High‐intensity flash x‐ray apparatus for biomedical radiography Available to Purchase

The construction of a soft flash x‐ray (FX) apparatus with a new type of FX tube for biomedical use is described. The FX apparatus may be used for condenser charging voltages of 50–90 kV and peak currents of 20–40 kA. The electric pulse width of the FX waveforms was almost constant and its value was about 0.3 μs. The effective focal spot varied according to the condenser charging voltage, the anode–cathode (A–C) distance, etc., ranging from 0.2–3.0 mm in diameter. We selected two combinations of electrodes: (a) for normal focusing and a high dose rate; (b) for fine focusing and a low dose rate. The FX intensity was determined by the condenser charging voltage and the A–C distance, while the FX quality (average spectrum distribution) was determined by the average voltage of the FX tube and insertion of metal filters. The average voltage of the FX tube varied according to the condenser charging voltage and the A–C gap impedance. Various clear FX images were obtained by controlling the FX intensity, quality, and the focal spot size. We used Fuji Computed Radiography (FCR) in conjunction with our FX radiography, and by controlling the FX quality and the focal spot size, we obtained some interesting biomedical radiograms.