A Flash Radiographic System for Biomedical Use

A flash radiographic system utilizing a single flash x-ray generator having a new kind of combined x-ray tube and a computed radiography (CR) system is described. This system consisted of the following components: two types of delay switches (i. e. (a) direct switching and (b) laser switching), a delayed pulse generator, a CR system, and a high-intensity single flash x-ray generator. This generator consisted of the following compo-nents: a high-voltage generator, a high-voltage pulser, a vacuum pump, and a new type of combined remote x-ray tube with two sets of anode and cathode electrodes. When the radio-graphic object triggered the timing switch, a short electric pulse was produced and was transmitted to the delayed pulse generator. An accurate delayed flash x-ray was produced when the delayed pulse was transmitted to the high-speed impulse switching system inside of the high-voltage pulser. Next, when the radiographic object was exposed to the controlled x-rays under the optimum radiographic conditions, the permeating x-rays produced the digital image. The FX pulse widths were less than 100ns with a photon energy of less than 120keV. Since the time resolutions for the two types of delay switches were less than 2Ons, the total time resolution for the FX production was less than 1ps. Various kinds of high-speed biomedical radiography, e. g., the continuous delayed radiographs and the continuous three-dimensional analysis could be performed by controlling the radiographic conditions. 1