| X-Rays have been in use as a medical imaging | | | | could make the picture that much better might |
| technique since 1895 when Wilhelm Roentgen | | | | give us the resources to find abnormalities |
| found that he was able to create images of | | | | and cancers that you can not detect right now |
| internal bodily structures such as bones and | | | | with our technology. Up until recently, the |
| tissues by putting electromagnetic waves | | | | power source required to generate the right |
| through the body. He called the project X | | | | strength laser beam for this invention was so |
| because he did not fully understand what made | | | | massive that it was unrealistic to even try. |
| up the rays. X-Rays have been the building | | | | However, researchers at the University of |
| block upon which medical imaging technology | | | | Colorado in Boulder have created a method to |
| and equipment for medical imaging have been | | | | generate mighty laser beams from a reasonably |
| constructed. Although the X-Ray (or | | | | sized source of power. This makes laser X-Ray |
| radiograph) has long been a basic medical | | | | technology a reachable reality. The team that |
| imaging tool, this approach has always had | | | | is researching this used a laser beam to send |
| the drawback that the images produced are not | | | | out atoms from argon, a highly stable |
| exact. The images require extremely careful | | | | chemical element. The emission of X-Rays was |
| analysis and interpretation. Scientists have | | | | not strong enough to be of use. The research |
| been researching for years in an attempt to | | | | group then shot the atoms right back at the |
| find a way to make the radiographic images | | | | argon which made a bigger, more agreeable ray |
| better. Recent findings in the growth of | | | | of X-Rays of big enough size to be of use. |
| laser X-Ray's have led to advancements that | | | | This boomerang method is now being fingered |
| have the capability to completely change the | | | | to generate a regular, very mighty source of |
| quality of radiographic images. The light | | | | X-Rays, grouped with laser beams. The method |
| created by a laser would be very bright, so | | | | is not yet ready for use in the medical |
| bright it could make distinct and strong | | | | field. More studying is necessary to extend |
| contrasts on radiographic images. Moreover, | | | | the method into the hard X-Ray region of the |
| grouping the candle power of a laser beam | | | | electromagnetic spectrum. When the task at |
| with X-Rays may produce better photos by a | | | | hand has been overcome, the commercial laser |
| factor of around 1,000. Medical imaging that | | | | X-Ray will follow. |