Patents Examined by Courtney D Thomas
  • Patent number: 11662481
    Abstract: A radiation detection apparatus can include a scintillator to emit scintillating light in response to absorbing radiation; a photosensor to generate an electronic pulse in response to receiving the scintillating light; an analyzer to determine a characteristic of the radiation; and a housing that contains the scintillator, the photosensor, and the analyzer, wherein the radiation detection apparatus to is configured to allow functionality be changed without removing the analyzer from the housing. The radiation detection apparatus can be more compact and more rugged as compared to radiation detection apparatuses that include a photomultiplier tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: LUXIUM SOLUTIONS, LLC
    Inventors: John M. Frank, Artan Duraj
  • Patent number: 11663757
    Abstract: A system for monitored tomographic reconstruction, comprising: an x-ray generator configure to generate x-ray beams for scanning an object; detectors configured to capture a plurality of projections for each scan; at least one hardware processor; and one or more software modules that, when executed by the at least one hardware processor, receive the plurality of projections from the detectors and as each of the plurality of projections is received, generate a partial reconstruction, and make a stopping decision with respect to whether or not another projection should be obtained based on a stopping problem and that defines when a reconstructed image quality is sufficient with respect to the expended cost as determined by a stopping rule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Smart Engines Service, LLC
    Inventors: Konstantin Bulatovich Bulatov, Marina Valerievna Chukalina, Alexey Vladimirovich Buzmakov, Dmitry Petrovich Nikolaev, Vladimir Viktorovich Arlazarov
  • Patent number: 11657486
    Abstract: Systems and methods for improving soft tissue contrast, characterizing tissue, classifying phenotype, stratifying risk, and performing multi-scale modeling aided by multiple energy or contrast excitation and evaluation are provided. The systems and methods can include single and multi-phase acquisitions and broad and local spectrum imaging to assess atherosclerotic plaque tissues in the vessel wall and perivascular space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: ELUCID BIOIMAGING INC.
    Inventors: Andrew J. Buckler, Changguo Ji, Murali Ayyapillai
  • Patent number: 11642094
    Abstract: Embodiments provide a modular phantom that enables quantitative assessment of imaging performance (e.g., spatial resolution, image uniformity, image noise, contrast to noise ratio, cone-beam artifact) and dosimetry in cone-beam computed tomography (CT). The modular phantom includes one or more modules for various imaging performance tests that may be rearranged in the phantom to accommodate the design of various cone-beam CT imaging systems. The modular phantom includes one or more of a cone-beam module, an angled edge module, or a line spread module. The phantom may be inserted into a larger sleeve and be used to assess imaging performance and dosimetry in whole body CT imaging systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignees: The Regents of the University of California, Johns Hopkins University
    Inventors: John M. Boone, Jeffrey H. Siewerdsen, George W. Burkett, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11640682
    Abstract: A method for processing digital subtraction angiography (DSA) or computed tomography (CT) images for reduced radiation exposure to a DSA or CT subject includes receiving, as input, a plurality of captured DSA or CT image frames of a contrast agent flowing through a volume of interest in a subject. The method further includes fitting a mathematical model to measured contrast agent density of individual voxels of the captured DSA or CT image frames to produce a mathematical model of contrast agent flow across the captured DSA or CT image frames. The method further includes sampling the mathematical model of contrast agent flow for the individual voxels to produce reconstructed DSA or CT image frames. The method further includes outputting at least one of the reconstructed CT or DSA image frames.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
    Inventors: Andrew Lateef Abumoussa, Yueh Zenas Lee
  • Patent number: 11633626
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for guiding the delivery of therapeutic radiation using incomplete or partial images acquired during a treatment session. A partial image does not have enough information to determine the location of a target region due to, for example, poor or low contrast and/or low SNR. The radiation fluence calculation methods described herein do not require knowledge or calculation of the target location, and yet may help to provide real-time image guided radiation therapy using arbitrarily low SNR images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: RefleXion Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Yevgen Voronenko, Peter Demetri Olcott, Debashish Pal, Rostem Bassalow
  • Patent number: 11633163
    Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for stationary CT imaging. In one embodiment, a method for an imaging system includes activating an emitter of a plurality of emitters of a stationary distributed x-ray source unit to emit an x-ray beam toward an object within an imaging volume, where the x-ray source unit does not rotate around the imaging volume, receiving the x-ray beam at a subset of detector elements of a plurality of detector elements of one or more detector arrays, sampling the plurality of detector elements to generate a total transmission profile, an attenuation profile, and a scatter measurement, generating a scatter-corrected attenuation profile by entering the total transmission profile, the attenuation profile, and the scatter measurement as inputs to a model, and reconstructing one or more images from the scatter-corrected attenuation profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: GE Precision Healthcare LLC
    Inventors: Bruno Kristiaan Bernard De Man, Jed Douglas Pack, Mingye Wu, Chad Allan Smith, Jean-Baptiste Thibault
  • Patent number: 11635392
    Abstract: A radiation imaging apparatus comprises an image generating unit configured to generate a material characteristic image by using a plurality of radiation images of different radiation energy levels; an evaluation information calculation unit configured to calculate evaluation information which indicates a correlation between a plurality of material characteristic images; and a scattered ray amount estimation unit configured to estimate, based on the evaluation information, an amount of scattered rays included in the plurality of radiation images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takeshi Noda, Atsushi Iwashita, Sota Torii
  • Patent number: 11627930
    Abstract: A radiographic imaging system includes an irradiating apparatus, a first clock, a radiographic imaging apparatus, a second clock and a hardware processor. The irradiating apparatus generates radiation. The first clock keeps time and works with the irradiating apparatus. The radiographic imaging apparatus generates image data based on received radiation. The second clock keeps time and works with the radiographic imaging apparatus. The hardware processor (i) obtains a clock value of the first clock at a predetermined time point and a clock value of the second clock at the predetermined time point respectively as first clock information and second clock information, (ii) makes a determination as to whether a specific condition is met based on the obtained first clock information and the obtained second clock information, and (iii) in response to the specific condition being met, performs a specific output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Masahiro Kuwata, Nobuyuki Miyake, Koji Kashima, Kohei Isogai, Kentaro Hara, Hidetake Tezuka
  • Patent number: 11622735
    Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods for performing plural-plane narrow-beam computed tomography.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: MALCOVA, INC.
    Inventors: Peymon Mirsaeid Ghazi, Tara ReneƩ Ghazi
  • Patent number: 11619596
    Abstract: A system is disclosed for the examination and inspection of integrated devices such as integrated circuits using 3-D laminography. X-rays are transmitted through the integrated device, and are incident on a photoemissive structure that absorbs x-rays and emits electrons. The electrons emitted by the photoemissive structure are shaped by an electron optical system to form a magnified image of the emitted electrons on a detector. This magnified image is then recorded and processed. In some embodiments, the incidence angle of the x-rays is varied to gather multiple images that allow internal three-dimensional structures of the integrated device to be determined using computed laminography. In some embodiments, the recorded images are compared with reference data to enable inspection for manufacturing quality control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Inventor: David L. Adler
  • Patent number: 11617548
    Abstract: A system for multi-mode breast x-ray imaging which comprises a compression arm assembly for compressing and immobilizing a breast for x-ray imaging, an x-ray tube assembly, and an x-ray image receptor is provided. The system is configured for a plurality of imaging protocols and modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Hologic, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth DeFreitas, Thomas Farbizio, Baorui Ren, Christopher Ruth, Ian Shaw, Andrew P. Smith, Jay Stein
  • Patent number: 11612372
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus for use with an imaging device in order to image a subject. The imaging device includes an annular gantry having an opening and a table to accommodate the subject or a portion thereof for imaging. The imaging apparatus includes a platform and a positioning device. The imaging device is mounted to the platform. The annular gantry is in a fixed position relative to the platform. The table is horizontally displaceable relative to the annular gantry. The positioning device supports the platform and is configured to horizontally displace the platform relative to a supporting surface for the subject. The positioning device is configured to position the platform with the imaging device in at least one operational state in such a way that, during a relative movement of the table with respect to the annular gantry, the table remains stationary relative to the supporting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Inventor: Thorben Schulze
  • Patent number: 11610347
