Abstract: An x-ray film sheet cassette, comprises a bottom part, and a cover part which are turnable relative to one another and lockable with one another, an element forming a guiding surface in the bottom part for guiding a film sheet during its insertion into the cassette between the bottom part and the cover part, a suction cup arranged in the bottom part for attracting a film sheet and having an upper edge, and a spring element arranged in the bottom part and formed so that when the cover part is open, the spring element lifts the guiding surface above a level of the upper edge of the suction cup, and when the cover is closed it presses the guiding surface and the spring element downwardly so that the suction cup is brought into contact with a film sheet.

Abstract: An X-ray apparatus capable of X-ray beaming in a multiplicity of directions around and through the body of a patient lying horizontally stationary on a table. The X-ray equipment is fixed to a ring which circumscribes the table and the patient. This ring is held on a support and is able to be driven into rotation, relative to the support, about its center. The apparatus also includes a fork-like suspension member which has a pair of side legs located each on one outward side of the support; the lower ends of the legs being connected with the support such as to allow the latter, and the ring it holds, to be oscillated in unison by a suitable motor mechanism about a horizontal axis joining the two lower ends of the legs; this horizontal axis being further normal to the axis of rotation of the ring. The suspension member is in turn connected to a carrier assembly provided on a top structure of the frame of the X-ray apparatus.

Abstract: The anode and cathode of an X-ray tube are connected to a high-voltage power source respectively, through corresponding tetrode tubes, and the center metal electrode of the X-ray tube is grounded. The tetrode tubes are simultaneously turned on and off upon receipt of a control signal. An abnormal current, which flows through the center metal electrode due to a short-circuiting fault of the tetrode tube connected to the cathode of the X-ray tube, is detected during an OFF period of the tetrode tubes. Upon detection of the abnormal current, the tetrode tube connected to the anode of the X-ray tube is forcedly turned on, thus preventing the fusion of the center metal electrode in the X-ray tube.

Abstract: A thickness gauge traverse for a gauge such as a nuclear thickness gauge that measures thickness of extruded sheet at numerous locations across the sheet in a system utilizing those measurements to correct thickness of the extrusion. The traverse has a mount supporting the probe of the gauge for movement across the sheet. A motor and motor control electronics rapidly advance the probe from one measurement point to the next, where the mount is stopped permitting the probe to remain for the considerable time necessary to make its measurement without having that time dominate the speed of the gauge's movement from point to point across the sheet.

Abstract: An electron beam gun generates an electron beam directed at a target. The gun comprises electrodes for creating an electric field along the direction of beam travel and focusing coils for creating a magnetic field along the direction of beam travel. The electrodes include a plurality of members each having a beam-shaping aperture therein for passage of the beam substantially without interception of the electrons in the beam. The electrodes and focusing coils are disposed for accelerating electrons in the beam in non-parallel paths through the beam-shaping apertures and for converging the electrons in the beam in at least one cross-sectional dimension of the beam to minimize that dimension at the target.

Abstract: Method and apparatus involving the use of an X-ray video fluoroscope for nondestructive analysis of rock samples, including core obtained during the drilling of wellbores through subterranean strata, to determine the presence, location, and orientation of any internal features, or to monitor the flow of fluids through the rock sample. Rock samples can be both moved through and rotated in the analysis zone of the X-ray video fluoroscope and the visible light image obtained from the X-ray video fluoroscope can then be viewed, recorded photographically or on video tape, or digitized to facilitate computer implemented storage, retrieval, and digital processing of the X-ray video fluoroscope image.

Abstract: An X-ray generating apparatus is adapted to obtain an X-ray tube voltage by rectifying an incoming AC voltage to obtain a DC voltage, supplying the DC voltage, after being switched through a switching section, in a predetermined cycle to a resonance circuit comprised of a primary winding of a transformer and resonance capacitors and rectifying the AC voltage which is induced in the secondary winding of the transformer. The switching section comprises a three-phase bridge inverter circuit including parallel arrays of arms each of which is made up of a pair of switching elements. The switching section is so controlled that the switching elements in each respective arm are fired without being continuously turned ON. Each resonance capacitor is connected between an intermediate connection point of the respective arm of the switching section and the primary winding of the transformer.

Abstract: X-ray dispersive and reflective structures and materials are provided which exhibit improved resolution and reflectivity in specific ranges of interest without substantial fluorescence or absorption edges. The structures are formed of metallic and non-metallic layer pairs and can include a buffer layer between each layer to prevent interdiffusion to stabilize the structures. The materials can be thermally activated to control the desired properties, during or post deposition. The structures can be deposited by ion beam absorption techniques to form the structures in a precise manner. The index of the refraction of the structures can be continuously varying throughout the structures.

Abstract: Radiography apparatus includes radiation sources for substantially simultaneously generating first and second radiation beams. Collimators are interposed between the radiation source and an object to be exposed to radiation in order to convert the first and second radiation beams into parallel fan-shaped beams. Radiation detectors convert the radiation passing through the object being examined into an electrical signal containing image information. The radiation detector may have at least one scintillator to convert radiation which is passed through an object into light and at least one self-scanning array of photodiodes to convert the light into an electrical signal containing image information. Fiber optic coupling may be provided between the scintillator and the self-scanning array of photodiodes.

