 114) are mounted to slide members (132, 136,156,158) which slide on guide members (134, 138). A motor (140, 152) and acme screw ( 142, 154) drive one slide along the guide members.

Abstract: An x-ray image-pickup apparatus comprises a base movable along a ceiling wall of a photographing room, a support having one end portion rotatably attached to the base, an arm rotatably and slidable attached to the other end portion of the support, and a pair of x-ray image-pickup systems arranged to be substantially included in an imaginary plane defined within the arm and designed to be capable of photographing a subject situated within the arm in two directions. The apparatus is suitable for a cephalo-cervical interventional angiography.

Abstract: In a photoelectronic interconnection device, N.times.N light emitting elements are arranged on a light emitting plane in a matrix pattern and N.times.N light sensing elements are arranged on a light receiving plane in a matrix pattern corresponding to the light emitting elements. A lens array of p.times.p optical lenses is provided, the lenses being disposed on a common optical plane located so that it is spaced from the light receiving plane at a distance q times greater than its distance to the light emitting plane, where N=pq, the lenses being spaced apart from each other at pitch (pq+1)a/(q+1), and a is a pitch between successive light emitting elements.

Abstract: A proximity image intensifier for use in a light amplifier in a high-sensitivity hand-held camera for broadcasting service or the like, which includes a photocathode for photoelectrically converting an optical image, a phosphor screen for receiving photoelectrons from the photocathode and producing an intensified optical image, and a high-voltage power supply for applying a high voltage across the photocathode and the phosphor screen. For protecting the phosphor screen from burnout due to a spot of incident light, a resistor is interposed in a power supply path at a position immediately before at least one of the photocathode and the phosphor screen to reduce an electrostatic capacitance between the photocathode and the phosphor screen.

Abstract: The detector system includes three substantially similar detectors each of which includes an ionization chamber having a pedestal therein mounting a charged electret. Two chambers are completely sealed except for an equalization aperture. The third detector has filtered inlet openings, which permit entry of radon gas, and responds to gamma rays and radon gas. Each detector is a canister including a lid having a round base surrounded by a cylindrical wall. The canister body is a circular base surrounded by a cylindrical wall that nests within the lid with a telescopic fit. A cylindrical pedestal assembly rests on the lid base and concentrically sandwiches the canister body between the pedestal assembly and lid. A press-fit holds these three elements together. The charged electret is mounted on the platform by a retaining collar that holds the electret with a press-fit.

Abstract: A medical panoramic radiographing device comprises in combination a mode selector which is used to select the panoramic radiographing mode, jaw joint radiographing mode and/or otolaryngological region radiographing mode, an X-ray irradiation timing determination means which is used to determine the X-ray irradiation timing appropriate to the rotation positon of a rotary arm in the sselected radiographing mode, and an X-ray film movement pattern determinator which is used to determine movement patterns regarding the movement timing, speed, etc. of an X-ray film depending on the selected radiographing mode. With this device, the X-ray irradiation timing values or the X-ray film movement timing values suited for various radiographing modes are set automatically to ensure systematic selection of various radiographing modes.

Abstract: A photoconductor for converting incident X-ray radiation into a charge pattern is on carrier constructed so as to be rotationally symmetrical with respect to an axis of rotation. A driving unit rotates the carrier and photoconductor about the axis of rotation. A charge reading unit which, after exposure to X-rays forming an X-ray picture, converts the charge pattern on the surface of the rotating photoconductor into electric picture values. Reduced picture exposure time (with the time for reading the photoconductor remaining equally low) is achieved in that the converter does not rotate during exposure to the X-rays for taking an X-ray picture.

Abstract: A high-voltage generator supplies an X-ray source with a high-voltage via at least one high-voltage cable. To protect the X-ray tube of the source against destruction by discharge phenomena in the X-ray tube, a damping impedance which is operative only from a high-frequency point of view is provided at the output of the high-voltage generator.

Abstract: A high sensitivity radiation detecting photodiode formed in silicon carbide comprises a monocrystalline silicon carbide substrate; a first monocrystalline portion of silicon carbide upon the substrate and having a first conductivity type; a second monocrystalline portion of silicon carbide adjacent the first portion and having the opposite conductivity type from the first portion; and a p-n junction between the adjacent first and second portions. The photodiode provides a dark current density of no more than about 1.times.10.sup.-9 amps/cm.sup.2 at a reverse bias of -1.0 volts and at temperatures of 170.degree. C. or less.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for examining containers and/or vehicles at an airport for impermissible contents, such as explosives, weapons, drugs, smuggled goods and the like. To improve the ability to identify such items in the article or vehicle under inspection, an image processor is provided having a computer to which the signals of the radiation detectors are supplied. The computer uses these signals to calculate a radiation silhouette of the articles. A memory is provided in which a reference image of the article is stored. A comparison circuit is supplied with the signals from the computer and from the memory, so that a differential image derived from the calculated radiation silhouette from the computer and from the reference image is displayed on a monitor, connected to the comparison circuit. Differences between the cureent image and the reference image can thereby be easily observed.

Abstract: An improved intensifying lead screen for use with photographic, industrial X-ray films. This screen comprises a lead foil or lead oxide adhesively applied to a polyester support and optionally contains an overcoat or protective layer thereon.

Abstract: A head-activated fluoroscopic control which is characterized in a preferred embodiment by a continuous wave infrared transmitter located in a cartridge adapted for attachment to eyeglasses, a headband or other headpiece worn by a surgeon or attending physician and a detector or receiver tuned to the frequency of the continuous wave infrared transmitter for receiving a partially collimated infrared signal beam and activating a fluoroscope. The infrared transmitter emits the collimated beam and the beam is received by the receiver when the surgeon's head is turned toward the fluoroscope monitor upon which the receiver rests or in which the receiver is mounted, to facilitate selective operation of the fluoroscope during surgery.

Abstract: An X-ray stand with two hollow arms for supporting an X-ray tube and an X-ray receptor contains within one hollow arm a grounded anode X-ray tube and a non-inductive Cockcroft-Walton voltage multiplier power supply also grounded at one end to the support arm. The hollow arm forms a chamber filled with insulating fluid surrounding both the X-ray tube and its voltage multiplier. The voltage multiplier and X-ray tube plug together physically and electrically within the oil filled arm.

Abstract: An x-ray diagnostics installation has an x-ray tube and an image processing and display system which includes a video camera connected to the x-ray image intensifier, an image memory, a spatial frequency filter and a monitor. A motion detector is connected to the image memory and to the video camera and controls operation of the spatial frequency filter to vary the filter effect so that the filter effect is greater in transillumination image regions having little motion than in regions having a higher amount of motion.