Patents Examined by Courtney D Thomas
  • Patent number: 11768163
    Abstract: The present application discloses a CT system and a detection apparatus for the CT system. The detection apparatus includes: a high-energy detector assembly including a plurality of rows of high-energy detectors arranged along a predetermined trajectory; a low-energy detector assembly including a plurality of rows of low-energy detectors arranged at intervals along the predetermined trajectory, the low-energy detector assembly and the high-energy detector assembly being disposed in a stack; a number of rows of the low-energy detectors is smaller than a number or rows of the high-energy detectors; and each row of the low-energy detectors covers a row of high-energy detectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignees: Nuctech Company Limited, Tsinghua University
    Inventors: Li Zhang, Zhiqiang Chen, Qingping Huang, Yunda Sun, Xin Jin, Le Shen, Liang Li, Tiao Zhao
  • Patent number: 11759159
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus (10) for generating X-ray imaging data. It is described to position (210) a first grating between an X-ray source and a second grating. The second grating is positioned (220) between the first grating and a third grating. A third grating is positioned (230) between the second grating and an X-ray detector. An object is positioned (240) between the first grating and the third grating. At least one of the three gratings has a pitch attribute of having a constant grating pitch. At least one of the three gratings has a pitch attribute of having a varying grating pitch. Both gratings of an adjacent pair of gratings are bent such that a distance between the two adjacent gratings is constant as a function of fan angle. Both gratings of the adjacent pair of gratings that are bent have the same pitch attribute. An X-ray detector detects (250) at least some of the X-rays transmitted by the three gratings and the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Thomas Koehler, Gereon Vogtmeier, Andriy Yaroshenko
  • Patent number: 11754514
    Abstract: A radiography system for use on a pipe traversing robot, including a mechanism configured to automatically adjust the position(s) of a radiation source and/or an imager thereof based on a diameter of the pipe. Another radiography system including a computer vision system configured to process radiography imagery to define a measured interface between the pipe and insulation surrounding the pipe, and a control system configured to automatically adjust a position(s) of a radiation source and/or an imager thereof based on a location of or non-presence of the measured interface in the radiography imagery. A computer vision system for detecting potential anomalies in a pipe's surface. A fail safe mechanism configured to prevent a robot from falling off a pipe while allowing the robot to traverse obstacles extending from or tangential to the pipe. A robot having one or more fail safe mechanisms configured to be selectably extended and retracted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: ARIX TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Bryan R. Duerfeldt, Conner S. George, Karl Petter Wehlin, Dianna D. Liu
  • Patent number: 11758638
    Abstract: The present application relates to a device for generating X-ray radiation and particle radiation by means of nuclear fusion, comprising: an anode and a cathode, which are separated from each other by an insulator and are arranged coaxially to each other, wherein the anode and the cathode are arranged at least partially in a reactor chamber and the cathode has a plurality of cathode electrodes a pre-discharge device for generating a pre-discharge that forms a low-impedance bridging across the insulator a gas that is contained in the reactor chamber; an electrical pre-discharge source, especially with high internal resistance that is connected with the pre-discharge device; and an electrical discharge source that is electrically connected to the confined anode and the cathode, wherein a dense, magnetically confined plasmoid is generated in front of the anode as a result of an electrical discharge from the electrical discharge source and one or more ion beams, one or more X-rays or combinations thereof are emit
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: PAUL HOSS KG
    Inventor: Paul Höß
  • Patent number: 11752396
    Abstract: A method and system for determining concentricity of a multiple layer golf ball are disclosed herein. One or more images of a golf ball are generated using an X-ray source, a camera or a digital detector, and an image intensifier. An edge detection algorithm is preferably utilized. The method also includes calculating Y,Z center coordinates of the a best fit diameter or ellipse of the inner edge layer and outer edge layer of the multiple layer golf ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp.
