The art of medical imaging: Philips and the evolution of medical X-ray technology

During World War I, when it became increasingly difficult for physicians in many European countries to have their defective X-ray tubes repaired or replaced, since most of these tubes were produced by German-based companies, Dutch physicians made an urgent request to Philips, asking the company if they could repair their X-ray tubes. Because Philips had the necessary expertise in glass and vacuum technology, the company complied with the request, and so the Philips Research Laboratory (founded in 1914), took on the repair of these tubes. While they were repairing X-ray tubes, the laboratory began acquiring knowledge of X-rays, and in 1919 the laboratory started producing small series of X-ray tubes to their own design.