Roentgenography of vertebral column and the devices used therefor

A roentgenography and a device used therefor by which shapes of the vertebral columns of vertebrate animal including Homo sapiens can be clearly photographed when once photographed for the sake of positively diagnosing an affected part of disc hernia and the like. The roentgenography is carried out by laying a patient vertebrate animal on a concavely curved X-ray film the radius of curvature of which is equal to a distance between the X-ray film and an X-ray tube positioned over the same to curve the vertebral column of the patient into a circularly arced shape, and irradiating perpendicularly X-ray from the center of this circular arc upon the vertebral column. The device used for executing the above roentgenography is either a curved photographic stand provided with a top which is concavely formed in such that the radius of curvature of the concave shape is equal to a difference between the top and an X-ray tube positioned over the same or a concavely curved cassette which is concavely formed in such that the radius of curvature of the concave shape is equal to a difference between the cassette and an X-ray tube positioned over the same.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
This invention relates to a roentgenography of flexible skeletons, 
especially vertebral columns (backbones) of vertebrate animal including 
Homo sapiens and the devices used therefor, and more particularly to a 
roentgenography and the devices used therefor by which the shape of a 
vertebral column can be clearly photographed in such that X-ray patterns 
of the adjacent vertebrae are not overlapped one another by utilizing such 
a characteristic of a vertebral column composed of cervical vertebrae, 
thoracic spines, lumbar vertebrae and the like that the column may be 
artificially curved. 
2. Description of the Related Art 
In even the latest technology in which bones are photographed by the use of 
X-ray to precisely determine forms of the bones from the images thereof 
which have been taken on films, X-ray films are applied while maintaining 
the same in a planar state which remains unchanged. In this manner, 
however, there arises an extremely inconvenient problem, when a vertebral 
column composed of a number of continuous vertebrae is photographed by the 
use of a conventional flat photographic stand. More specifically, as 
schematically shown in FIG. 10, both of a vertebra shadow 16 and an 
intervertebral space shadow 17 are clearly photographed in the central 
portion of an X-ray film 10, while vertebra shadows 16 positioned near to 
the opposite end portions of the X-ray film comes to extend lengthily so 
that the resulting intervertebral space shadows 17 become obscure as 
indicated by arrows A. In this connection, for the sake of simple 
explanation, vertebrae 14 are illustrated by simple cubes, besides it is 
illustrated in such that a length of an intervertebral space 15 is 
extremely broaden and a distance between an X-ray film 10 and an X-ray 
tube 11 is far shorter than that in reality in FIG. 10. While the 
illustration has been made exaggeratedly in FIG. 10, in short, the 
vertebrae positioned immediately below the X-ray tube 11 are clearly 
photographed because the pattern of such a vertebra is not covered by 
shadows of both the adjacent vertebrae. On the contrary, X-ray comes to be 
irradiated more obliquely with increase in a distance from the X-ray tube 
11, so that vertebral shadows 16 positioned near to the opposite ends of 
the X-ray film 10 extend lengthily. As a result, the adjacent vertebra 
shadows positioned near to the opposite ends of the film are overlapped 
one another as described above, so that the intervertebral space shadows 
17 positioned near to the opposite ends of the film become obscure. 
Because of the above described disadvantage involved in the conventional 
flat photographic stand, an affected part of disc hernia could not be 
heretofore ascertained by a shot of photographing in case of, for example, 
making a diagnosis of such disc hernia. Although an approximate position 
of the affected part can be decided by a prior neurological examination 
therefor, in order to make a more positive diagnosis it is required that 
roentgenograms are taken several times while shifting from an expected 
position little by little to obtain slightly different patterns on several 
films, and the resulting patterns on the several films are checked to 
collectively judge the affected part. As a result, roentgenographic 
engineers who take roentgenograms and physicians or veterinary surgeons 
who read such roentgenograms require extra labor, and further extra 
expenses for films and the development therefor are required, besides it 
results in three to four times higher X-irradiation upon patients. 
