The Prospects of Interventional Coronary Angiography with Thomson Laser-Electron X-ray Source

Thomson X-ray source occupying the niche between X-ray tubes and accelerator based facilities has physical properties, size and cost suitable for various applications. One of them – coronary angiography – allows two approaches: (a) replacement of an electron storage ring by Thomson X-ray source in intravenous coronary angiography which is a minimally invasive technique without catheterization, and (b) more recent approach – replacement of X-ray tube in conventional interventional coronary angiography by Thomson X-ray source. Both approaches are reviewed here with the emphasis on (b).