    Abstract: A computed tomography (CT) image processing apparatus and a CT image processing method are provided. The CT image processing apparatus may generate a virtual monochromatic image (VMI) by applying a weight to each of first, second, and third images corresponding to three different energy ranges. The CT image processing apparatus may set a region of interest (ROI) on a CT image, determine a VMI at an energy level at which a CNR of the ROI is at a maximum among a plurality of VMIs, and display the determined VMI.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chang-lae Lee, Duhgoon Lee, Seung-wan Lee, Woo-young Jang, Jin-wook Jung, Kyoung-yong Lee
  • Patent number: 11602316
    Abstract: A method is for capturing projection data. The method includes positioning the first diaphragm jaw and a second diaphragm jaw to set a layer collimation of a fan beam of radiation via the first diaphragm jaw and the second diaphragm jaw; capturing projection data of a region of a patient to be imaged via a detector and radiation source rotated in a plane of rotation, moving the region of the patient to be imaged relative to the plane of rotation, the fan beam penetrating the region of the patient to be imaged and striking the detector; and moving at least one of the first and second diaphragm jaw during the capturing, to dynamically adjust a position of a boundary surface of the fan beam to a position of a boundary surface of the region, to avoid the fan beam penetrating the patient outside the region to be imaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Matthias Berner, Ulrich Kuehn, Maurizio Bianconi
  • Patent number: 11598732
    Abstract: An imaging system includes: a micro computed tomography (micro-CT) subsystem, a specimen processing subsystem, a scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and a processor. The micro-CT subsystem includes an X-ray source and an X-ray detector, and is configured to acquire a three-dimensional image of a specimen. The specimen processing subsystem includes a focused ion beam subsystem and a mechanical cutting device. The focused ion beam subsystem is configured to process the specimen in a first processing manner, and the mechanical cutting device is configured to process the specimen in a second processing manner to obtain a target section of a target area. The SEM is located above the specimen and is configured to acquire a two-dimensional image of the target section. The processor is configured to perform three-dimensional reconstruction on the two-dimensional images to obtain a three-dimensional imaging of the specimen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Focus-eBeam Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Wei He, Shuai Li
  • Patent number: 11596811
    Abstract: A radiotherapy system, comprising: a patient support, a radiation beam generator, a gantry on which the radiation beam generator is mounted, the gantry being moveable so as to rotate the radiation beam generator around the patient support, and a control system including a real-time control system mounted on the gantry and configured to provide real-time control signals to the patient support, the radiation beam generator, and the gantry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Elekta Limited
    Inventors: Ralf Spriesterbach, Paul Berwick, Adrian Smith, Paul Boxall
  • Patent number: 11590394
    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: June 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp.
    Inventors: Julie Caterina, Megan Ilnicky
  • Patent number: 11590365
    Abstract: Disclosed is a bore based medical system comprising a camera carrier configured to be mounted in the bore based medical system and configured to monitor and/or track patient motion within said bore based medical system during radiotherapy, the bore based medical system comprising a rotatable ring-gantry configured to emit a radiotherapy beam focused at an iso-center of the bore based medical system, wherein the ring-gantry is configured to rotate at least partly around a through-going bore having a front side and a back side, configured to receive from said front side, a movable couch configured to be moved into and out from the through-going bore, wherein further the through-going bore comprises an inner side facing an inside of the bore, and wherein the camera carrier is configured to be mounted inside the bore in connection with the inner side of the through-going bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: VISION RT LIMITED
    Inventor: Gideon M. Hale
  • Patent number: 11585765
    Abstract: A non-destructive inspection apparatus is provided. The non-destructive inspection apparatus includes at least one memory configured to store commands for performing predetermined operations, and at least one processor operatively coupled to the at least one memory and configured to execute the commands. The at least one processor is configured to obtain information on a transmission amount of an X-ray by emitting the X-ray to a part of a bicycle, generate a gray scale image based on the information on the transmission, measure an amount of change in a gray value from one end to the other end of the part of the bicycle represented in the gray scale image along an extending direction of the part, and detect an area in which the amount of change in the gray value is equal to or greater than a threshold, as an abnormal area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: WRIGHTBROTHERS CO., LTD
    Inventor: Hee Soo Kim