Tomographic X-ray scanning system
US4144457A · kind A · utility
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 5, 1976 |
| Grant date | Mar 13, 1979 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 5, 1996 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B6/4028
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Cross-sectional or oblique sectional tomographic X-ray images of a subject are obtained more quickly, easily and economically and with less cumbersome apparatus by utilizing an X-ray source in which a moving point source of X-rays is produced by sweeping an electron beam across a broad anode plate. One or more relatively small X-ray detectors are situated on the opposite side of the subject to produce X-ray counts in the course of the scanning action, the counts being indicative of variations of X-ray transmissiveness within a plane extending crosswise or obliquely through the subject. By repetitively shifting the angular relationship of the subject relative to the X-ray source and detector structure and repeating the scanning process between each such angular movement, data is obtained which is used to generate a visible cross-sectional image of the subject. By repeating the scanning process in a series of adjacent planes, data for generating a three-dimensional X-ray image of the subject may also be obtained. Processing of the X-ray detector output signals and scan position data to produce the desired images may be done using digital computer techniques or by analog apparatus.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.