Televex-tape-kinescopy and cineradiography. Comparison of two methods of recording fluoroscopy.

Abstract

At the 1960 meeting of the Radiological Society of North America in Cincinnati, the authors reported their preliminary experience with closed-circuit television viewing and with closed-circuit television tape recording of the fluoroscopic image (1). The fluoroscopes in the fluoroscopic rooms of the x-ray department and the cardiac catheterization laboratory at the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh are equipped with Televex (by Westinghouse) image Orthicon television cameras optically coupled to Philips 9-inch image amplifiers. The fluoroscopic examinations are recorded simultaneously on television tape, exactly as they are viewed on the closed-circuit monitors, without loss of picture quality or detail and at the same low levels of radiation required for closed-circuit television viewing alone. Television tape is now a proved method of routine recording of the fluoroscopic image. The combination of television tape (RCA) recorder and Televex (Westinghouse) has been in regular use at the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh since November 1960. All fluoroscopic examinations from the three regular fluoroscopic rooms are recorded in their entirety on television tape. The taped examinations are reviewed by the professional staff of the radiology department and are transferred to 16-mm. movie film via the kinescopic recorder. The 16-mm. film is processed in the automatic developer (X-omat) and is available for projection on a 16-mm. projector at regular, slow motion or single frame speeds. The transfer to movie film is made without obvious loss of picture quality or detail. A standard 16-mm. cinefluorographic camera views the output phosphor of the image amplifier in the cardiac laboratory. Selective angiography is simultaneously recorded directly on 16-mm. film and on television tape. The taped recording is immediately played back to a monitor in the laboratory, where the cardiologist reviews the examination as often as is necessary for him to determine whether it is technically satisfactory and contains the desired information. The cine film is then processed; if it proves technically satisfactory, the taped examination is erased If the cine examination is not satisfactory, the taped examination is transferred to film via the kinescopic recorder. Comparison of Tape vs. Cine For purposes of discussion, arbitrary definitions are needed. “Cine” and “cine-fluorography” refer to motion picture recording of the image on the output phosphor of an image amplifier. “Television tape recording” indicates magnetic tape recording of the information on the output phosphor of an image amplifier mediated through a television camera. The cameras referred to in this article are specially designed, “image Orthicon” in type.