X-ray irradiation apparatus in which an x-ray source is energized upon the recording of irradiation dosage data

Claim 3

A method as defined in claim 1 including recording the data of said determined dose expressed in roentgens and fractions of roentgens as part of said permanent record.

Claim 4

A method as defined in claim 1 including recording of the voltage of the radiation source as part of said permanent record.

Claim 5

A method as defined in claim 1 including recording a coded symbol corresponding to the area of the body of the subject being irradiated as part of said permanent record.

Claim 6

A method as defined in claim 1 including recording the time at which said dose is given to said subject as part of said permanent record.

Claim 7

A method as defined in claim 1 including automatically preventing the application of a subsequent exposure of said subject to radiation following the application of said recorded dose and thereafter consciously cancelling the prevention of the application of a subsequent exposure.

Claim 8

A method defined in claim 1 wherein said recording comprises the printing of said permanent record.

Claim 9

Apparatus for applying a readily selectable recorded dose of ionizing radiation to a human subject comprising an electrical circuit including a source of radiation and a manually adjustable recorder, a source-controlling switch in said circuit shiftable between a first position deenergizing said source and a second position energizing said source, circuit-controlling means operable upon the setting of said recorder for establishing the selected amount of radiation dose to be received by said subject, means between said source and said subject responsive to the amount of radiation dose received by said subject for shifting said switch to its first position, and means responsive to the forming of a permanent record by said recorder for shifting said switch to its second position.

Claim 10

Apparatus for applying a readily selectable recorded dose of ionizing radiation to a human subject comprising an electrical circuit including a source of radiation and a manually adjustable recorder, a source-controlling switch in said circuit shiftable between a first position deenergizing said source and a second position energizing said source, circuit-controlling means operable upon the setting of said recorder for establishing the selected amount of radiation dose to be received by said subject, means between said source and said subject responsive to the amount of radiation dose received by said subject for shifting said switch to its first position, and means responsive to the forming of a permanent record by said recorder for shifting said switch to its second position.

Claim 11

Apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein said circuit-controlling means includes a potentiometer mechanically connected to said recorder and adapted to control said electrical circuit in accordance with the setting of said recorder.

Claim 12

Apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein said means responsive to the amount of radiation dose to be received by said subject includes a dosimeter interconnected with a capacitor in said circuit and adapted jointly to establish the time at which said switch is shifted to its first position.

Claim 13

Apparatus as defined in claim 8 including a recorder-operated switch in said circuit adapted to complete the circuit to said source-controlling switch when said recorder makes a record of said exposure.

Claim 14

In an apparatus for applying a recorded dose of ionizing radiation to a human subject and having a source of radiation controlled in dependence upon the recording of the dose and an ionization chamber interposed between said source and said subject, the improvement comprising an ionization cHamber having juxtaposed support plates with thin central wall portions of low atomic weight material through which a beam of radiation passes, a layer of low atomic weight electrical insulating material affixed to the confronting inner surfaces of each of the plates, a thin layer of electrical conducting material on the confronting inner faces of each of said insulating layers and spaced from each other to provide a gas filled space therebetween, conductors extending from the respective layers of conducting material, and supporting bracket means on the exterior of said chamber attached to at least one of said plates for positioning said conductors, said plates being adapted to be secured to each other adjacent their peripheries.

Claim 15

In an apparatus for applying a recorded dose of ionizing radiation to a human subject and having a source of radiation controlled in dependence upon the recording of the dose and an ionization chamber interposed between said source and said subject, the improvement comprising an ionization cHamber having juxtaposed support plates with thin central wall portions of low atomic weight material through which a beam of radiation passes, a layer of low atomic weight electrical insulating material affixed to the confronting inner surfaces of each of the plates, a thin layer of electrical conducting material on the confronting inner faces of each of said insulating layers and spaced from each other to provide a gas filled space therebetween, conductors extending from the respective layers of conducting material, and supporting bracket means on the exterior of said chamber attached to at least one of said plates for positioning said conductors, said plates being adapted to be secured to each other adjacent their peripheries.

Claim 16

Apparatus as defined in claim 12 wherein said insulating material comprises plastic material.

Claim 17

Apparatus as defined in claim 12 wherein each of said central wall portions comprises a relatively low atomic weight metal having a thickness of not more than about 0.010 inch.

Claim 18

Apparatus as defined in Claim 12 wherein the thickness of said conducting layers is less than the thickness of the corresponding central wall portions and of said insulating layers.