This is the generic class for apparatus and corresponding processes involving the generation or use of electromagnetic radiation within the X-ray spectrum as defined above.
Methods, systems, and elements with specific features characteristic of X-ray applications are classified herein.
Mere use with or attachment to an X-ray device or recitation of an undefined X-ray test or analysis is insufficient to cause classification within this class.
LINES WITH OTHER CLASSES
This class is the result of a reclassification of the X-ray art which was extracted from several classes, principally Class 250, Radiant Energy. The subject matter of this class is, therefore, essentially identical in scope to the X-ray subject matter formerly found in the more comprehensive Class 250 with the addition of the X-ray source subject matter of Class 313, Electric Lamp and Discharge Devices. Selected disclosures concerning elements "for use in" but not restricted to X-ray systems were removed from the above described body of art and placed in more appropriate classes.
Significantly claimed apparatus external to this class, claimed in combination with apparatus under the class definition which is used to monitor, control or otherwise effect the operation of the external apparatus, is classified in the class appropriate to that external apparatus.
Nominally claimed apparatus external to this class, claimed in combination with apparatus under the class definition, is classified in this class unless provided for in the
appropriate external class.
REFERENCES TO OTHER CLASSESSEE OR SEARCH CLASS
5, Beds, appropriate subclasses, particularly
600+, and 652+ for beds with body support or positioning means and subclasses 630+ for patient examination tables.
29, Metal Working,
806, for film or tape cartridge manufacture.
40, Card, Picture, or Sign Exhibiting,
361+, for viewers for X-ray transparencies.
73, Measuring and Testing,
23.2, for the analysis of gases; particularly subclass 23.35, for the combination of a gas chromatography test and a radiation (invisible and visible) test of the effluent from the test; subclasses 53.01+ for the examination of liquids or a liquid suspension of solids; subclasses 73+ for moisture content or absorption characteristics generally; subclass 104 for surface or cutlery edge testing generally; subclasses 151+ for bore hole and drilling study tests generally; subclasses 861+ for volume or rate of flow meters generally; subclasses 290+ for liquid level or depth gauges; and subclasses 570+ for ultrasonic testing.
99, Foods and Beverages: Apparatus,
451, for apparatus for subjecting foods and beverage to wave, radiant, and electrical energy.
118, Coating Apparatus, 620+, for coating apparatus combined with means to apply radiant energy to the work.
134, Cleaning and Liquid Contact With Solids,
1, for processes of cleaning or contacting of solids with liquids which include the application of radiant energy to the work.
156, Adhesive Bonding and Miscellaneous Chemical Manufacture,
272.2+, and 379.6 for methods and apparatus which include applying wave energy to work.
162, Paper Making and Fiber Liberation,
49, and 192 for processes using radiant energy.
164, Metal Founding,
250.1, for means to apply electrical or wave energy to work.
206, Special Receptacle or Package,
455, for film receptacles. 209, Classifying, Separating, and Assorting Solids, appropriate subclasses, especially
589, for radiant energy type automatic assorting.
250, Radiant Energy,
214, for image intensifiers; subclasses 306+ for sample bombardment with protons or electrons which may produce X-rays; subclasses 336.1+ for radiant energy detectors; subclass 492.2 for generic irradiation of semiconductor substrates; subclasses 496.1+ for radioactive sources; and subclasses 515.1+ for radiation shielding.
252, Compositions,
478, for X-ray shield compositions or contrast agents for inanimate objects.
264, Plastic and Nonmetallic Article Shaping or Treating: Processes,
405+, for direct application of electrical or wave energy to work.
271, Sheet Feeding or Delivering, appropriate subclasses for sheet feeding.
313, Electric Lamp and Discharge Devices, appropriate subclasses for electric space discharge devices, per se, including cathode-ray tubes, electric discharge lamps, liquid electrode discharge devices, gas or vapor filled discharge devices and vacuum tubes, and for the electrodes filaments, fluorescent targets and shields for electric space discharge devices.
