Patent US 3,949,229

Radiographic images of high definition and clarity are produced quickly and with reduced radiation exposure of the subject by utilizing a scanning X-ray source in which a moving point source of X-rays is created by sweeping an electron beam in a raster pattern on a broad anode. A radiation detector having a very small radiation sensitive area is situated on the opposite side of the subject from the source. The output of the detector controls electron beam intensity within a cathode ray type display tube wherein the raster pattern is synchronized with that of the X-ray source to produce an image of internal structure of the subject. In some embodiments of the invention, the small radiation detector is mounted on a probe suitable for insertion into internal regions of a living body or into recesses in mechanical structure to be examined. Stereo images may be produced by employing two spaced apart detectors controlling two separate images which are directed to separate eyes of the observer or by using a single detector alternately controlling each of the two images while the raster pattern at the source is alternately shifted between two at least partially separate areas of the anode. As the detector output is an electronic signal, the image data may be stored on magnetic tape or the like and may also be readily processed by electronic techniques for such purposes as image enhancement, and addition, subtraction or superimposition of images. Automatic brightness control may also be provided to produce uniform contrast in different areas of the image where the corresponding different regions of the subject have different average densities.