Slit diaphragm system defining x-ray examination zone with visible light and for passing x-ray radiation to the defined zone

Claim 2

An X-ray system for exposing an object to X-ray radiation comprising: a source of X-ray radiation; an X-ray radiation detector; a source of light radiation; a primary diaphragm comprising at least two diaphram elements, said elements having a first position forming a first slit aperture therebetween of a first transverse width for forming said X-ray radiation into a fan shaped beam extending linearly in a given direction, said beam for impinging on said object, said elements being displaceable in a direction transverse said given direction to a selectable spaced apart position forming a second aperture of a transverse width greater than the first aperture, radiation from said light source passing through said elements in the second position defining an examination zone on said object; means for causing said light radiation to pass through the aperture formed by said elements in the second position for marking the examination zone; and means for displacing the elements so that the first aperture is displaced in a range defined by the second aperture during exposure of the object by said X-ray radiation.

Claim 3

An X-ray exposure device as claimed in claim 1 including a deflection mirror arranged between the X-ray source and the primary diaphragm for coupling the light from the light source to said primary diaphragm.

Claim 4

An X-ray exposure device as claimed in claim 2 including means for manually adjusting the at least two diaphragm elements to their respective limit position defined by said range.

Claim 5

An X-ray exposure device as claimed in claim 1 including motor means for adjusting the two diaphragm elements to their respective limit position.

Claim 6

An X-ray exposure device as claimed in claim 3 including a control logic system which stores the limit positions of said elements defined by the second aperture and which logic system activates the X-ray source during an X-ray exposure only for the period of time during which the diaphragm elements of the primary diaphragm are present between their respective limit positions.

Claim 7

An X-ray exposure device as claimed in claim 4 including a control logic system which stores the limit positions of said elements defined by the second aperture and which logic system activates the X-ray source during an X-ray exposure only for the period of time during which the diaphragm elements of the primary diaphragm are present between their respective limit positions.

Claim 8

An X-ray exposure device as claimed in claim 5 including a control logic system which stores the limit positions of said elements defined by the second aperture and which logic system activates the X-ray source during an X-ray exposure only for the period of time during which the diaphragm elements of the primary diaphragm are present between their respective limit positions.

Claim 9

An X-ray system for exposing an object to X-ray radiation comprising: a source of X-ray radiation; an X-ray radiation detector secured for receiving said radiation passed through said object; a source of light radiation; a primary diaphragm comprising at least two movable diaphragm elements, said elements having a first position forming a first slit aperture therebetween of a first transverse width for forming said X-ray radiation into a fan shaped beam extending linearly in a given direction normal to said transverse width; means for selectively coupling the light from said light source to said diaphragm such that light from said source is formed by the diaphragm into a beam, said light beam defining a transverse area coincident with said X-ray radiation beam, said beams impinging on said object; means for moveably securing said elements so that they are displaceable in a direction transverse said given direction to a selectable spaced apart position forming a second aperture of a transverse width greater than the first aperture; means for causing said light to pass through the second aperture for defining and visually marking an examination zone on the object; and means for displacing the elements so that the first aperture is displaced in a range whose limits are defined by the position of the elements forming the second aperture during exposure of the object by said X-ray radiation.

Claim 10

An X-ray system for exposing an object to X-ray radiation comprising: a source of X-ray radiation; an X-ray radiation detector secured for receiving said radiation passed through said object; a source of light radiation; a primary diaphragm comprising at least two movable diaphragm elements, said elements having a first position forming a first slit aperture therebetween of a first transverse width for forming said X-ray radiation into a fan shaped beam extending linearly in a given direction normal to said transverse width; means for selectively coupling the light from said light source to said diaphragm such that light from said source is formed by the diaphragm into a beam, said light beam defining a transverse area coincident with said X-ray radiation beam, said beams impinging on said object; means for moveably securing said elements so that they are displaceable in a direction transverse said given direction to a selectable spaced apart position forming a second aperture of a transverse width greater than the first aperture; means for causing said light to pass through the second aperture for defining and visually marking an examination zone on the object; and means for displacing the elements so that the first aperture is displaced in a range whose limits are defined by the position of the elements forming the second aperture during exposure of the object by said X-ray radiation.

Claim 11

An X-ray sysstem for exposing an object to X-ray radiation comprising: a source of X-ray radiation; an X-ray radiation detector secured for receiving said radiation; a source of light radiation; a primary diaphragm comprising at least two diaphragm elements, said elements having a first position forming a first slit aperture therebetween of a first transverse width for forming said X-ray radition into a fan shaped beam extending linearly in a given direction, said beam for impinging on said object, said elements being displaceable in a direction normal said given direction to a selectable spaced apart position forming a second aperture of a transverse width greater than the first transverse width; means for causing said light to pass through the second aperture for defining and marking an examination zone on said object; means for displacing the elements to form the first aperture; and means for displacing the elements forming said first aperture in unison to a limit position defined by the second aperture so that the first aperture is displaced in a range defined by the second aperture during exposure of the object by said X-ray radiation.

Claim 12

An X-ray sysstem for exposing an object to X-ray radiation comprising: a source of X-ray radiation; an X-ray radiation detector secured for receiving said radiation; a source of light radiation; a primary diaphragm comprising at least two diaphragm elements, said elements having a first position forming a first slit aperture therebetween of a first transverse width for forming said X-ray radition into a fan shaped beam extending linearly in a given direction, said beam for impinging on said object, said elements being displaceable in a direction normal said given direction to a selectable spaced apart position forming a second aperture of a transverse width greater than the first transverse width; means for causing said light to pass through the second aperture for defining and marking an examination zone on said object; means for displacing the elements to form the first aperture; and means for displacing the elements forming said first aperture in unison to a limit position defined by the second aperture so that the first aperture is displaced in a range defined by the second aperture during exposure of the object by said X-ray radiation.

Claim 13

The system of claim 9 including electronic control means for causing said elements to form the first aperture and to displace said first aperture in said range.