EP0000079A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Scanning radiographic apparatus and method.
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1978-06-01
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Granted: —
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Expires: 1998-06-01
Abstract
Abstract Visual display of dental or other radiographic images is realized with an X-ray tube (13) in which an electron beam (23) is scanned through an X-Y- raster in synchronism with X-Y-sweep signals of a cathode ray display tube (17). The intensity signal for the display is derived from an X-ray detector (44) receiving X-rays passing through an object (12) to be imaged. The detector (44) is. arranged in a probe (14a) supported relative to the X-ray tube (13.) at any location and a plurality of such probes (14a) of different configuration is provided to change focal length, to accomodate to different detector placements, to enhance patient comfort and to enable production of.both periapical, and wider angle pantomographic dental images. High image definition with reduced radiation dosage may be provided for. Mounting means enable changes of collimator (29a) in conjunction with changes of the probe to change focal length. A control circuit (16) modifies the X-Y-sweep signals and modulates electron beam to correct for image distortions.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard David Albert
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 11:27
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05G; H05G1/00; H05G1/08; H05G1/66; A; A61; A61B; A61B6/00; A61B6/40; A61B6/4021; A61B6/4028; A61B6/50; A61B6/51; H01; H01J; H01J35/00; H01J35/24; H01J35/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
237 words
Scanning X-ray apparatus for producing radiographic image date in which an X-ray tube including a vacuum enclosure forms a vacuum region to enclose a target anode plate and an electron gun for producing an electron-beam, said X-ray tube further having electron beam deflector means for directing said electron beam to successive different points on the sur ace of said target anode plate so as to produce a moving X-ray origin point at said target anode plate,. and associated with said X-ray tube a probe member arranged to support an X-ray detector so as to detect X-rays traversing an object is disposed between said target anode plate and said X-ray detector, the base end portion of said probe member being remote from said X-ray detector and including means for transmitting X-ray count data from said detector to said base end portion and means for receiving said X-ray count data from said base end portion of said probe member, including at least one output terminal for transmitting electrical signals indicative of said X-ray counts, characterized in that support means for said X-ray tube includes means for rigidly'supporting said base end portion of said probe member relative to said tube so that said X-ray detector is located outwardly, and at a known distance, from said target anode plate, whereby X-rays from said target anode plate passing through an object may converge along known geometrical ray paths to said X-ray detector.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
237 words
Scanning X-ray apparatus for producing radiographic image date in which an X-ray tube including a vacuum enclosure forms a vacuum region to enclose a target anode plate and an electron gun for producing an electron-beam, said X-ray tube further having electron beam deflector means for directing said electron beam to successive different points on the sur ace of said target anode plate so as to produce a moving X-ray origin point at said target anode plate,. and associated with said X-ray tube a probe member arranged to support an X-ray detector so as to detect X-rays traversing an object is disposed between said target anode plate and said X-ray detector, the base end portion of said probe member being remote from said X-ray detector and including means for transmitting X-ray count data from said detector to said base end portion and means for receiving said X-ray count data from said base end portion of said probe member, including at least one output terminal for transmitting electrical signals indicative of said X-ray counts, characterized in that support means for said X-ray tube includes means for rigidly'supporting said base end portion of said probe member relative to said tube so that said X-ray detector is located outwardly, and at a known distance, from said target anode plate, whereby X-rays from said target anode plate passing through an object may converge along known geometrical ray paths to said X-ray detector.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
54 words
Scanning X-ray apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said probe support means includes releasable attachment means to enable removal of a first probe member from said tube and attachment to said support means of another probe member to form a different geometrical ray path from said tube to said detector through an object.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
61 words
Scanning X-ray apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein and an optical energy-transmitting element extending from said photosensitive device to said support means, and further characterised in that said X-ray detector is a scintillation detector and said means for transmitting X-ray count data from said detector to said portion of said probe is a light pipe contained within said probe member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
60 words