On one hand, as a film sealing case for hermetically sealing an X-ray film, 
such a case which is manufactured by curving a flat rectangular cassette 
into a convex shape as shown in FIG. 11 is available on the market. Such a 
convexly curved cassette 18 shown in FIG. 11 is composed of a convexly 
formed surface cover 19 and a back plate 20 having the same shape as that 
of the surface cover, and the former is hinged to the latter to form a 
single swing structure wherein an intensifying screen is attached to the 
back of the surface cover 19 and a lead plate is embedded in the back 
plate 20. This cassette is a special cassette for photographing a movable 
part of human body such as joints of neck, shoulder, knee, coxa and the 
like. For example, in case of a shoulder joint, the convexly curved 
cassette is held by a patient's armpit and then, a roentgenogram is 
photographed. In case of taking a roentgenogram of cervical vertebrae, the 
convexly curved cassette 18 is placed like a pillow under the neck of a 
patient 12 who lies on a horizontal stand as shown in FIG. 12, and X-ray 
is irradiated over the patient's throat. However, even on a flat 
photographic stand, the inconvenience as described above is observed and 
accordingly, a deformation in an X-ray pattern due to a convexly curved 
cassette becomes more remarkable, so that such convexly curved cassette 
could not have absolutely been utilized for roentgenography of vertebral 
columns. 
Furthermore, a small-sized X-ray film being hermetically sealed with a lead 
foil sack is used for inserting the same into a patient's mouth in a 
dental field. In this case, an X-ray tube is allowed to come near the face 
of a patient sat on a chair, and X-ray is irradiated from the outside of 
patient's teeth. Under the circumstances, such film sealing case of dental 
use is forced onto the inside of a tooth row, so that a roentgenogram is 
taken in such a manner that an X-ray film has been curved in a convex 
shape. 
Moreover, a flexible cassette which can be freely bent is available on the 
market for use in non-destructive inspection of a structure having a bent 
portion such as steel pipes and the like. In case of using such flexible 
cassette, the cassette is attached to a bent portion of the structure with 
the use of a gummed cloth tape or the like in such that the flexible 
cassette is curved convexly or concavely in correspondence with a curved 
condition of the bent portion, and a roentgenogram is taken by allowing a 
portable X-ray tube to come near the bent portion. However, even if such a 
flexible cassette is utilized by convexly or concavely curving the same, a 
structure involves a variety of shapes. Accordingly, such a technical idea 
that each of curvatures of a structure is measured one by one, and then 
X-ray is irradiated from the center of the circular arc thus measured has 
never been heretofore proposed. 
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention has been made to solve the problems as described 
above, and an object of the invention is to provide a roentgenography by 
which a shape of a vertebral column can be clearly photographed with the 
use of X-ray. 
Furthermore, another object of the present invention is to provide a device 
used for taking clearly such roentgenograms. 
In order to attain the above described object, the roentgenography of 
vertebral columns according to the present invention comprises the steps 
of laying a vertebrate animal including Homo sapiens on a concavely curved 
X-ray film in such that the radius of curvature of said concavely curved 
X-ray film is equal to a distance between the X-ray film and an X-ray tube 
positioned over said vertebrate animal laid on the X-ray film to curve the 
vertebral column of said vertebrate animal into a circularly arced shape 
corresponding to the shape of said concavely curved X-ray film, and 
irradiating X-ray from said X-ray tube positioned at the center of said 
circular arc upon said vertebral column. 
For attaining the other object as described above, the device used for 
executing the roentgenography of vertebral columns according to the 
present invention is either the one which is a curved photographic stand 
provided with a top having a length and a width sufficient for laying a 
patient thereon which is concavely curved in the longitudinal direction 
thereof in such that the radius of curvature of the concavely curved shape 
is equal to a distance between said top and an X-ray tube positioned over 
the curved photographic stand; or the one being a concavely curved 
cassette which has a length and a width sufficient for laying a patient 
thereon and has been curved in the longitudinal direction thereof, and the 
radius of curvature of said concavely curved cassette being equal to a 
distance between said cassette and an X-ray tube positioned over said 
cassette. 
The present invention will be more amplified hereinbelow. That is, the 
invention is based on such an idea of the present inventor that if it is 
possible to perpendicularly project X-ray upon each of vertebrae, the 
above described disadvantages can be eliminated, because the more acute 
angle of X-ray irradiation provides the disadvantageous longer shadows of 
the vertebrae. In this connection, fortunately a vertebral column is 
flexible longitudinally and bilaterally, so that an affected part is 
easily curved artificially. 
A film sealing case in which an X-ray film is hermetically sealed is curved 
into such a concave shape the radius of curvature of which is equal to a 
distance between the film sealing case and an X-ray tube, and a patient is 
laid on the film sealing case in such that the vertebral column of the 
patient is curved in a circularly arced shape corresponding to the 
aforesaid concave shape. In this situation, X-ray is irradiated from the 
center of the resulting circular arc upon the vertebral column of the 
patient. 
When a roentgenogram is intended to take with respect to such a curved 
vertebral column as described above, a concavely curved X-ray film 10 and 
a vertebral column 13 of a patient who has been laid on the X-ray film 10 
come to be positioned on a concentric circle centering around an X-ray 
tube 11, respectively, as shown in FIG. 9 wherein the radius of curvature 
of the aforesaid X-ray film 10 is equal to a distance between the film and 
the X-ray tube 11, and the vertebral column 13 of the patient is curved 
into a circularly arced shape in correspondence with the aforesaid 
concavely curved X-ray film 10. As a result, the X-ray to be directed to 
the vertebral column 13 from the center of the concentric circle is 
irradiated perpendicularly onto respective vertebrae 14 composing the 
vertebral column 13 and respective intervertebral spaces 15. Besides, 
shadows 16 of the respective vertebrae 14 and shadows 17 of the respective 
intervertebral spaces 15 are projected perpendicularly onto the X-ray film 
10. Thus, the adjacent shadows 16 of the vertebrae 14 are never overlapped 
with each other, so that the shadows 17 of the intervertebral spaces 15 
are clearly photographed on the X-ray film 10. 
As a device used for executing the roentgenography of vertebral columns 
according to the present invention, either a curved photographic stand or 
a concavely curved cassette is preferred. 
A first device of the curved photographic stand is the one which is 
prepared by curving a top of the photographic stand with a length and a 
width which are sufficient for laying a patient thereon in the 
longitudinal direction, and this top is characterized by being formed into 
a concave shape the radius of curvature of which is equal to a distance 
between the top and an X-ray tube. At the central portion of the top, a 
section for holding a film sealing case the profile of which is a 
tray-like or throughout rectangular shape may be defined thereon. 
According to the first device, since the curved photographic stand 1 
provided with the top 2 the radius of curvature of which is equal to a 
distance between the top and the X-ray tube 11 is used, a film sealing 
case 5 in which the X-ray film has been hermetically sealed can be placed 
on the top 2 in close contact therewith. As a consequence, the X-ray film 
10 which has been hermetically sealed in the film sealing case 5 can be 
curved into the concave shape, corresponding to the shape of the aforesaid 
curved top, the radius of curvature of which is equal to a distance 
between the concave shape and the X-ray tube. Furthermore, when a patient 
12 is laid simply on his (her) side or back on the curved film sealing 
case 5, the vertebral column of the patient 12 can be curved into a 
moderate circularly arced shape so as to correspond to the radius of 
curvature of the X-ray film 10. 
on one hand, when a compact film sealing case 5 in which an X-ray film has 
been hermetically sealed is contained in a tray-like or throughout 
rectangular-shaped section 3 for holding the film sealing case which is 
defined on the top 2 of the photographic stand 1, it can be arranged in 
such that the thick film sealing case 5 does not protrude the surface of 
the top 2. Accordingly, corners of the film sealing case 5 do not form a 
difference in level on the top 2. As a result, even if a part of a 
vertebral column such as cervical vertebrae, lumbar vertebrae or the like 
is photographed, the vertebral column of the patient 12 can be curved into 
a circularly arced shape. 
A concavely curved cassette being a second device is prepared by curving a 
cassette composed of a base plate and a back cover each having a length 
and a width being capable of sealing an X-ray film in the longitudinal 
direction. The concavely curved cassette is characterized by that both the 
base plate and the back cover are formed into a concave shape the radius 
of curvature of which is equal to a distance between the cassette and an 
X-ray tube. Either the back cover or a pair of divided back covers may be 
hinged on the base plate so as to form a single swing cover or a pair of 
swing covers each being openable in a direction from the central portion 
to the opposite end of the base plate. 
According to the second device shown in FIG. 5 or 6, the concavely curved 
cassette 6 the radius of curvature of which is equal to a distance between 
the cassette and an X-ray tube has the same functions as that of the 
curved photographic stand 1 shown in FIG. 2 or 3, whereby an X-ray film 
can be curved into a circularly arced shape together with the vertebral 
column of a patient. When the concavely curved cassette 6 is rested on a 
horizontal stand in such that the concave surface of the cassette faces 
upwards, the cassette might swing unstably in seesaw-like movement. 
However, such curved cassette can be stably held by either a cassette 
holding stand 9 as shown in FIG. 7, or a pair of fixing blocks (not shown) 
each having a suitable profile which support the cassette from the convex 
side thereof, respectively.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
The roentgenography of vertebral columns of vertebrate animal according to 
the present invention will be described in detail by describing the 
preferred embodiments of the devices used for executing the 
roentgenography of the present invention hereinbelow. 
The roentgenography according to the present invention is carried out by 
the use of either the first device of a curved photographic stand, or the 
second device of a concavely curved cassette. 
The best mode for the device is the first device of the curved photographic 
stand 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The curved photographic stand 1 is made 
from a synthetic resin, a light metal or the like, and the stand 1 is 
disposed on a flat floor or a conventional flat photographic stand for 
applying the same in roentgenography. The top 2 of the curved photographic 
stand 1 is defined in a concave shape in such that the radius of curvature 
thereof is equal to a distance between the top 2 and an X-ray tube 11. The 
concave shape is preferable to be a circular arc having a radius of 
curvature of about 1 meter in the case where a patient is a small animal 
such as dog, cat or the like. While a length and a width of the top 2 may 
be selected suitably dependent upon types and sizes of patients, it is 
desirable that the top 2 has generally a size which is sufficient for 
laying the whole body of a patient thereon. 
On the central portion of the top 2, a tray-like section 3 for holding a 
film sealing case is defined. In order that a compact film sealing case 5 
contained in the tray-like section 3 does not protrude or retract from the 
surface of the top 2, the bottom of the film sealing case holding section 
3 is also formed in the same concave shape as that of the top 2, and the 
depth of the top 2 is made equal to the thickness of the film sealing case 
holding section 3. Furthermore, notched portions 4 each having a suitable 
profile for inserting a finger thereinto may be defined on the opposite 
ends of the film sealing case holding section 3 as shown in FIG. 2 in 
order to attach and detach easily the film sealing case 5 thereto and 
therefrom. 
The compact film sealing case 5 for partially photographing an affected 
part is contained in the film sealing case holding section 3 thus defined, 
and a patient 12 is laid on the top 2. Then, a position of the patient 12 
is adjusted in such that the affected part thereof is appropriately 
positioned on the film sealing case 5, and thereafter X-ray is irradiated 
thereon. Consequently, a part of a vertebral column such as only cervical 
vertebrae, lumbar vertebrae or the like can be partially photographed, so 
that a large-sized X-ray film becomes unnecessary and it results in saving 
on X-ray film expenses. 
As the film sealing case 5, a flexible cassette and a lead foil bag which 
are freely bendable, respectively, or the concavely curved cassette 6 
shown in FIG. 5 which has been formed in a concave shape having the same 
curvature as that of the concave of the top 2 and the like device may 
suitably selected for the application. In addition, both types of the film 
sealing cases of the present invention may be properly used, i.e. the 
compact film sealing case 5 for photographing partially a vertebral column 
such as cervical vertebrae, lumbar vertebrae and the like or a 
larger-sized film sealing case 5A shown in FIG. 4 being used for taking a 
panoramic roentgenogram of the whole body of a patient may be selected. 
When the bendable film sealing case 5 such as a flexible cassette, a lead 
foil bag or the like is contained in said film sealing case holding 
section 3 and a patient is laid thereon, the film sealing case 5 comes to 
be in closely contact with the bottom of the film sealing case holding 
section 3 due to the body-weight of the patient. As a result, the X-ray 
film 10 contained in the film sealing case 5 is concavely curved in such 
that the radius of curvature of the concaved X-ray film 10 is equal to a 
distance between the film and the X-ray tube 11. Simultaneously, the 
vertebral column of the patient 12 is also concavely curved with the same 
curvature as that of the X-ray film 10. Thus, the X-ray film 10 and the 
vertebral column of the patient come to be position on a concentric circle 
centering around the X-ray tube 11, so that the roentgenography according 
to the present invention can positively be executed. In the case of using 
the concavely curved cassette 6 formed so as to be in closely contact with 
the top 2, the same effect as that of the bendable film sealing case can 
also be obtained. 
Next, a modification of the first device will be described hereinbelow. 
In a curved photographic stand 1A shown in FIG. 3, a throughout rectangular 
section 3A for holding a film sealing case is defined on the top 2 of the 
curved photographic stand. According to the throughout rectangular section 
thus defined, a compact film sealing case 5 may be slidably moved along 
the whole length of the rectangular section extending over from the right 
to left ends of the top 2 as shown in FIG. 3. If there is a gap as shown 
in FIG. 3, a packing such as a rubber plate and the like having the same 
thickness as that of the film sealing case 5 is disposed therein. When 
such a curved photographic stand is used, the vertebral column of the 
patient 12 can be partially photographed by suitably selecting a position 
to be photographed, even if a position of the patient 12 is not adjusted. 
Moreover, no film sealing case holding section is defined on a top 2 of a 
curved photographic stand 1B being another modification of the present 
invention shown in FIG. 4. 
Furthermore, it was surprisingly found that not only the whole of a 
vertebral column, but also a panoramic roentgenogram of the whole body 
skeleton of a patient could be taken in the case when a large-sized film 
sealing case 5A having a length and a width within which the whole body of 
the patient can be laid is disposed on each of the tops 2 of the curved 
photographic stand 1B shown in FIG. 4, the stand 1 shown in FIG. 2, and 
the stand 1A shown in FIG. 3, respectively. 
More specifically, when it is intended to obtain an X-ray pattern of the 
whole body of a patient by the use of a conventional flat photographic 
stand, it is required to separately take roentgenograms with respect to 
the head, the breast, the abdomen and the like of a patient, and to link 
the respective roentgenograms taken one another in order to eliminate such 
disadvantage in that the skeletons photographed become obscure at the edge 
portions of the films, whereby very complicated works have been necessary 
heretofore. 
In this respect, there is a mere use for surveying a skeleton of the whole 
body from the scientific point of view, so that no technical idea for 
putting such panoramic roentgenogram to practical use in emergent 
diagnosis has never been proposed heretofore. More specifically, in the 
event of an emergency case of a traffic accident, when a veterinary 
surgeon touches carelessly an animal patient who cannot talk to determine 
which part of which bone is broken, there is a case where the veterinary 
surgeon is bitten by the animal patient and this is very dangerous. For 
this reason, it has been inevitably required to take from several to 
several tens of roentgenograms throughout the whole body of a patient in 
an animal clinic in order to investigate existence of a fracture or a 
damaged area. According to the roentgenography of the present invention, 
it was found unexpectedly that an X-ray pattern of the whole body of a 
patient could be taken easily with only one outsized film. In accordance 
with the panoramic roentgenography of the present invention, when only one 
each roentgenogram is taken in a state where a patient is laid on his 
(her) back and side, respectively, the whole body skeleton of the patient 
can be observed obviously from two directions. As a consequence, it 
becomes possible to take a prompt treatment in an emergency case so that a 
remarkable advantage to elevate markedly a ratio of lifesaving can be 
attained. 
Next, embodiments of the second device according to the present invention 
shown in FIGS. 5 through 8 will be described hereinbelow. 
The second device differs from the above described first device in that no 
curved photographic stand 1 is used, but only the concavely curved 
cassette 6 is used to maintain an X-ray film together with a vertebral 
column of a patient in a prescribed radius of curvature. In other words, 
the cassette itself is curved in a concave shape the radius of curvature 
of which is equal to a distance between said cassette and an X-ray tube, 
so that the X-ray film can be held in the concave shape having a 
prescribed radius of curvature without using a curved photographic stand. 
Furthermore, when a patient is laid on the concaved surface of the 
concavely curved cassette 6, the vertebral column of the patient can also 
be curved in the circularly arced state. Thus, according to the second 
device, the roentgenography of the present invention in which an X-ray 
pattern is obtained by photographing the concavely curved vertebral column 
of a patient on the concavely curved X-ray film positioned on such a 
concentric circle centering around an X-ray tube can be positively carried 
out as in the case of the first device. 
A concavely curved cassette 6 is produced by pouring carbon fiber or a 
synthetic resin into a frame molded in a prescribed radius of curvature. 
In this case, it must be sufficiently check a strength and a thickness of 
a material to be used for such cassettes, because if a cassette thereof is 
bent due to the body-weight of a patient in case of the application 
thereof, the radius of curvature of the cassette changes, whereby the 
above described object comes to be not attained. 
