Penetrating radiation examining apparatus in combination with body locating structure

• US 3,881,110 A
• Filed: 05/10/1973
• Issued: 04/29/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Thorn EMI Patents Limited
• Original Assignee: David John Gibbons, Godfrey Newbold Hounsfield
• Inventors: Hounsfield, Godfrey Newbold, Gibbons, David John
• Primary Examiner(s): Lindquist, William F.
• Application Number:
  US05/358,980
• Time in Patent Office: 719 Days
• Field of Search: 250/358,359,360,439,451,456,490,491,503,505,510
• US Class Current: 378/18
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/032 Transmission computed tomography [CT]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4035 the source being combined with a filter or grating
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 1/1641 Static instruments for imaging the distribution of radioactivity in one or two dimensions using one or several scintillating elements; Radio-isotope cameras
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 1/20185 Coupling means between the photodiode and the scintillator, e.g. optical couplings using adhesives with wavelength-shifting fibres
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 378/901 Computer tomography program or processor

Abstract

Apparatus for investigating a part of a body intermediate the extremities thereof by means of X- or gamma -radiation is disclosed. The body part is surrounded by a liquid medium; the liquid medium being retained in an enclosure having a tubular inner wall formed of flexible material, and the body part is located within the inner wall. The liquid medium can be pressurised to cause the flexible inner wall to fit intimately the periphery of the body part.

Claims

1. Apparatus for examining part of a body by means of penetrating radiation, such as X- or gamma - radiation, including a source of said radiation and detector means responsive to said radiation located on opposite sides of the body part, the detector means being arranged to receive radiation emergent from the body, means for orbiting the source and the detector means around the body part, and a locating structure, transmissive of said radiation, for locating the body part relative to the source and detector means, said locating structure comprising a reservoir for a liquid medium transmissive of said radiation, the reservoir having a flexible wall, impervious to said liquid and arranged to surround said body part making intimate contact therewith and an outer wall arranged to orbit with said source and detector means around the body part and the flexible wall, the loCating structure further including a rotary seal, impervious to said liquid, linking said outer and flexible walls to enable the outer wall to orbit around the flexible wall.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said flexible wall comprises a substantially tubular flexible member having open ends whereby a body part intermediate the extremities of said body can be examined.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 including means for causing said fluid to flow out of said reservoir, thereby to cause the said flexible wall to move toward said outer wall so as to permit said body part to be inserted into said locating structure, and means for causing said fluid to flow into said reservoir, thereby to cause said flexible wall to move away from said outer wall and to assume intimate contact with said body part.

4. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said flexible wall is formed of rubber.

5. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said outer wall is formed of a plastics material.

6. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said liquid medium is water.