Abstract: The invention concerns an X-ray diagnostic apparatus with a motor-driven, vertically adjustable compression carriage, a means of support for a compression plate, and with a support plate for the object photographed. A means of support for a second closer to the focus, support plate and two support locations for the compression plate are provided, of which one is associated with the support plate which can receive the X-ray film cassette, and the other with the support plate which is closer to the focus.

Abstract: Analog video signals representative of an X-ray image are gated to a first integrator during times in each horizontal line scan in a raster field when a window signal exists and the video signal amplitude is also above a threshold reference level for the integrator to produce a signal representative of the average brightness of the image in areas that are not excluded by their video signal being below threshold level. A second integrator integrates a constant reference voltage signal only during the time that the video signal is being integrated. Since the video scanning rate is constant, the simultaneously produced second integrator signal corresponds to the total continuous or discontinuous area or areas over which the video signal is integrated. The integrated signal representing average image brightness is divided by the signal representing area to yield a signal representing brightness per unit area.

Abstract: In an X-ray tube having a glow cathode for emitting an electron beam, an anode, focusing and deflecting coils and a target in an evacuated envelope, the cathode is a U-bent filament the dimensions of which are large in relation to the electron emitting area. The cathode is heated by passing electric current through it and is differentially cooled so that a small surface area at the site of electron emission is at a substantially higher temperature than remaining surface areas of the cathode. Cooling is effected by a thick-walled cylindrical grid which surrounds the cathode and has at its outer end an annular inward projection which absorbs heat rays from the cathode. The grid has a funnel-shaped outer end surface having an included angle of about 100.degree. to 140.degree.. The electron emitting surface of the cathode lies approximately in a plane defined by the inner peripheral edge of the funnel-shaped end surface of the grid.

Abstract: An X-ray diffraction camera which rotates a sample about two generally normal axes while simultaneously rotating the sample about a third axis which changes in angular relationship relative to the two normal axes, said camera further providing linear reciprocation of the sample along said third axis.

Abstract: A tungsten focal track is placed on a graphite substrate in such a manner as to reduce off focal spot radiation while maintaining a fixed focal spot size. The radial width of the focal tract is made smaller than that of the electron beam from the cathode such that the electron beam overlap will allow for misalignments between the electron beam and the focal track without affecting the focal spot size or location.

Abstract: An X-ray lithography apparatus wherein a linear X-ray source is formed by line scanning a target with electron lines, a band-slit having slits which extend in the direction similar to the longitudinal direction of said linear X-ray source and a solar-slit having plural slits in the direction perpendicular to said band-slit are interposed between the X-ray source and a wafer in order to irradiate only the component which is substantially perpendicular to the surface of the wafer out of the X-ray generated from the linear source, and said wafer is made to move continuously or stepwise in respect of a rectangular region which is highly collimated in order to conduct X-ray transfer against a predetermined region.

Abstract: The rotor that carries the target in a rotating anode x-ray tube is carried on a shaft that is journaled in axially spaced apart ball bearings. The outer and inner races of the bearings have curved grooves presented toward each other and there are a plurality of balls in the grooves. A preloaded spring is interposed between corresponding races of the bearings for applying oppositely directed axial forces to them. The grooves are so shaped and the clearance between the balls and groove surfaces is such that when the axial force is applied, one race shifts axially relative to the other in which case each ball has two points of contact, one point at which the ball contacts the surface of the groove in the outer race on one side of a plane transverse to the shaft axis and another point where the ball contacts the surface of the groove in the inner race on the other side of the plane.

Abstract: In an exemplary embodiment, an X-ray image intensifier and a camera for photographing the X-ray image intensifier-output image, an automatic exposure timer which includes an integrator for detection of the light quantity per image and a threshold value switch for shut off of the X-ray tube upon attainment of a setpoint light quantity. The threshold value switch possesses a control input for determining the switch-off threshold which is connected to a correction circuit for comparing the actual value and the setpoint value of the light quantity and which so determines the threshold that the actual value is adapted to the setpoint value. The afterglow of the X-ray image intensifier following the occurrence of a switch-off signal is thereby compensated.

Abstract: A soft X-ray generator comprises an electron gun and an anode which are disposed in individual vacuum containers, respectively but are interconnected by a conduit provided with an electron lens so that an electron beam generated from the electron gun is guided through the conduit on the anode in a focused form, thereby emitting soft X-rays from the surface of the anode.

Abstract: A mammographic device comprises an X-ray source for emitting X-rays along a predetermined path, a film holder disposed in the predetermined path of the X-rays for holding film to be exposed to the X-rays, a compression plate disposed in the predetermined path of the X-rays, and positionable for compressing, and holding in position, against the film holder a woman's breast to be X-rayed, and a suspension arrangement disposed between the X-ray source and the compression plate for holding the X-ray source and the compression plate in a fixed relative mutual position so that the distance between the X-ray source and the compression plate remains constant. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the compression plate holder and compression plate are formed into an integral structure made of plexiglass. Preferably, the compression plate contains a matrix pattern of holes or perforations for facilitating biopsy guidance and needle aspiration cytology.

