X-rays were discovered in 1895 by Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen, leading to a revolutionary change in medical imaging and our understanding of the physical world.
Experimenters started producing X-rays as early as 1875 when Crookes tubes were first created. These early experiments laid the foundation for the later discovery of X-rays by Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen in 1895.
Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen accidentally discovered X-rays on November 8, 1895, while experimenting with Crookes tubes. He observed their ability to create images on fluorescent screens and photographic plates, marking the beginning of X-ray technology.
On December 22, 1895, Wilhelm Röntgen captured the first medical X-ray image of his wife Anna's hand, revealing her wedding ring. This groundbreaking image marked the beginning of medical imaging using X-rays.
Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen discovered a new type of radiation which he called X-rays. This discovery revolutionized the field of science and engineering, leading to advancements in analysis and diagnostics.
In January 1896, X-rays were used for the first time.
Within a month after Roentgen's discovery, X-rays were being used by surgeons to guide them in their work. By June 1896, X-rays were even used by battlefield physicians to locate bullets in wounded soldiers.
In 1897, Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen discovered X-rays, a form of electromagnetic radiation. This groundbreaking discovery revolutionized the field of medicine and led to the development of diagnostic radiology.
In 1900, Thomas Edison invented the first imaging devices for providing real-time feedback in medical procedures.
In 1901, Wilhelm Rontgen was awarded the first Nobel Prize in Physics for the discovery of X-rays.
In 1913, high vacuum X-ray tubes designed by Coolidge became available, providing an intense and reliable X-ray source operating at energies up to 100,000 volts, enabling industrial applications of X-rays.
In 1918, Eastman introduced film to radiography, replacing the previously used glass plates. This innovation revolutionized the field of radiography.
Godfrey N. Hounsfield, the inventor of the CT scanner, was born on August 28, 1919.
In 1922, the advent of the 200,000-volt X-ray tube allowed radiographs of thick steel parts to be produced in a reasonable amount of time, marking a significant step forward in industrial radiography.
Hermann Joseph Muller discovered a strong correlation between the dose of x-rays fruit flies were exposed to and the genetic damage they suffered, providing the initial direct proof of radiation-induced genetic effects.
Stafford Warren carried out the first clinical mammography trial with 119 patients, marking the inception of breast x-ray imaging.
In 1931, General Electric Company developed 1,000,000 volt X-ray generators, providing an effective tool for industrial radiography, particularly for inspecting fusion welded pressure vessels.
Ziedes des Plantes demonstrated x-ray tomography, a technique that produces tomographic images by moving the x-ray source and image receptor, blurring structures above and below the focal plane.
G. Holst from Phillips developed an early image intensifier, which was later adapted for medical purposes after further advancements.
In 1951, Cosslett & Nixon invented the X-ray (shadow) microscope at the University of Cambridge. They demonstrated that moving an object closer to the focal spot of an X-ray source creates an increasingly magnified (shadow) image at the detector.
X-rays were instrumental in confirming the structure of DNA through X-ray diffraction, a key milestone in genetics.
Godfrey Hounsfield and Allan Cormack were awarded the 1979 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their groundbreaking discovery of Computer Assisted Tomography (CT), which revolutionized medical diagnostics and imaging.
In 1981, the Mazess lab showcased the use of Dual Energy X-ray Absorption (DEXA) in measuring bone density by capturing x-ray projections at two different energies, leading to the founding of Lunar, later acquired by GE Lunar.
By 1983, the introduction of Computed Radiography (CR) system marked a shift from film processing to reusable phosphor stimulated detectors, although the name was somewhat misleading as it did not involve actual computing like computed tomography.
In 2000, the commercial utilization of digital X-ray detectors, specifically for radiography and mammography, began in clinical settings.
The invention of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) was recognized with the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2003, highlighting its significant impact on diagnostic medicine and imaging technology.
Godfrey N. Hounsfield, the inventor of the CT scanner, passed away on August 12, 2004.
Hologic received FDA clearance in 2011 for breast tomosynthesis, also known as 3D breast imaging, which offered a more advanced imaging technique compared to traditional 2D projections.
University of Canterbury receives funding to build the world's first human colour X-ray scanner.