Venelta Cryptoradiometer
Historical document, translated for reference. It reflects medical knowledge of the 1920s–30s and is not medical advice.
Summary
The Venelta cryptoradiometer is an instrument for determining the quality of X-rays, improving upon the Benoit chromoradiometer. It uses a wedge-shaped aluminum sector that gradually changes thickness to measure X-ray hardness.
Encyclopedia article (1928–1936)
VENELTA CRYPTORADIOMETER (Weh-nelt), used for determining the quality of X-rays, is an improvement of the Benoit chromoradiometer and is also based on the property of a thin silver plate, unlike an aluminum one, to equally transmit rays of different quality. But whereas in the Benoit chromoradiometer the thickness of the aluminum sectors changes abruptly, in the V. k. the aluminum sectors are replaced by a wedge, the thickness of which changes gradually. The V. k. consists of a wooden box, the bottom of which is made of metal that does not transmit X-rays. In this wall there is a narrow vertical slit, in front closed by a fluorescent screen. The lower half of the slit behind the screen is closed by a silver plate 0.11 mm thick, and the upper part by an aluminum wedge, moving horizontally by means of a special screw. To determine the quality of the rays, the instrument is placed in the path of the X-ray beam and the wedge is moved until the entire slit glows uniformly. The hardness is expressed in Venelta-We units from 1 to 15 (these numbers are visible in a special window in the base of the box).
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Cite this page
“Venelta Cryptoradiometer.” Soviet Medical Encyclopedia. English translation of Bolshaya Meditsinskaya Entsiklopediya, 1st ed. (Moscow, 1928–1936), ed. N. A. Semashko. https://sovietmedicalencyclopedia.pages.dev/article/venelta-cryptoradiometer/