US3873833A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electron radiographic system with liquid absorber
Assignee: ELSCINT IMAGING Inc
•
Filing: 1974-04-01
•
Granted: 1975-03-25
•
Expires: 1994-04-01
Abstract
Abstract An electron radiographic system for making x-ray pictures by producing an electrostatic image on a dielectric sheet suitable for development by xerographic techniques. A pair of electrodes with a liquid filled gap therebetween, with the liquid taking several forms. A dielectric sheet is positioned at an electrode and x-rays are directed past the object to the liquid for producing electrons and positive ions in the gap. The electrons and positive ions are attracted toward the respective electrodes for deposit on the dielectric sheet to produce the latent electrostatic image. The liquid is x-ray opaque and electrically nonconducting and may be a solvent with a gas or nonionic metallic compounds dissolved therein, or may be in liquefied gas.
Inventors
- 👤 Frank V Allan
- 👤 John H Lewis
- 👤 Katherine J Lewis
- 👤 Arthur L Morsell
- 👤 Eric P Muntz
- 👤 Paul B Scott
- 👤 Murray S Welkowsky
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 14:49
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/054; G03G15/0545; G01; G01N; G01N23/00; G01N23/02; G01N23/04; G01N23/043
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
185 words
In a radiographic system for operation with a source of Xrays, the combination of: a pair of electrodes comprising an anode and a cathode; first means for supporting said electrodes in spaced relation with a small gap therebetween; a dielectric sheet in said gap at one of said electrodes; an X-ray absorber and electron and positive ion emitter in said gap between said anode and cathode for producing a charge image on said dielectric sheet, said emitter comprising an X-ray opaque electrically non-conducting liquid having atoms with an atomic number of at least 17; and second means for connecting a high voltage electric power supply across said electrodes for attracting electrons toward said anode and positive ions toward said cathode for deposit of one of said types of charged particles on said dielectric sheet; with the liquid in the gap moderating the energy of and reducing the mean free path of said electrons in the liquid to increase the quantity of and reduce the disperson of electrons moving through the liquid toward said anode and positive ions toward said cathode normal to said dielectric sheet.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
185 words
In a radiographic system for operation with a source of Xrays, the combination of: a pair of electrodes comprising an anode and a cathode; first means for supporting said electrodes in spaced relation with a small gap therebetween; a dielectric sheet in said gap at one of said electrodes; an X-ray absorber and electron and positive ion emitter in said gap between said anode and cathode for producing a charge image on said dielectric sheet, said emitter comprising an X-ray opaque electrically non-conducting liquid having atoms with an atomic number of at least 17; and second means for connecting a high voltage electric power supply across said electrodes for attracting electrons toward said anode and positive ions toward said cathode for deposit of one of said types of charged particles on said dielectric sheet; with the liquid in the gap moderating the energy of and reducing the mean free path of said electrons in the liquid to increase the quantity of and reduce the disperson of electrons moving through the liquid toward said anode and positive ions toward said cathode normal to said dielectric sheet.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said liquid is a liquid with molecules including atoms of atomic number at least 17.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said liquid is a liquid with molecules including heavy atoms and selected from the gourp consisting of CCl4, CCl3Br, CH2I2, CHFI2, CCl3I, CH2BrI, CH2ClI, CH2RI, CHCl2I, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said liquid comprises a nonconducting solvent having dissolved therein, a non-ionic material having atoms with an atomic number of at least 17.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said liquid comprises a nonconducting solvent having dissolved therein, a material selected from the group consisting of xenon, krypton, bromine, iodine, non-ionic metallic compounds having an atomic number of at least 17, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
A system as defined in claim 5 including means for maintaining said liquid at a temperature below ambient.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
A system as defined in claim 5 including means for maintaining said liquid at a pressure greater than ambient.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said liquid comprises liquefied gas having an atomic number of at least 36.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
A system as defined in claim 8 including means for maintaining said liquid at a temperature below the boiling point of said gas.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said liquid has a resistivity of at least about 1013 ohm-centimeters.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
158 words
A method of producing an electrostatic image on a dielectric sheet, including the steps of: positioning the dielectric sheet at an electrode in a gap between anode and cathode electrodes positioned adjacent an object to be imaged; passing x-rays through said object and one of said electrodes; absorbing incoming x-rays in the gap by maintaining in the gap an x-ray opaque electrically nonconducting liquid having atoms with an atomic number at least 17 and generating electrons and positive ions in the liquid, the liquid in the gap moderating the energy of and reducing the mean free path of said electrons to increase the quantity of and reduce the dispersion of electrons moving toward said anode and positive ions toward said cathode normal to said dielectric sheet; and attracting electrons toward the anode and positive ions toward the cathode by applying a high potential across the electrodes depositing one of the types of charged particles on the dielectirc sheet.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
158 words
A method of producing an electrostatic image on a dielectric sheet, including the steps of: positioning the dielectric sheet at an electrode in a gap between anode and cathode electrodes positioned adjacent an object to be imaged; passing x-rays through said object and one of said electrodes; absorbing incoming x-rays in the gap by maintaining in the gap an x-ray opaque electrically nonconducting liquid having atoms with an atomic number at least 17 and generating electrons and positive ions in the liquid, the liquid in the gap moderating the energy of and reducing the mean free path of said electrons to increase the quantity of and reduce the dispersion of electrons moving toward said anode and positive ions toward said cathode normal to said dielectric sheet; and attracting electrons toward the anode and positive ions toward the cathode by applying a high potential across the electrodes depositing one of the types of charged particles on the dielectirc sheet.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 11 wherein said liquid is a liquid with molecules including atoms of atomic number at least 17.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3774029A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-03-24 | 1978-09-23 | 1979-03-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-03-24 | 1982-09-23 | 1983-03-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-03-24 | 1986-09-23 | 1987-03-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |