Patent Number: 054066115
Section: claims

1. An x-ray apparatus comprising: means adapted for receiving a patient;  an x-ray source which emits an x-ray beam directed at said patient for medical interaction with said patient;  a gating device disposed in the path of said x-ray beam preceding said means adapted for receiving said patient, said gating device including a housing;  first and second rectangular diaphragm plates in said housing consisting at least partially of x-ray opaque material and disposed at opposite sides of said x-ray beam, said diaphragm plates each having a longitudinal axis and at least one of said diaphragm plates having a recess therein extending obliquely relative to said longitudinal axis;  means in said housing attached at one end of said at least one of said diaphragm plates for moving said at least one of said diaphragm plates along its longitudinal axis; and  a guide pin attached to said housing and engaging said at least one diaphragm plate by projecting into said recess for causing said at least one diaphragm plate, when moved along its longitudinal axis, also to move within said x-ray beam in a direction perpendicular to its longitudinal axis.  a carriage;  a rotatable spindle threadably engaged in said carriage so that said carriage moves in opposite directions along said longitudinal axis dependent on the direction of rotation of said spindle; and  an articulated mechanical connection between said one diaphragm plate and said carriage.  means adapted to receive a patient;  an x-ray source with emits an x-ray beam directed at said patient;  means for detecting x-rays attenuated by said patient and for generating electrical signals corresponding to the attenuated x-rays;  means for generating an image of said patient from said electrical signals;  a gating device disposed in the path of said x-ray beam preceding said means adapted for receiving a patient, said gating device including a housing;  first and second rectangular diaphragm plates in said housing consisting at least partially of x-ray opaque material and disposed at opposite sides of said x-ray beam, said diaphragm plates each having a longitudinal axis and at least one of said diaphragm plates having a recess therein extending obliquely relative to its longitudinal axis;  means in said housing attached at one end of said one diaphragm plate for moving said one diaphragm plate along its longitudinal axis; and  a guide pin attached to said housing and engaging said one diaphragm plate by projecting into said recess for causing said one diaphragm plate, when moved along its longitudinal axis, also to move within said x-ray beam in a direction perpendicular to its longitudinal axis.  a carriage;  a rotatable spindle threadably engaged in said carriage so that said carriage moves in opposite directions along said longitudinal axis dependent on the direction of rotation of said spindle; and  an articulated mechanical connection between said one diaphragm plate and said carriage. 2. An x-ray apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for moving said one diaphragm plate along said longitudinal axis comprises: 3. An x-ray apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said carriage has a bore extending therethrough in which said spindle is disposed, and said carriage having roller bearings disposed in said bore and engaging threads of said spindle. 4. An x-ray apparatus as claimed in claim 1 comprising a plurality of first diaphragm plates corresponding to said first diaphragm plate and connected to form an arc and a plurality of second diaphragm plates corresponding to said second diaphragm plate and connected to form an arc. 5. An x-ray apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a rolling bearing carried on said guide pin and disposed to roll against said diaphragm plate as said diaphragm plate is moved along its longitudinal axis and perpendicular to its longitudinal axis. 6. An x-ray apparatus comprising: 7. An x-ray apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein said means for moving said one diaphragm plate along its longitudinal axes comprises: 8. A gating device as claimed in claim 7 wherein said carriage has a bore extending therethrough in which said spindle is disposed, and said carriage having roller bearings disposed in said bore and engaging threads of said spindle. 9. An x-ray apparatus as claimed in claim 6 further comprising a rolling bearing carried on said guide pin and disposed to roll against said diaphragm plate as said diaphragm plate is moved along its longitudinal axis and perpendicular to its longitudinal axis. 10. A gating device as claimed in claim 6 comprising a plurality of first diaphragm plates corresponding to said first diaphragm plate and connected to form an arc and a plurality of second diaphragm plates corresponding to said second diaphragm plate and connected to form an arc.