Scanning X-ray apparatus as defined in claim 2 further characterized in that said electron beam deflector means for said X-ray tube includes means for selectively changing the spacing of said beam deflector means from said target anode plate to conform with changes in the distance of the X-ray detector from said target anode plate by changing of said probe members.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
45 words
Scanning X-ray apparatus as defined in claim 2 further characterized in that a releasable second attachment means is provided adjacent said X-ray tube for receiving and supporting a collimator means in the path of X-rays traveling from said target anode plate toward said X-ray detector.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
147 words
Scanning X-ray apparatus as defined in claim 5 in which said collimator means includes a first radiation collimator disposed between said target anode plate and said X-ray detector and releasably engaged by said second attachment means, said first collimator being formed at least in part of radiation-absorbent material transpierced by a plurality of spaced-apart radiation-transmissive passages with said passages each being directed towards said X-ray detector and a second radiation collimator engageable on said X-ray tube in said second attachment means upon removal of said first collimator therefrom and in conjunction with replacement of said first probe member with a second probe member which situates an X-ray detector at a different distance from said anode plate than said first probe member, said second collimator also being formed of radiation-absorbent material and having a plurality of spaced-apart radiation-transmissive passages each directed toward the position.of said second X-ray detector.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
A radiation collimator for a scanning X-ray apparatus as defined in claim 5 or 6 further comprising a plate of radiation filtering material disposed adjacent said radiation-absorbent material in the path of X-rays which have traveled through said X-ray-transmissive passages.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
48 words
A radiation collimator as defined in claim 5 further comprising a volume of radiation-absorbent glass transpierced by a plurality of spaced-apart radintion-transmissive passages, each of said plurality of said radiation-transmissive passages being directed towards a single point spaced outwardly from a surface of said volume of radiation-absorbent glass.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
41 words
A'radiation collimator for a scanning X-ray apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein said volume of radiation-absorbent glass comprises a plurality of fiber optical tubular glass elements fused together to form said volume of radiation-absorbent glass having said radiation-transmissive passages therethrough.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
179 words
A scanning X-ray system for producing radiographic image data in accordance with claim 1 in which said electron beam deflector means for directing said electron beam to a surface of said target anode plate of said X-ray tube is adapted to sweep repetitively said electron beam across a raster pattern area on said surface in an X-coordinate direction thereon and to shift repetitively the position of said X-coordinate direction . sweep in an orthogonal Y-coordinate direction on said surface, includes an X-sweep frequency signal generator for producing an X-sweep frequency electrical signal and a Y-sweep frequency generator for producing a Y-sweep frequency signal, and circuit means for transmitting said X-sweep frequency signal from said X-sweep frequency generator and said Y-sweep frequency signal from said Y-sweep frequency generator to said beam deflector means of said X-ray tube,-said circuit means being characterized in that it includes a first function generator means coupled between said X-sweep frequency generator and said beam deflection means for delinearizing the rate of scanning of said electron beam at said target anode plate in said X-coordinate direction.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
47 words
A scanning X-ray system as defined in claim 10 wherein said first function generator means linearizes the rate of X-ray scanning of said subject in said X-coordinate direction by delinearizing the rate of scanning of said electron beam at said target anode plate in said X-coordinate direction.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
61 words
A scanning X-ray system as defined in claim 10 further comprising second function generator means coupled between said X- and Y-sweep frequency generators and said beam deflector means for linearizing the rate of X-ray scanning of said subject in said Y-coordinate direction by delinearizing the rate of scanning of said electron beam at said target anode plate in said Y-coordinate direction.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
113 words
A scanning X-ray system as defined in claim 10 wherein the electron gun of said X-ray tube has a control grid for varying electron beam current in response to variations of control grid voltage applied thereto, and being further characterized in that a third function generator means is coupled between said X- and Y-sweep frequency generators and said control grid for varying said control grid voltage in the course of said X- and Y-direction scanning of said electron beam on said target anode plate as a function of distance of the momentary point of impact of said electron beam on said target anode plate from a predetermined reference point in said scanning raster.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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