    Inventors: Julie Caterina, Megan Ilnicky, Grady Crahan
  • Patent number: 11744532
    Abstract: The invention refers to a system for providing a spectral image using a conventional CT system. The system comprises a data providing unit (11) for providing first projection data and second projection data, wherein the first and second projection data have been acquired using different acquisition spectra, wherein the first projection data has been acquired during a scout scan and the second projection data has been acquired during a diagnostic scan, or wherein the first and second projection data have been acquired by a first and second part of the detector, respectively. The first and second part of the detector acquire projection data with different acquisition spectra. A spectral image generation unit (12) generates a spectral image based on the projection data. With this system a spectral image can be provided using a conventional CT system with a decreased acquisition time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Michael Grass, Roland Proksa
  • Patent number: 11737715
    Abstract: A method of performing a radiological biopsy and associated system includes scanning a living human subject with a CT scanner to locate coordinates of an area of potential pathology and then using the coordinates to direct synchrotron radiation to a location at, or proximate the coordinates to obtain a high-resolution image of the area of potential pathology. The CT scan is accomplished with a CT scanner such as a C-Arm, vertical or horizontal CT scanner. A synchrotron radiation source emits synchrotron radiation through the subject and is processed by a processing system. The method and system allow for concurrent or sequential scanning of the subject by the CT scanner and synchrotron radiation scanner. The resulting images provide histological resolution of areas of potential pathology.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: LILIUM CANDIDUM, LLC
    Inventor: Brandon Mansoor
  • Patent number: 11727609
    Abstract: The invention discloses a limited-angle CT reconstruction method based on Anisotropic Total Variation. According to the method, through an image reconstruction model using low dose and sparse-view-angle CT images, a fast iterative reconstruction algorithm is combined with an Anisotropic Total Variation method. The problems that in an existing limited-angle CT reconstruction method are effectively solved, such as partial boundary ambiguity, slow convergence speed and unable to accurately solve. In the process of solving the model, the slope filter is introduced in the Filtered Back-Projection to preprocess the iterative equation, and the Alternating Projection Proximal is used to solve the iterative equation, and the iteration is repeated until the termination condition is satisfied; the experimental comparison with the existing reconstruction methods shows that the invention can achieve better reconstruction effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: ZHEJIANG UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Huafeng Liu, Ting Wang
  • Patent number: 11723620
    Abstract: The radiographic imaging apparatus includes a preset setting unit for presetting a dose of X-rays, a standard state setting unit for setting the preset dose as a standard state, and a dose change unit for relatively changing the dose of X-rays from the standard state to at least one of a high-dose state in which the dose of the X-rays is higher than that in the standard state by a predetermined dose and a low-dose state in which the dose of the X-rays is lower than that in the standard state by a predetermined dose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Shimadzu Corporation
    Inventor: Keiichi Tanno
  • Patent number: 11727608
    Abstract: A method may include obtaining a first acquisition time period related to a scan of a first modality performed on an object. The method may also include obtaining one or more second acquisition time periods related to a scan of a second modality performed on the object. The method may also include obtaining, based on the first acquisition time period and the one or more second acquisition time periods, target data of the object acquired in the scan of the first modality. The method may also include generating one or more target images of the object based on the target data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: SHANGHAI UNITED IMAGING HEALTHCARE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Cuifang Li, Zheng Zhang, Hushan Chen, Xiaomin Ren, Tianyi Xu
  • Patent number: 11723613
    Abstract: A computed tomographic (CT) system includes a gantry having a rotating part including a light source, a light source drive control circuit, a rechargeable battery, and a rotating part interface. The gantry includes a detector, a detector control and signal processing circuit, and an image memory. The rotating part may rotate around a central axis. The CT system includes a gantry table on which the gantry is mounted and which includes a host interface. The CT system includes a motor that may cause the gantry to move within a gantry moving range, and a control unit that may process and display image data obtained from the gantry. The rotating part interface may face the host interface, such that the rotating part and host interfaces are configured to be electrically connected with each other, based on the gantry being at a predetermined position within the gantry moving range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Inventor: Makoto Shizukuishi
  • Patent number: 11717240
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to spatial-spectral filtering for multi-material CT decomposition. The invention includes a specialized filter that spectrally shapes an x-ray beam into a number of beamlets with different spectra. The filter allows decomposition of an object/anatomy into different material categories (including different biological types: muscle, fat, etc. or exogenous contrast agents that have been introduced: e.g iodine, gadolinium, etc.). The x-ray beam is spectrally modulated across the face of the detector using a repeating pattern of filter materials. Such spatial-spectral filters allow for collection of many different spectral channels using “source-side” control. However, in contrast to other spectral techniques that provide mathematically complete projection data, spatial-spectral filtered data is sparse in each spectral channel—making traditional projection-domain or image-domain material decomposition difficult to apply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: The Johns Hopkins University
    Inventors: Joseph Webster Stayman, Steven Tilley
  • Patent number: 11717242
