Inventor Name
Ledley, Robert
Repository
National Museum of American History
Archives Center
P.O. Box 37012
MRC 601
Constitution Ave., between 12th and 14th Sts., N.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20013-7012
202-633-3270
http://americanhistory.si.edu/archives
Physical Description
4.5 cu. ft. : 8 boxes, 1 oversized folder.
Summary
A physician, Ledley helped develop the world's first whole-body, computer-aided tomograph (i.e., CAT scanner). Previous CT scanners could scan the head only, and required use of a water bath. Ledley developed a whole body scanner that did not need a water bath. All CT scanners now in use are based on this one. Ledley formed his own company but sold it to Pfizer. The collection includes manuals for computers that were used with the early versions of the scanner, Ledley's research notes and papers; schematics for the scanner; slides of the scanner and of images it produced; biographical information on Ledley; Ledley's patents; articles about Ledley's letters of inquiry and correspondence relating to getting the scanner built; a user's manual for the scanner, including drawings and assembly and operational information; a 16mm film on the history of the scanner; a photograph album of pictures of Dr. Ledley of the scanner, and of some of the images produced by the scanner; a large diagram of the scanner.
Finding Aid
http://amhistory.si.edu/archives/AC1135.html
