Penetrating radiation examining apparatus having a scanning collimator

Claim 2

Apparatus for examining a body by means of penetrating radiation such as X- or gamma - radiation, including source means for producing a substantially planar, sectoral-shaped swath of the radiation, directed towards the body, the plane of the swath being arranged to define a plane of interest in the body, detector means disposed to receive radiation emergent from the body, the source means and the detector means being disposed on opposite sides of an aperture in which the body can be inserted, collimator means disposed between the source means and the detector means and having a plurality of apertures formed therein through which respective finger-like beams of the radiation can pass such that the beams traverse respective linear paths in said plane of interest through the body, said detector means including a respective detector device for each of said beams, first drive means for causing said collimator means to execute a periodic, reciprocating motion in the plane of the swath to scan said beams to and fro relative to the body, and second drive means for orbiting the source means, the detector means and the collimator means around the body in the plane of said swath.

Claim 3

Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the second drive means is arranged to operate step-wise and is synchronized in operation to the first drive means such that each step of orbital motion is effected during a period of reversal in said reciprocating motion.

Claim 4

Apparatus according to claim 1 in which said collimator means comprises first and second collimator devices, said first collimator device being located between the source means and the body, and the second collimator device being located between the body and the detecting means, each of said collimator devices having the same number of apertures.

Claim 5

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said detector means is caused, by said first drive means, to execute said periodic, reciprocating motion in synchronism with the corresponding motion of said collimator means.

Claim 6

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the detector means is not influenced by said first drive means and each of said detector devices is of larger dimension, in the plane of said swath, than the corresponding dimension of any of said finger-like beams of radiation.

Claim 7

Apparatus according to claim 1 including, in a reference path for a beam of said radiation from said source to a detector device, a dummy attenuator means which is constructed of material which absorbs radiation to substantially the same extent as does the body.

Claim 8

Apparatus for examining a body by means of penetrating radiation, such as X- or gamma - radiation, including source means for producing a substantially planar, sectoral-shaped swath of radiation, directed towards the body, the plane of the swath being arranged to define a plane of interest in the body, means disposed to receive radiation emergent from the body, the source means and the detector means being disposed on opposite sides of an aperture in which the body can be inserted, collimator means disposed between the source means and the detector means and having a plurality of apertures formed therein through which respective finger-like beams of the radiation can pass such that the beams traverse respective linear paths in said plane of interest through the body, said beams being equi-angularly spaced in said plane of interest, and detector means including a respective detector device for each of said beams, first drive means for causing said collimator means to execute a periodic, reciprocating motion in the plane of said swath to scan said beams to and fro relative to the body through an angle substantially equal to the angle between adjacent ones of said beams, and second drive means for orbiting the source means, the detector means and the collimator means around the body in the plane of said swath.

Claim 9

Apparatus for examining a body by means of penetrating radiation, such as X- or gamma - radiation, including source means for producing a substantially planar, sectoral-shaped swath of radiation, directed towards the body, the plane of the swath being arranged to define a plane of interest in the body, means disposed to receive radiation emergent from the body, the source means and the detector means being disposed on opposite sides of an aperture in which the body can be inserted, collimator means disposed between the source means and the detector means and having a plurality of apertures formed therein through which respective finger-like beams of the radiation can pass such that the beams traverse respective linear paths in said plane of interest through the body, said beams being equi-angularly spaced in said plane of interest, and detector means including a respective detector device for each of said beams, first drive means for causing said collimator means to execute a periodic, reciprocating motion in the plane of said swath to scan said beams to and fro relative to the body through an angle substantially equal to the angle between adjacent ones of said beams, and second drive means for orbiting the source means, the detector means and the collimator means around the body in the plane of said swath.