A fluoroscope projects x-ray images in a video sequence (movie) onto a screen monitor.
Early generation fluoroscopes presented particularly difficult viewing challenges for radiologists. The human retina contains two types of image receptors. Cones (central vision) operate better in bright light, while rods (peripheral vision) are more sensitive to blue-green light and low light. Therefore, the radiologists wear red goggles to filter out blue-green wavelengths to allow the rods to recover peak sensitivity before viewing fluoroscopic images.
To avoid this time consuming accommodation, the industry developed the image intensifier tube in the 1950s. Due to the high amount of individual images during a fluoroscan, a very sensitive amplifier is needed to cut down radiation exposure. Until today, image intensifiers amplify the faint light emitted by the fluorescing screen and the images can be viewed on a monitor. Recently, digital technique replaces the large and bulky image intensifier with flat-panel technology.
Various other components of a fluoroscope system include a gantry, patient table, x-ray tube, filters, collimators, images sensor, camera and computer, most similar to other radiographic systems.
A fluoroscopy system provides the view of moving anatomic structures and is valuable in performing procedures that require continuous imaging and monitoring, such as barium studies, gastrointestinal function tests, cardiac functions, studies of diaphragmatic movement, or catheter placements. A number of technologies are available to record images created during fluoroscopic (fluorographic) exams.

Fluoroscopy is used to study moving body structures in real time. A fluoroscope is used to produce a continuous (advanced fluoroscopy machines provide pulsed techniques to lower the amount of radiation) x-ray beam, passing through the body part being examined and transmitted to a monitor so that dynamic images of deep tissue structures can be visualized. Fluoroscopy is primarily used for gastrointestinal exams, genitourinary studies, cardiovascular imaging and for invasive procedures performed by interventional radiologists and angiographers under fluoroscopic guidance. Fluoroscopy can also produce a static record of an image formed on the output phosphor of an image intensifier. The image intensifier is an x-ray image receptor that increases the brightness of a fluoroscopic image by electronic amplification and image minification. Modern fluoroscopy systems combine less radiation with better image quality due to digital image processing and flat-panel technology.
Roentgen's discovery of x-rays related directly to fluoroscopy, because fluorescence on the material in the room draws his attention to the x-ray's properties. In 1896, Thomas A. Edison created the first fluoroscope, consisting of a zinc-cadmium sulfide screen that was placed above the patient's body in the x-ray beam and provides a faint fluorescent image. In first-generation units, the exam room required complete darkness. The users wear red goggles for up to 30 minutes prior to the examination, to adapt the eyes to darkness. After this, the radiologist stared directly at a yellow-green fluorescent image through a sheet of lead to prevent the x-ray beam from striking the eyes.

When invented, a fluoroscopic system consisted of x-ray tube, fluorescent screen and x-ray table. In 1950's, the development of the image intensifier revolutionized fluoroscopes. The basic components are extended by a gantry, image intensifier, camera, film and monitor system. The x-ray tube is usually located under the patient table, in opposition to the image intensifier and film cassette or display unit. The patient table can be rotated to an upright position for certain examinations and can be lowered to horizontal position for other imaging procedures. In some instances, the unit can be operated from outside the room.
Today, the transition from conventional to digital fluoroscopy replaces the image intensifier. A flat-panel detector in combination with sensitive image sensors and digital image processing improves the diagnostic ability of a modern system.