Re: RBT and Stereo Xrays

[johnroll@xxxxxxx (John D. Roll)]

>> What is an RBT (I feel so stupid asking this one)?
>
>It's a stereo camera patched together from two modern cameras.  The work
>is of such very high quality that it's difficult to tell that it isn't
>a stock camera.  RBT stands for RaumBild Technik, I think.  Raum meaning
>space, and Bild meaning picture.  Maybe a Deutscher can correct/confirm.

I had the opportunity to ask Eckhart Oehmichen (one of the three owners of
RBT) about the words "Raumbild Technik".  My German skills are limited and
his Englich was better than my German.  What I got from our talk is that
Raumbild is an older term (perhaps used a generation or perhaps several ago)
which now would be the equivalent of 3D.  Technik, in my German to English
dictionary, logically translates to Technology or Engineering.  

> He also suggested stereo fluoroscopy (motion pictures,) a technique that
>might never have been executed (any volunteers??)

I found your discussion of stereo radiography interesting.  To answer your
question about stereo fluoroscopy, a General Electric service man who
recently retired told me about fluoroscopy equipment he helped to install
back in the 1950's at the Mayo Clinic. This unit I believe had two focal
spots in the xray tube and polarizing filters that spun in front of the
viewer.  The radiologist wore polarized glasses to view.  The service man
thought that this might have been the only one made.  I don't think it
worked real well.  He said he might be able to find the blue prints for me
but he could not find them.  I did my Radiology residency and neuroradiology
fellowship at the University of Minnesota from 1981 to 1986. That is a
seperate training institution from the Mayo Clinic but we were close to them
so I was aware that the Mayo Clinic still routinely did stereo chest xrays.
There are still occasions where stereo xrays can be useful.  In the past,
there were many stereo xray machines made for certain exams such as the
antiquated pneumoencephalogram.  About a year ago I heard that Toshiba has
come out with a stereo fluoroscopy system I believe for angiography and
radiology interventional procedures.  I think this uses switching LCD
glasses.  There may also be other systems under development. Of course there
are other 3d and stereo applications currently being used. I have made my
own stereo pairs from 3d volume sets form CT, MR, and nuclear medicine.  I
have even used this to help an orthopedic surgeon prepare for surgery on a
complex pelvic fracture.
John D. Roll, M.D., Rockford, IL, USA


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