Anatomically coordinated user dominated programmer for diagnostic X-ray apparatus

The apparatus consists of a control console which has a small and compact array of twenty-seven illuminable push buttons arranged in three continuous groups of nine each. The buttons in the upper group relate to anatomical areas in upper parts of the body, those in the lower groups to areas in the lower parts of the body and the extremities. The middle group are control and x-ray technic variation buttons. Different anatomical regions are indicated by pictographs on the push buttons in an organized array in the upper and lower groups. Pressing at least one push button in the middle group and one in the other groups sets up and displays the x-ray exposure parameters corresponding with the equivalent of the user's priority technic, including safe patient exposure and safe x-ray tube operating time, which has been stored in a memory, for the particular anatomical region. The programmed values for tube kV, mA, mAs and time are displayed. Controls are provided for enabling the user to dominate the programmed settings by overriding the stored values when professional judgement indicates. (Auth.)