    Abstract: A photon counting computed tomography (CT) apparatus according to an embodiment includes a photon counting detector and processing circuitry. The photon counting detector detects X-ray photons to acquire energy information. The processing circuitry acquires at least one piece of information out of information on an imaging mode, information on a site to be imaged, and information on a medical device. The processing circuitry, based on the acquired information, determines at least one condition out of a condition on an energy band of data collected by the photon counting detector and a condition on an energy band for data for use in reconstruction processing out of the data collected by the photon counting detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: CANON MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuki Gatayama, Kusuto Koga
  • Patent number: 11707248
    Abstract: In an automatic exposure control method for X-ray imaging, a visible light image of a subject under test is acquired, an initial region of interest (ROI) is defined on the visible light image, the subject under test is pre-exposed with a set pre-exposure dose to obtain a first image, an ROI on the first image is defined based on the initial ROI, a reference pixel value is defined based on the ROI, and a main exposure dose for an actual exposure is calculated according to the reference pixel value. With the imaging quality guaranteed, a physical automatic exposure control (AEC) chamber may be omitted, and the number, positions and sizes of ROIs can be adjusted according to the actual requirements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventor: Wei He
  • Patent number: 11701071
    Abstract: Dental radiographic imaging systems and/or methods for using the same can provide panoramic 2D dental radio-graphic images. Providing improved panoramic 2D image quality can depend on imaging a desired/selected focal trough, which is itself based on a correct positioning of the patient's head inside the panoramic dental imaging system. Exemplary dental radiographic imaging systems and/or methods for using the same can provide a patient positioning device (e.g., bite stick embodiments) that can position or urge patients to get the right positioning (such as head tilt) to increase probabilities of the improved/best panoramic image reconstruction. Further, certain exemplary bite stick embodiments can repeatedly, consistently and/or correctly position patient after patient for panoramic imaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Inventors: Stephane Alric, Anna-Sesilia Vlachomitrou
  • Patent number: 11696733
    Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for stationary CT imaging. In one embodiment, a method for an imaging system includes activating a plurality of emitters of a stationary distributed x-ray source unit to emit x-ray beams toward an object within an imaging volume, where the x-ray source unit does not rotate around the imaging volume, receiving attenuated x-ray beams with one or more detector arrays to form a sparse view projection dataset, where each attenuated x-ray beam generates a different view, and reconstructing an image from the sparse view projection dataset using a sparse view reconstruction method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: GE Precision Healthcare LLC
    Inventors: Bruno Kristiaan Bernard De Man, Lin Fu
  • Patent number: 11684320
    Abstract: An x-ray system for at least one of breast examinations and procedures includes a base component, a table configured to support a patient in a prone position and disposed proximate to the base component with a space reserved therebetween, a rotatable x-ray assembly disposed between the base component and the table, and a linear motor assembly operatively connected to the rotatable x-ray assembly and the base component so as to effect rotation of the rotatable x-ray assembly relative to the base component during operation. The rotatable x-ray assembly rotates at least partially around an active spatial region, and the table defines an opening that is positioned for a breast to extend downwards therethrough at least partially into said active spatial region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Izotropic Corporation
    Inventor: Younes Achkire
  • Patent number: 11679279
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a system and method for adapt a treatment plan. The method may include: obtaining an initial treatment plan of a region of interest, wherein the initial treatment plan includes a first initial treatment fraction and a second initial treatment fraction; causing a radiation treatment device to deliver the first initial treatment fraction; obtaining a treatment record related to the first initial treatment fraction; and generating an updated second treatment fraction based on the second initial treatment fraction and the treatment record.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: SHANGHAI UNITED IMAGING HEALTHCARE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Xiaoqing Shangguan, Chengcheng Rong
  • Patent number: 11679278
    Abstract: A photon source emits a flattening filter-free photon beam. A control circuit operably couples to a multi-layer multi-leaf collimator that is disposed between the photon source and a treatment area of a patient. The control circuit automatically arranges operation of some, but not all, of the layers of the multi-layer multi-leaf collimator to serve as a virtual flattening filter with respect to the flattening filter-free photon beam emitted by the photon source. By one approach, another of the layers of the multi-layer multi-leaf collimator serves to form a treatment aperture corresponding to a shape of the treatment area of the patient. By one approach the control circuit comprises an integral part of a treatment platform (as versus a dedicated treatment planning platform) and can carry out most or even essentially all of the planning steps that lead to administration of the treatment to a patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Varian Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Mika Miettinen, Ross B. Hannibal, Mu Young Lee
  • Patent number: 11666301
    Abstract: A method for correction of an input dataset is disclosed. In an embodiment, the method includes acquisition of an input dataset comprising at least one data error; determination of a correction function; creation of a corrected output dataset by application of the correction function to the input dataset; and outputting of the corrected output dataset. The correction function is embodied to bring about a reduction of at least two data errors that mutually influence one another in the input dataset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: SIEMENS HEALTHCARE GMBH
    Inventors: Karl Stierstorfer, Martin Petersilka, Martin Hupfer, Achim Hillenbrand, Matthias Baer-Beck, Rainer Raupach