the x - ray system in accordance with the invention consists of a patient table and a radiation module . the patient table includes an essentially u - shaped frame 1 with a base 11 and two lateral braces 12 , 13 which extend upwards . the two braces are telescopically extendable in conformity with the arrow a , thus enabling adjustment of the height of the frame 1 , for example , in a range of between approximately 740 and 1220 mm . at the two upper ends of the lateral braces 12 , 13 a table top 3 is journaled by way of a pivot 2 ( only one of which is shown ) so as to be pivotable . the dimensions are chosen to be such that from the horizontal position as shown in fig1 the table top can be tilted approximately 90 degrees forwards and up to approximately 45 degrees backwards about a horizontal first axis ( arrow b ) which extends perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the table top . the table top 3 includes a supporting plate 31 for supporting a patient and a frame 32 on which the supporting plate 31 is guided in such a manner that it can be shifted approximately +/− 300 mm in the longitudinal direction ( arrow c ) and approximately +/− 80 mm in the transverse direction ( arrow d ). a carriage 34 ( denoted by dashed lines ) is guided on the frame 32 ; the radiation module is mounted on said carriage which can be displaced approximately from 400 to 700 mm in the longitudinal direction of the table top 3 , that is , as denoted by the arrow e . the radiation module includes a pivotable carrier 4 , 5 ; an x - ray source 6 and a radiation receiver 7 ( for example , an image intensifier or a digital flat detector with an anti - scatter grid ) are mounted at the opposite ends of said carrier . the carrier includes a first arm 4 which extends essentially parallel to the plane of the table top 3 and a first end of which is journaled on the carriage 34 in such a manner that it ( and hence the entire radiation module ) can be displaced approximately from 160 to 320 mm in the transverse direction of the table top 3 , that is , as denoted by the arrow f . because of the mobility of the carriage 34 in the longitudinal direction of the table top 3 , the entire radiation module can also be displaced in this direction ( arrow e ). the first end of the first arm 4 , furthermore , is journaled on the carriage 34 so as to be pivotable , in accordance with the arrow g , about a second axis which is perpendicular to the table top 3 , in such a manner that it can be pivoted through an angle of approximately 180 degrees to the right from the position shown in fig1 . a second arm 5 ( shown to extend vertically in fig1 ) is pivotably attached to the second end of the first arm 4 , by way of a pivot 53 ; this second arm extends essentially in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the table top and can be pivoted through an angle of approximately +/− 180 degrees about the longitudinal axis ( third axis ) of the first arm 4 in conformity with the arrow h , that is , in a plane extending perpendicularly to the plane of the table top 3 . the second arm 5 includes a first , upper section 51 , being shown at the top in the rendition of fig1 a second , lower section 52 , as well as the pivot 53 on which the two sections are mounted , guided and configured in such a manner that they can be telescopically moved one into the other in their longitudinal direction as denoted by the arrows i and j . the first section 51 can preferably be moved out up to a length of approximately 800 mm and the second section 52 up to a length of approximately 600 mm , that is , relative to the pivot 53 . this construction of the x - ray system is suitable for operation while using the so - called overtable technique and the so - called undertable technique . this means that the x - ray source 6 can be pivoted from the position over the table 3 and the radiation receiver 7 can be pivoted from the position under the table 3 (“ overtable technique ”) to the respective reverse positions by pivoting the first arm 4 through 90 degrees and the second arm 5 through 180 degrees , that is , to the positions under the table and over the table , respectively ( undertable technique ). this also enables the formation of oblique images where oblique irradiation of the zone to be examined is performed by pivoting the second arm 5 through a few degrees . furthermore , free exposures adjacent the table can also be performed by appropriate pivoting of the two arms . the end of the first section 51 of the second arm 5 which is shown at the top in fig1 is adjoined by an essentially l - shaped first carrier section 54 which is situated in a plane extending essentially parallel to the third axis ( in conformity with the arrow h ). the x - ray source 6 is guided so as to be slidable along a free limb 541 of this first carrier section 54 , that is , in the direction of the arrow l . the x - ray source 6 , moreover , is mounted so as to be pivotable in such a manner that it can be pivoted ( in conformity with the arrow k ) about a fourth axis which extends parallel to the third axis , that is , at an angle of , for example , approximately +/− 18 degrees . finally , a collimator of the x - ray source 6 can be pivoted about the axis of a central ray of the x - ray source in conformity with the arrow m , that is , at an angle of approximately +/− 45 degrees . consequently , the zone irradiated by the x - ray beam can be rotated or its shape can be varied in such a manner that dedicated irradiation of exclusively the zone to be examined is possible while all other zones are masked . to the end of the second section 52 of the second arm 5 which is shown at the bottom in fig1 there is attached an essentially l - shaped second carrier section 55 which also extends in a plane that is essentially parallel to the third axis . the radiation