314, Electric Lamp and Discharge Devices: Consumable Electrodes,
22, for consumable electrode discharge devices which have means to feed a fluent material (e.g., solid particles to the discharge space.) 315, Electric Lamp and Discharge Devices: Systems, especially
3, for systems wherein a fluent material is supplied to the
discharge area between the discharge electrodes of the discharge device.
318, Electricity: Motive Power Systems, appropriate subclasses for motor control devices usable in rotary anode X-ray tube systems.
324, Electricity: Measuring and Testing, for measuring or testing of electrical properties by the use of radiant energy.
359, Optics: Systems (Including Communication) and Elements,
109+, for light wave communications.
364, Electrical Computers and Data Processing Systems,
413.23, for computer analysis or data processing in radiation detection or treatment systems.
369, Dynamic Information Storage or Retrieval,
101, for recorder-reproducers using invisible radiation.
372, Coherent Light Generators, 5, for short wavelength lasers including X-ray lasers.
376, Induced Nuclear Reactions: Processes, Systems, and Elements,
156+, for X-rays generated by means of an induced nuclear reaction, e.g., wherein the internal conversion of an electron within the nucleus generates soft gamma rays.
396, Photography,
310+, for exposure identification means; subclasses 360+ for cameras using film magazines; and subclasses 512+ for film casettes.
399, Electrophotography,
9+, for diagnostics, subclasses 38+ for controls, subclasses 130+ for image formation, subclasses 168+ for charging, subclasses 177+ for exposure, subclasses 222+ for development, subclasses 297+ for transfer, subclasses 320+ for fixing, subclasses 343+ for cleaning, and subclasses 361+ for document handling.
414, Material or Article Handling,
403+, for film cassette unloaders and/or reloaders.
424, Drug, Bio-Affecting and Body Treating Compositions,
9.4+, for X-ray contrast compositions for use in animate objects. 426, Food or Edible Material: Processes, Compositions, and Products,
234, 236 and 237+, particularly subclass 240 for processes involving the use of electrical, wave, or radiant energy in food treatments.
427, Coating Processes,
65, 160 and 457+ for processes of coating using electrical or wave energy.
430, Radiation Imagery Chemistry: Process, Composition, or Product Thereof,
5, for radiation masks; and subclasses 966+ for cross-reference art collections of disclosures relating to X-ray imagery.
438, Semiconductor Device Manufacturing: Process, appropriate subclass for methods of making semiconductor devices; see the search notes therein.
600, Surgery,
407+, for detecting nuclear, electromagnetic, or ultrasonic radiation in diagnostic testing.
601, Surgery: Kinesitherapy,
15+, for apparatus in direct contact which applies radiation to a human being.
604, Surgery, 20, for the applications of light, radiation, and electrical energy to the body.
606, Surgery,
130, for stereotactic devices.
702, Data Processing: Measuring, Calibrating, or Testing, appropriate subclasses for a computer data processing system for measuring, calibrating, or testing that may include X-ray subject matter.
GLOSSARY:
DETECTOR
A material or device whose response to X-ray energy is used to indicate the presence or amount of incident radiation.
GAMMA RAY
In this class the term "gamma ray" is considered to be synonymous with the term "X-ray". Gamma rays are usually considered to be produced by some natural phenomenon such as the decay of an atomic nucleus whereas X-rays are usually considered to be produced by an electronic tube or other manufactured device.
INSPECTION OR EXAMINATION
A term implying a source of X-ray energy, and/or means to irradiate an object by said source and a detector responsive to X-radiation from the object to provide an indication representing some characteristic of the object. OBJECT OR ANALYTE
A material subjected to X-radiation for treatment or whose response to or effect on the X-radiation is used to indicate something about the material.
X-RAY
Electromagnetic radiation lying in a range between "cosmic rays" and "ultraviolet rays". This range is defined as lying between 0.001 and 100 angstrom units or 10[supscrpt]-11[end supscrpt] and 10[supscrpt]-6[end supscrpt] centimeters in wavelength.