Patent Number: 050330756
Section: claims

1. An x-ray apparatus for medical or dental diagnosis comprising an x-ray source operatable at a peak voltage of between 55 kev and about 110 kev for investigation of an examination object subjected to x-ray beams from the source, said source comprising an x-ray generating device having a port for passage of the x-ray beams therethrough, a focusing device for focusing the x-ray beams from the x-ray generating device and a filter positively secured to said x-ray generating device directly over said port, said filter having a lightweight flexible construction including a filter material containing as a major component elements selected from the group consisting of aluminum and elements having atomic numbers between 26 and 50 and a filter material support including a sealed casing around said filter material. 2. An x-ray apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said filter includes securing means securing said filter directly to said x-ray generating device directly over said port, wherein said securing means comprises double sided sticky tape between said filter and said x-ray generating device. 3. A filter for use in an existing x-ray apparatus for medical or dental diagnosis without modification to the apparatus where the apparatus comprises an x-ray source operating at a peak voltage of between about 55 kev and about 110 kev for investigation of an examination object subjected to x-ray beams from the source and an x-ray beam focusing device attached to the x-ray source, said filter having a flexible construction comprising a filter material containing as a major component elements selected from the group consisting of aluminum and elements having atomic numbers between 26 and 50 and a flexible filter material support including a flexible casing in which said filter material is sealed. 4. A filter as claimed in claim 3, wherein said filter material support includes a transparent plastic casing in which said filter material is sealed and identifying means internally of said plastic casing for identifying characteristics of the filter material used in said filter. 5. A filter as claimed in claim 3, including securing means for securing said filter directly to said x-ray source. 6. A filter as claimed in claim 5, wherein said securing means comprises double sided sticky tape provided to the outside of said plastic casing of said filter material support.