Abstract: A breast compression plate is connected to a cartridge sleeve for containing a mammographic film cartridge with adjustable tension in a range of positions with detachable straps. The plate is a semi-rigid planar member having a plurality of perforations disposed in a matrix for locating a needle used to determine the position of breast lesions. The plate has spaced buckles which are secured to the straps. The straps have a series of loops formed on one side which are gripped by a plurality of closely spaced hooks secured to spaced ends of the cartridge sleeve. The series of loops extend along the length of the straps to permit changing the length of the straps extending between the plate and the cartridge sleeve, thereby permitting lateral positioning and tension adjustment. The plurality of hooks extend across the cartridge sleeve generally perpendicular to the length of the straps on opposite ends of the sleeve to permit positioning of the plate perpendicularly relative to the length of the straps.

Abstract: A collimator blade assembly for a computed tomographic X-ray scanner comprising a blade of X-ray beam stopping material having an aperture for passing X-rays and an X-ray penetrable member closing at least a portion of that aperture to reinforce the material and thereby minimize collimator blade/detector clearances while preventing undesirable collimator blade vibration.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for computed axial tomography (CAT) image reconstruction applicable to X-ray scanning of the human body. Successive series of calculations determine the values of a characteristic in defined segmented areas of an examination plane. A reduction in the time and equipment requirements for reconstruction calculations may thereby be effected.Images representative of the difference between the value of the characteristic at a reconstruction point and the average value of the characteristic in adjacent regions (.DELTA..mu.) may be calculated and displayed from measurements taken within a localized contiguous region of the examination plane. Radiation dose to patients and computation time in X-ray computerized axial tomography scanning systems is thus reduced. Differential displays of the type described may be adjusted to image boundaries, in which case they do not suffer from gray scale resolution problems which are typical of prior art displays.

Abstract: A method of forming tomographic images in cross-sectional tomography, in which a body is irradiated by a flat X-ray beam at different angles for successively forming a plurality of profiles on an X-ray screen or an X-ray detector, and a tomogram is constructed from the profiles, wherein the body and the X-ray detector are kept stationary and that, for forming the different profiles, the source of the flat X-ray beam is moved in a relatively short path extending on the side of the body remote from the X-ray detector.

Abstract: A new process for marking currency to permit easy and positive authentication at a later date comprising exposing a small region of the currency to bombardment by high energy neutrons for a short period, treating the exposed small region with a chemical reagent which reacts with the treated area to form tiny holes which can later be used for authentication. Also provide is a method for authentication which comprises exposing the marked currency to monochromatic X-rays, allowing the transmitted beam to impinge upon a fluorescent screen which will show shiny dots where the beam has reached the screen, said dots corresponding to the tiny holes in the marked currency.

Abstract: A dental radiographic apparatus for photographing the entire jaws in which the apparatus includes a rotary arm having an X-ray source at one end and an X-ray film cassette at the other end thereof and operating in the manner that a path of movement of X-ray beam with respect to the dental arch describer a symmetrically extending approximately triangular envelope projecting toward the front tooth region of the dental arch by sequentially shifting the center of rotation of the X-ray beam irradiated from the X-ray source upon the X-ray film cassette, the apparatus being characterized in that it comprises a means for changing the straight-line distance on the medial line of the human body between the apex and receding points of limit of the envelope.

Abstract: Detection of unknown daughter ions using a mass spectrometer in which two mass spectrometric units are coupled together. The spectrometric unit in the front stage has either an electric field or superimposed fields. The spectrometric unit in the rear stage has superimposed fields. The voltage Vdx.sub.2 necessary to produce the electric field in the front stage and the voltage Vdx.sub.1 necessary to produce the electric field of the superimposed fields in the rear stage when daughter ions having known mass and energy are detected are found. Further, the voltage Vdx.sub.2 ' necessary to produce the electric field in the front stage and the voltage Vdx.sub.1 ' necessary to produce the electric field of the superimposed fields in the rear stage when unknown ions are detected are found. Both the mass and the energy of the unknown ions can be determined from these four voltages.

Abstract: An automatic exposure device for obtaining X-ray pictures with superior quality and constant contrast by feedback of both tube voltage and tube current according to the residual X-ray dose which penetrates the body of a patient. This device is further characterized in that the feedback control is compensatingly done according to the changes in the tube voltage and tube current caused by fluctuations of the power supply.

Abstract: The present invention concerns the measuring of a silicon coating on paper or cardboard moving in the form of a continuous web and which may as fillers contain substances containing silicon such as kaolin, or aluminum silicate. By x-ray radiation from a primary radiation source (3) and passing through the web is excited the characteristic x-ray radiation of an element, in a secondary radiation source (7) on the silicon coating side of the paper web (1), having a higher ordinal number than silicon (Si). The exciting radiation is sent obliquely against the surface of the paper or cardboard, whereby the irradiation of the surface is accentuated and the characteristic x-ray radiation of the silicon in the silicon coating can be excited. The exciting radiation also partly excites the silicon in the filler, but in this case it will be accompanied by the characteristic x-ray radiation of the metal associated with the silicate, such as aluminum in the instance of kaolin.

Abstract: A method of determining the optimum values of voltage and current for operation of an X-ray source by choosing a point of intersection at the lowest voltage value of a curve representing an operating range limitation function of the X-ray source with a curve representing a current-voltage function that passes through a desired operating current value that is determined by means of one or more exposure measurements.

Abstract: A method is provided for producing plasma pinch X-rays usable in X-ray lithography. Ionized heated plasma is repeatably generated in a first area directly from solid material without exploding the latter. X-rays are generated in a second area by passing high current through the plasma causing radial inward magnetic field pinching. Accurate control and improved intensity performance, and greater flexibility in selection of X-ray emitting materials, are provided by the separation of the plasma generating and the X-ray pinch generating functions.