1. Diagnostic Imaging A Historical Perspective
Gerald R. Aben, MD, FACR
Department of Radiology
Colleges of Human and Osteopathic Medicine
Over the next several moments, I would like to explore the history of diagnostic imaging and its applications to medicine.
9/18/2018
Department of Radiology

2. Ionizing Radiation Historical Overview
Wilhelm Conrad Röentgen
1845 – 1923
November 8, 1895 – discovery of the x-ray
Discovered effect of passing this ray through materials
First radiograph of his wife’s hand
1901 – Nobel Prize Physics
Antoine Henri Becquerel
Radioactive nature of Uranium
1903 – Nobel Prize Physics
Let's first talk about ionizing radiation. Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen who lived from 1845 to 1923 discovered x-ray on November 8, He identified the effect of passing this ray through materials and recording that on the photographic plate. The first radiograph was a radiograph of his wife's hand. that image has been the memorialized in many historical presentations. In 1901 he won the Nobel Prize for physics. Another individual actively involved in the Discovery of radiation include Antoine Henry Becquerel. Becquerel living from identified the radioactive nature of uranium and won the Nobel Prize for physics in 1903
9/18/2018
Department of Radiology

3. Ionizing Radiation Historical Overview
Marie and Pierre Curie
, 1859 – 1906
Marie coined term “radioactivity”
Discovery of Polonium and Radium
– Nobel Prize Physics - Chemistry
Died July 4, 1934 – Aplastic Anemia
William D. Coolidge
Patent holder for the original x-ray tube 1913
Robert S. Ledley
Patent holder for original CT scanner 1975
A well-recognized name in ionizing radiation is Curie, Marie and Pierre, and are known for Marie’s coining of the term radioactivity. She is credited with the discovery of polonium and radium and shared with her husband the Nobel prize in physics in 1903 by herself she was awarded the chemistry prize in unfortunately Marie died in 1934 as result of aplastic anemia likely brought on by her lifelong exposure to radiation. Other names known in ionizing radiation history include William Coolidge a patent holder for the original x-ray tube 1913 and Robert Leslie the patent holder for the original CT scanner in Note that the original cc scanner was a developed about 1975 so it’s life as applied to diagnostic imaging is relatively short
9/18/2018
Department of Radiology

4. US Historical Overview
George D. Ludwig
Late 1940’s research for the Navy
Classified work using US to evaluate tissues
Report June 1949 first published work on US applications
Douglass Howry, Joseph Holmes
Pioneering work in B-Mode ultrasound
Joseph Holmes, William Wright and Ralph Meyerdirk
First articulated arm scanner 1963
James Griffith, Walter Henry NIH
Mechanical oscillating real-time apparatus 1973
Martin H. Wilcox
Linear array real time scanner 1973
A variety of individuals are known for their contribution to diagnostic ultrasound. George Ludwig in the late 1940’s was doing research for the navy related to sonar. His classified work was using ultrasound to evaluate tissues which was first reported in 1949 after World War II when he reported his work on ultrasound applications in humans. Douglas Howry and Joseph Holmes were known for their pioneering work in B-mode ultrasound the precursor to the ultrasound technology we use today. Joseph Holmes, William Wright and Ralph Meyerdirk developed the first articulated arm scanner in This would be the first true ultrasound device utilized for scanning of body parts for diagnostic purposes. James Griffith and Walter Henry at the National Institute of Health developed a mechanical oscillating real-time apparatus a precursor to today's real-time scanners in Martin Wilcox in 1973 also developed a linear-array real-time scanner which allowed real-time scanning without a mechanical device
9/18/2018
Department of Radiology

5. NM Historical Overview
Benedict Cassen, Lawrence Curtis, Clifton Reed
Automated scintillation detector 1951
Hal Anger
Scintillation Camera 1958
Picker Corporation
3 inch rectilinear scanner 1959
John Kuranz – Nuclear Chicago
First commercial Anger (Gamma Camera)
The history of Nuclear Medicine utilization and diagnostic imaging extends from that of the Curie family. Benedict Cassen, Lawrence Curtis and Clifton Reed developed an automated scintillation detector for detecting gamma rays in In 1958 Hal Anger developed the first scintillation camera or sometimes referred to as Anger camera or a gamma camera. Picker Corporation built on the work of Cassen and friends to develop a 3 inch rectilinear scanner in John Kuranz of Nuclear Chicago took Dr. Anger/s development into the first commercial Anger camera or gamma camera in the 1960s
9/18/2018
Department of Radiology

6. MRI Historical Overview
Felix Bloch, Edward Purcell
NMR Spectroscopy
Paul Laterbur, Peter Mansfield
2003 Nobel Prize Physiology / Medicine
Raymond Damadian
First patent in field of MRI 1970
MRI imaging also having a relatively short life, was built upon the building blocks created by Felix Bloch and Edward Purcell in their development of NMR spectroscopy. You may recall NMR spectroscopy from your time in the organic chemistry lab where the unknowns that you would work out with chemical means were then of evaluated utilizing NMR spectroscopy and matching that spectroscopy to known molecules. Paul Lauterbur and Peter Mansfield are felt to be the true originators of the clinically useful MRI scanner. They won the 2003 Nobel prize for physiology and medicine. Raymond Damadian also had a role in the development of MRI unfortunately it was not clear early in his career as to the impact of this particular type of imaging. He held the first patent in the field of MRI in 1970.
9/18/2018
Department of Radiology

7. MRI Historical Overview
Felix Bloch, Edward Purcell
NMR Spectroscopy
Paul Laterbur, Peter Mansfield
2003 Nobel Prize Physiology / Medicine
Raymond Damadian
First patent in field of MRI 1970
MRI imaging also having a relatively short life, was built upon the building blocks created by Felix Bloch and Edward Purcell in their development of NMR spectroscopy. You may recall NMR spectroscopy from your time in the organic chemistry lab where the unknowns that you would work out with chemical means were then of evaluated utilizing NMR spectroscopy and matching that spectroscopy to known molecules. Paul Lauterbur and Peter Mansfield are felt to be the true originators of the clinically useful MRI scanner. They won the 2003 Nobel prize for physiology and medicine. Raymond Damadian also had a role in the development of MRI unfortunately it was not clear early in his career as to the impact of this particular type of imaging. He held the first patent in the field of MRI in 1970.
9/18/2018
Department of Radiology