How Have X-Rays Changed Over the Years?

Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen discovered X-rays in 1895. Roentgen knew that the new ray penetrated most substances, including human tissue, but he did not know the exact nature of the ray, which is the reason he named the object of his discovery "X-ray": X means unknown.

Health Effects

• X-rays became an important medical diagnostic tool. By 1970, most Americans were getting at least one X-ray a year from doctors and dentists, according to the Medical Discoveries website. A correlation was established between frequency of X-rays and leukemia, however, so they are used less frequently as of 2010 than in years past. Doctors do use the harmful effects of X-rays for one benefit: to destroy cancer cells.

Not Much Change

• X-rays have not changed much since the original discovery in the sense that technicians capture a shadow image on film using similar procedures and processes technicians used in the 1890s, according to the NDT Resource Center. The images generated, however, are of higher quality.

Computers

• One big change in X-rays is the incorporation of computers, which allows technicians to capture images digitally. Technicians can send digital X-ray images anywhere in the world and can archive digital images without danger of deterioration. X-ray equipment as of 2010 is smaller, lighter and portable, which also represents a significant change.