Analysis of Laminagraphic Motions and Their Values

Abstract

Introduction THE addition of body-section roentgenography to other diagnostic procedures has definitely enlarged the scope of roentgenologic diagnosis and this new method has already proven useful in many cases. The cardinal principle of body-section roentgenography is that the tube, film, and the body to be roentgenographed shall be in relative motion to one another during exposure. Recently, a variety of apparatus and technics has been presented under different names by various authors: namely, stratigraphy (Vallebona, 15); tomography (Grossmann, 8); planigraphy (Ziedses des Plantes, 18, Andrews, 1); x-ray focusing, vertigraphy (Kieffer, 9); laminagraphy (Kieffer-Moore, 10). (The last method has also been spelled “laminography” by various authors.) Andrews in his original paper called attention to this multiplicity of names and recommended definite uses for them. In order to avoid confusion, and until an official terminology is decided upon, I suggest the following extended classification, based upon his recommendations, to which I shall adhere in this paper. Body-section Roentgenography.—The generic term for a method permitting the roentgenographic visualization of selected objects in a body by eliminating or minimizing by blurring shadows of other objects which otherwise would interfere with visualization. This includes all the methods heretofore mentioned. Stratigraphy.—A method whereby body-section roentgenography is accomplished by relative motion of the tube and film with respect to the body roentgenographed, the tube and film meanwhile having no motion relative to one another. This can be accomplished by rotating the body between a stationary tube and film (Vallebona's, 15, original stratigraph, Fig. 1, Method 1), or by moving the tube and film around the stationary body (Method 4 of Andrews, 1; Bartelink's, 4, apparatus; Vallebona's, 16, improved stratigraph, Fig. 1, Method 2). Tomography.—A method whereby body-section roentgenography is accomplished by motion of the tube and film along concentric2 segments of arcs, the film surface meanwhile maintaining its orientation with respect to the body roentgenographed (Method 6 of Andrews, 1; apparatus of Grossmann, 8, and its modification of Andrews and Stava, 2; Fig. 1, Method 3). Planigraphy.—A method whereby body-section roentgenography is accomplished by motion of the tube and film along planes parallel to each other and to the film surface (Methods 1 and 2 of Bocage, 5, and Andrews, 1; apparatus of Portes and Chausse, 11, Ziedses des Plantes, 18, Kieffer, 9, Twining, 14, and their modifications; Fig. 1, Method 4). Vertigraphy.—A method whereby body-section roentgenography is accomplished by motion of the tube and film in planes parallel to each other and perpendicular to the film surface (Kieffer, 9; Fig. 1, Method 5).