X-Ray
History of the X-Ray
By Mary Bellis
All light and radio waves belong to the electromagnetic spectrum and are all considered different types of electromagnetic waves, including:
· microwaves and infrared bands whose waves are longer than those of visible light (between radio and the visible)
· and UV, EUV, X-rays, and g-rays (gamma rays) with shorter wavelengths.
The electromagnetic nature of x-rays became evident when it was found that crystals bent their path in the same way as gratings bent visible light: the orderly rows of atoms in the crystal acted like the grooves of a grating.
MEDICAL X-RAYS
X-rays are capable of penetrating some thickness of matter.
Medical x-rays are produced by letting a stream of fast electrons come to a sudden stop at a metal plate; it is believed that X-rays emitted by the Sun or stars also come from fast electrons.
The images produced by X-rays are due to the different absorption rates of different tissues.
Calcium in bones absorbs X-rays the most, so bones look white on a film recording of the X-ray image, called a radiograph.
Fat and other soft tissues absorb less and look gray. Air absorbs the least, so lungs look black on a radiograph.
WILHELM CONRAD RÖNTGEN - FIRST X-RAY
On 8 Nov 1895, Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen (accidentally) discovered an image cast from his cathode ray generator, projected far beyond the possible range of the cathode rays (now known as an electron beam).
Further investigation showed that the rays were generated at the point of contact of the cathode ray beam on the interior of the vacuum tube, that they were not deflected by magnetic fields, and they penetrated many kinds of matter.
A week after his discovery, Rontgen took an X-ray photograph of his wife's hand which clearly revealed her wedding ring and her bones.
The photograph electrified the general public and aroused great scientific interest in the new form of radiation.
Röntgen named the new form of radiation X-radiation (X standing for "Unknown").
Hence the term X-rays (also referred as Röntgen rays, though this term is unusual outside of Germany).
WILLIAM COOLIDGE & X-RAY TUBE
William Coolidge invented the X-ray tube popularly called the Coolidge tube.
His invention revolutionized the generation of X-rays and is the model upon which all X-ray tubes for medical applications are based.
Other inventions of Coolidge: invention of ductile tungsten
A breakthrough in tungsten applications was made by W. D. Coolidge in 1903.
Coolidge succeeded in preparing a ductile tungsten wire by doping tungsten oxide before reduction.
The resulting metal powder was pressed, sintered and forged to thin rods. A Very thin wire was then drawn from these rods.
This was the beginning of tungsten powder metallurgy, which was instrumental in the rapid development of the lamp industry - International Tungsten Industry Association (ITIA)
A computed tomography scan or CAT-scan uses X-rays to create images of the body.
However, a radiograph (x-ray) and a CAT-scan show different types of information.
An x-ray is a two-dimensional picture and a CAT-scan is three-dimensional.
By imaging and looking at several three-dimensional slices of a body (like slices of bread) a doctor could not only tell if a tumor is present but roughly how deep it is in the body.
These slices are no less than 3-5 mm apart. The newer spiral (also called helical) CAT-scan takes continuous pictures of the body in a spiral motion so that there are no gaps in the pictures collected.
A CAT-scan can be three dimensional because the information about how much of the X-rays are passing through a body is collected not just on a flat piece of film, but on a computer.
The data from a CAT-scan can then be computer-enhanced to be more sensitive than a plain radiograph.
INVENTOR OF THE CAT-SCAN
Robert Ledley was the inventor of CAT-Scans a diagnostic x-Ray system.
Robert Ledley was granted patent #3,922,552 on November 25th in 1975 for a "diagnostic X-ray systems" also known as CAT-Scans.
Mary Bellis has been writing about inventors since 1997. She also loves to tinker (invent) and spends too much time in her workshop developing her ideas.
EXPERIENCE
Forbes Best of the Web credits Mary for creating the number one online destination for information about inventors and inventions. Her writing has been reprinted and referenced to in numerous educational books and articles. Her opinion and advice is requested by media outlets on a constant basis. In addition, she has produced and directed a number of films, including a documentary on Alexander Graham Bell, the inventor of the telephone, and has worked as a curator specializing in computer generated art.
EDUCATION
Mary has two degrees in film and animation from the San Francisco Art Institute. She is a big fan of both history and technology and an avid reader of books and periodicals on those topics.
MARY BELLIS
I have a passion for inventing and a deep respect for all inventors. I know firsthand the difficulties that inventors face and I want to help by making the path from idea to marketplace a clearer process.
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