The concavely curved cassette 6 shown in FIG. 5 is the one being a single 
swing cover type composed of a base plate 7 and a back cover 8 formed into 
a concave shape the radius of curvature of which is equal to a distance 
between the cassette and an X-ray tube, and an end of the back cover 8 is 
hinged to the base plate 7. In a conventional convexly curved cassette 18 
as shown in FIG. 11, an intensifying screen is attached to the back of a 
surface cover 19, and a lead plate is embedded in a back plate 20. On the 
contrary, in case of the concavely curved cassette 6, an intensifying 
screen is attached to the back of the surface cover 7, and a lead plate is 
embedded in the back cover 8. In another modification, it may be arranged 
in such that an intensifying screen and a lead plate are separated from a 
cassette to be detachable thereto, and in case of application of the 
cassette, the intensifying screen, an X-ray film and the lead plate are 
superposed on the back of the surface plate 7 in order, then they are 
covered with the back cover 8 to hermetically seal these components. 
The concavely curved cassette 6A shown in FIG. 6 is the one of a type of a 
pair of swing covers wherein a pair of right and left back covers 8 and 8' 
are opened swingably at the central part of the cassette. In this 
arrangement, the back covers opened oppositely do not occupy much more 
space than that in case of using a single swing cover type cassette. For 
this reason, when an oversized film for panoramic photograph is 
hermetically sealed into a cassette, an operation therefor can easily be 
conducted in even a narrow darkroom. Furthermore, in such a case where a 
customized outsize film is out of stock, and a substitution of two X-ray 
films on the market by joining together them for the customized outsize 
film is unavoidably intended, the joint can be precisely arranged. More 
specifically, since X-ray films have considerably high elasticity, it has 
been very difficult to align the joints of two films in a concavely curved 
cassette of a single swing cover type. On the other hand, when the 
concavely curved cassette 6A of a type of a pair of oppositely swing 
covers is used, it is possible that a first film is placed on the base 
plate 7 and one 8 of the back covers is closed, thereafter the other back 
cover 8' is closed while aligning an end of a second film to that of the 
first film. Accordingly, the jointed ends of two films can positively be 
aligned to be hermetically sealed in the cassette. Because of this 
arrangement, the resulting jointed ends of the films do not interfere with 
the X-ray pattern photographed. 
When a vertebral column or the whole body of a patient is photographed by 
the use of the above described concavely curved cassette 6, the cassette 
holding stand 9 shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 is disposed on a horizontal stand, 
and the concavely curved cassette 6 is rested thereon in such that the 
back cover 8 directs the underside thereof. Thus, the concavely curved 
cassette 6 which is usually swung unstably in seesaw-like movement can be 
stably positioned under an X-ray tube. While an example of the cassette 
holding stand 9 is specifically shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the profile of 
which is not limited thereto. Furthermore, although there is no 
illustration, the concavely curved cassette 6 may be supported by a pair 
of fixing blocks each having a suitable profile and positioned on the 
opposite ends of the cassette. 
According to the present invention, roentgenograms of a vertebral column 
shape of a patient can be clearly taken. Accordingly, an affected part of, 
for example, disc hernia and the like can positively be diagnosed by only 
one photographing, so that operations for photographing and reading the 
photograph become simple and easy, resulting in reduction of expenses for 
films and development thereof, besides it brings about such an advantage 
that an amount of X-ray with which a patient is inevitably to be 
irradiated can be suppressed as much as possible. As a matter of course, 
the roentgenography and the devices used therefor according to the present 
invention exhibit also influences upon diagnosis for spinal damages such 
as fracture, dislocation and the like, spondylolisthesis, spinal caries, 
spinal tumor and the like. Furthermore, the present invention is 
applicable for all the other flexible skeletons such as ribs, ossa digitus 
manus and pedis, caudal vertebrae and the like, so that this invention can 
also be contributed to the progress in osteometry. 
In addition, the present invention provides unexpectedly such advantage in 
that a panoramic photograph of skeletons of the whole body of a patient 
can be taken with only one outsize film. Thus, it becomes possible to 
diagnose existence of a fracture or a degree of the damage thereof in an 
emergency case due to a traffic accident and the like, and particularly to 
diagnose an animal patient who cannot talk, whereby an exact first-aid 
treatment can be given to the patient. 
It will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that the 
present invention can be embodied in other specific forms without 
departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. 
The presently disclosed embodiments are therefore considered in all 
respects to be illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the 
invention is indicated by the appended claims rather than the foregoing 
description, and all changes that come within the meaning and range of 
equivalents thereof are intended to be embraced therein.