Abstract: An exemplary embodiment includes x-ray apparatus and auxiliary apparatus, such as a sheet film camera or an image intensifier television chain, as well as comprising operating consoles for generator and apparatus control. The operating consoles are intelligent data display apparatus which are connected to a central computer unit which controls the x-ray generator and the x-ray apparatus and which effects the display of data of the x-ray diagnostic system on the data display apparatus. The data display apparatus are provided with a matrix arrangement for the purpose of data input through manual contacting of the display screen at a location corresponding to a desired input.

Abstract: An x-ray burst generator confines a hot plasma ring in an ELMO magnetic mirror configuration. A high Z target, such as tungsten, is retained adjacent to, but outside of the hot plasma ring. A short duration pulse is applied to the confining field so that the plasma ring is completely intersected by the target in a time short compared with the time t for an electron to precess once around the ring. The target then intercepts the circulating electrons which generate a burst of x-rays as they strike the target. The burst duration is then approximately t.

Abstract: A plane-grating monochromator is described which is particularly well suited for wavelengths in the range from approximately 1 to 15 nanometers and contains as its primary optical elements a diffraction grating (16) and an ellipsoid mirror (20). If both the entry aperture and the exit aperture are intended to be stationary, then a pivotable mirror (14) preceding them is provided. The present plane-grating monochromator is distinguished by an accurate image, virtually free of distortion, and correspondingly high resolution as well as by simple optics; it includes only two or three optical elements, and a kinematically simple adjusting mechanism for the optical elements suffices for adjusting the wavelength.

Abstract: The invention comprises a filtration unit which retains particles from air passed through a filter medium, a transport mechanism which moves the medium to a station where the particles are subjected to X-rays, apparatus responsive to X-ray fluorescence exited by the X-rays in a predetermined element, for example lead, during a predetermined time interval and issuing a count signal indicative of quantity of the element and a microprocessor for controlling the transport and counting apparatus.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for evaluating the performance of diagnostic x-ray systems. The method consists of using an x-ray generator under standard conditions and making a test x-ray film, for example, of the dental intra-oral type and comparing its density with a calibrated step density strip, using a test tool member consisting of a sleeve-like body with opaque parallel flat top and bottom walls receiving the step density strip slidably therebetween. The flat walls have registering transverse rectangular windows, in the forward parts of which can be exposed a selected density step. The rear portion of the body, between the flat walls, has spacer blocks defining therebetween a transverse channel overlapped by the windows through which the test x-ray film can be inserted to compare its density with that of the selected step density. This can be utilized to determine if the test film density is within an optical density in a desired range including certain steps of the calibrated density strip.

Abstract: The invention relates to a diagnostic radiology setup with means for suppressing stray radiation and with an image intensifier television chain with image storing means. There is provided a perforated diaphragm of radiation-absorbing material near the tube, which diaphragm can be introduced into the ray path selectively. Two image memories for an X-ray picture with a diaphragm and an X-ray picture without a diaphragm and an image processing system serve for comparing the image information of the two X-ray pictures to determine and eliminate the stray radiation component.

Abstract: The patient's ECG signal is employed in a traverse-and-rotate type CT scanner as a time base for triggering the beginning of a traverse such that the traveling beam reaches the heart at a desired phase of the cardiac cycle. For a purely-rotational-type CT scanner, continuously generated scan data is only stored for corresponding phases of successive cardiac cycles. Alternatively, gating of the beams themselves can be controlled by the ECG signal. The use of a pacemaker to stabilize the cardiac period is described along with a system for recognizing unacceptable variations in the cardiac period. In a traverse-and-rotate-type fan-beam CT scanner, the effective beam width is narrowed to hasten the traverse of the heart.

Abstract: In an X-ray analysis apparatus, a pulse amplitude shift correction circuit is provided for producing correction signals which are a measure of pulse amplitude shifts and which are in response to the pulse amplitude shifts. This circuit provides automatic correction of pulse amplitude shifts so that the pulse amplifier of the device is controlled.

Abstract: For hybrid digital subtraction angiography mask x-ray images are made at low and high x-ray tube anode kVp. Both exposures are terminated by AEC and the exposure times are calculated and stored and used to govern the times of a subsequent run sequence of alternate low and high energy pre-contrast and post-contrast exposure images. The data for the mask and subsequent images are stored individually on magnetic disk. A TV camera receives optical versions of the images. Its target is scanned or read out during a TV frame time between the end of a low energy exposure and the start of a high energy exposure. After the low energy mask exposure time is determined an anticipation or delay time is calculated and the low energy exposures in the run sequence are shifted from the vertical blank pulse preceding the frame in which the exposure starts by the delay time so all low energy exposures terminate coincident with the blanking pulse that precedes the read out frame.

Abstract: An X-ray source for producing high intensity X-rays. The X-ray source includes a vessel filled with an inert gas. An energizing mechanism such as a magnetic coil causes the gas to enter a pinch, plasma state which produces high intensity X-rays. The vessel includes a window through which the X-rays are radiated. In a second embodiment, a laser or electron beam bombards a crystal of selected material to produce the X-rays. The material, when gasified, does not interfere with radiation of the X-rays.