receiver 7 is mounted on a free limb 551 of said second carrier section 55 , said radiation receiver being slidable along said limb , that is , in the direction of the arrow n . the l - shaped carrier sections 54 , 55 also enable tomographic images to be acquired (“ layer imaging technique ”) when the x - ray source 6 is displaced in one direction in conformity with the arrow l and the radiation receiver 7 is in conformity with the arrow n in an opposite direction while the x - ray source 6 is pivoted at the same time about the fourth axis in conformity with the arrow k , so that it always remains aimed at the radiation receiver . the l - shaped carrier sections 54 , 55 also enable the formation of optimum lateral images (“ lateral table technique ”), that is , images in the transverse direction across the table , in that starting from the position of the radiation module that is shown in fig1 first the arm 4 is pivoted 90 degrees to the right ( at the rear ) and subsequently the second arm 5 is pivoted 90 degrees clockwise . the height of the radiation cone over the table can then be adjusted by displacement of the x - ray source 6 as well as of the radiation receiver 7 along the respective free limb 541 , 551 . finally , in known manner a bucky module ( grid drawer ) may be provided as a further radiation receiver ( not shown ) underneath the table top ; this module can be displaced in the direction of the arrow o and be used in known manner for the acquisition of photographic single images . all motions of the x - ray system that have been described with reference to the arrows a to o are preferably realized out by means of appropriate electric motors and drive units . this geometry and the described adjustment facilities create , because of their nature and their scope , a universal x - ray system which is suitable for the examination of practically all organs by means of the widest variety of methods , for example , also in urology and lithotripsy . moreover , the system is suitable for the acquisition of photographic single images by means of the bucky module that is guided underneath the table top 3 , as well as for the acquisition of dynamic images , that is , moving images . the radiation receiver 7 that is arranged on the second carrier section 55 of the second arm 5 is either a known image converter or a digital flat detector or a digital system intended for radiology and fluoroscopy ( r & amp ; f ). because the flat detectors are also suitable for the acquisition of up to several images per second , they are particularly advantageously used in the x - ray system in accordance with the invention , so that the bucky module can be dispensed with . because of the universal usability of such a system , the comparatively high price of such detectors is no longer as decisive a cost factor as before . a further advantage of the x - ray system in accordance with the invention results from the fact that it has a modular construction and that it can operate in different stages of assembly in conformity with the building brick principle . in its simplest version the x - ray system is used , for example for urological examinations . in that case it is only necessary to adjust the height of the table top 3 vertically in conformity with the arrow a and to pivot the table top in conformity with the arrow b ; for the radiation module it is only necessary to perform the motion of the first arm 4 in the longitudinal direction and the transverse direction of the table in conformity with the arrows e and f . in a somewhat extended version for urological examinations , for example , the bucky module is arranged underneath the table top 3 and the supporting plate 31 is displaceable on the frame 32 in the longitudinal direction and the transverse direction in conformity with the arrows c and d . when examinations for lithotripsy are to be carried out at the same time by means of the x - ray system , pivoting of the second arm 5 about the third axis in conformity with the arrow h , displacement of the x - ray source 6 in conformity with the arrow i and displacement of the radiation receiver 7 in conformity with the arrow j are additionally necessary . for this application the top plate 31 is preferably arranged on the frame 32 so as to be slidable in the longitudinal direction and the transverse direction , thus enabling the patient to be positioned accordingly . in the completely assembled configuration construction shown in fig1 the longitudinal displacement of the x - ray source 6 in conformity with the arrow l and the tilting of the x - ray source 6 about the fourth axis in conformity with the arrow k and the longitudinal displacement of the radiation receiver 7 in conformity with the arrow n enable the x - ray system to be used as a chest stand . the modular nature of the radiation module and the patient table also enables adaptation of the x - ray system to a range of applications extended at a later stage , for example , by adding or exchanging at a later stage individual components or a plurality of components required for the described movements .
the x - ray system includes a patient table and a radiation module with a radiation source and a radiation receiver and can be universally used for the examination of a plurality of organs by means of a wide variety of methods . therefore , it is particularly suitable for use in conjunction with one of the novel digital flat detectors which can thus be economically used despite their high price . this is achieved essentially in that the radiation module includes a carrier on which the x - ray source and the radiation receiver are mounted so as to face one another and which is attached to the patient table so as to be pivotable in such a manner that the x - ray system can be used in the overtable technique as well as in the undertable technique .