Abstract: A mask of certain type has a transparent base and a transparent film formed on the transparent base. The transparent film has at least one mask member formed in a predetermined mask pattern and having a relatively low exposure beam transparency. The mask member sometimes has a placement error from a designed placement. This is mainly because an in-plane stress distribution of the transparent film is nonuniformity. The transparent film is partially decreased in thickness to unity the in-plane stress distribution.

Abstract: A collimator 100 for use in a radiation imaging system 10, and a method for making such collimators, are provided, wherein the collimator 100 is capable of collimating radiation in two orthogonal planes. The collimator in one embodiment includes a block 101 of radiation absorbing material having a plurality of focally aligned channels 102 extending therethrough; in a second embodiment, the collimator includes first and second collimation 204, 212 sections having a respective first plurality of focally aligned plate sets 201 and a respective second plurality of focally aligned plate sets 203 disposed orthogonally to the first plurality of plate sets. The method for making the collimator includes generating a CAD drawing, generating from the CAD drawing one or more stereo-lithographic files, and using the stereo-lithographic files to control an electro-deposition machining machine which creates the channels in the block.

Abstract: A collimator 100 for use in a radiation imaging system 10, and a method for making such collimators, are provided, wherein the collimator 100 is capable of collimating radiation in two orthogonal planes. The collimator in one embodiment includes a block 101 of radiation absorbing material having a plurality of focally aligned channels 102 extending therethrough; in a second embodiment, the collimator includes first and second collimation 204, 212 sections having a respective first plurality of focally aligned plate sets 201 and a respective second plurality of focally aligned plate sets 203 disposed orthogonally to the first plurality of plate sets. The method for making the collimator includes generating a CAD drawing, generating from the CAD drawing one or more stereo-lithographic files, and using the stereo-lithographic files to control an electro-deposition machining machine which creates the channels in the block.

Abstract: The present invention, in one form is an imaging system for generating images of an entire object. In one embodiment, a physiological cycle unit is used to determine the cycle of the moving object. By altering the rotational speed of an x-ray source as a function of the object cycle, segments of projection data are collected for each selected phase of the object during each rotation. After completing a plurality of rotations, the segments of projection data are combined and a cross-sectional image of the selected phase of the object is generated. As a result, minimizing motion artifacts.

Abstract: There is disclosed an X-ray mask comprising, on a support substrate 11a, an X-ray transmission film 12 for transmitting X-rays and an X-ray absorber pattern 13a formed on the X-ray transmission film 12 for absorbing the X-rays. The X-ray absorber pattern 13a is formed of a material which contains tantalum, boron, nitrogen and/or oxygen.

Abstract: A detection head and collimator for a gamma camera. The detection head includes several elementary detectors with semiconductors adjacent to each other to form a detection plane. The collimator is placed in front of the detection plane and includes a number of ducts laid out in a repetition pattern. The shape of the elementary detectors and the repetition pattern are rectangular in the detection plane.

Abstract: An X-ray sensor signal processor including capacitors 114 for removing DC components (dark currents) from output signals of semiconductor sensors 21 to 2n detecting pulse-like X-rays passed through an object, and integrators (each of which is constituted by a combination of an operational amplifier 115, a resistor 116 and a capacitor 117) for integrating the output signals of the X-ray sensors after removal of the DC components by the capacitors 114. By this, a value proportional to the average number of photons in X-rays can be obtained even in the case where a small number of incident photons are given, and an X-ray CT system using the X-ray sensor signal processor.

Abstract: A rotating bulb x-ray radiator has an x-ray tube accepted in a housing filled with a coolant, the x-ray tube being torsionally connected to the housing and being mounted so as to be rotatable together therewith. The housing is at least partially formed of a material that is highly attenuating for x-rays.

Abstract: In an X-ray exposure method of this invention, an X-ray mask unit in which a patterned X-ray absorber is formed on a membrane is supported. This patterned X-ray absorber contains one of an element having a density/atomic weight of 0.085 [g/cm3] or more and an L-shell absorption edge at a wavelength of 0.75 to 1.6 nm and an element having a density/atomic weight of 0.04 [g/cm3] or more and an M-shell absorption edge at a wavelength of 0.75 to 1.6 nm. Synchrotron radiation having maximum light intensity at a wavelength of 0.6 to 1 nm is applied onto the X-ray mask unit. This improves the exposure accuracy in X-ray exposure.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention is a method for positioning an x-ray beam on a multi-slice detector array of an imaging system in which the detector array has rows of detector elements and is configured to detect x-rays in slices along a z-axis. The method includes steps of comparing data signals representative of x-ray intensity received from different rows of detector elements in first and second element subsets where the first and second subsets are located at opposite ends of the detector array and positioning the x-ray beam in accordance with a result of the comparisons.

Abstract: In order to allow slice thicknesses to be set for a twin asymmetric scan in which a scan is performed with a first slice thickness in a first detector row of a multi detector and with a second slice thickness different than the first slice thickness in a second detector row, first, a position of an X-ray beam is moved and a scan is performed while keeping the width of the X-ray beam fixed at twice the first slice thickness to move the position of the X-ray beam to a position at which count values for the first and second detector rows match (ST2-ST5). The count value for the detector row at this time is stored (ST6). Next, the position of the X-ray beam is moved and a scan is performed while keeping the width of the X-ray beam fixed at the sum of the first and second slice thicknesses to move the position of the X-ray beam to a position at which the count value for the first detector row matches the stored count value (ST7-ST9).

Abstract: A method is proposed for compensating for the dark current of an electronic sensor having a plurality of pixels with an individual dark-current response, radiation for producing an image signal (BS) being directed from a beam source (3) onto a detector arrangement (4) containing the sensor, and a recording being taken with different clock-out rate (v) (integration time) by reading the detector signal (S) present in the pixels of the sensor, in which, before the beginning or after the end of the recording with radiation, the sensor is read out without radiation with at least two different clock-out rates (v1, v2) and at least two dark-current signals (DC1, DC2) are thereby picked up for each pixel, in which the dark-current signals (DC1, DC2) that have been read out are then used to calculate a dark-current value (DV) of individual pixels of the sensor as a function of the clock-out rate (v), and in which a correction is then made, using the dark-current value associated with each pixel, to the detector signal

Abstract: An apparatus for identifying the location of a photon source within an imaging area and which generates photons having energies within a known energy range, the apparatus including two oppositely facing cameras disposed on opposite sides of the imaging area, each camera including a first detector unit which causes scattering when a photon enters the unit and generates signals indicative of the scattering event location, energy and time and a second detector unit which absorbs the scattered photon and generates signals indicative of the absorption event energy and time, the generated signals are then mathematically combined to determine the location of the source. Also a Compton camera including a first detector unit which is anatomically configured to generally mirror the external surface of a portion of a patient including an object to be imaged, a second detector unit positioned outside an imaging area to receive scattered photons from the first unit.

Abstract: A retroreflective detector comprises a detection unit which houses two transmitting elements and two receiving elements, in which a transmitting element and a receiving element form a pair and two such pairs are disposed in a matrix arrangement. Every row and column of the matrix includes one or more transmitting elements.

Abstract: A radiographic stand with a radiation image receiving portion includes a lying stand having a top plate on which a subject lies down, a radiation image receiving portion located below the top plate, and a moving mechanism for making the radiation image receiving portion movable in the widthwise direction or the lengthwise direction of the top plate. The moving mechanism also makes the radiation image receiving portion erectable in a vertical direction.

Abstract: There is disclosed an X-ray computerized tomography apparatus capable of accurately and promptly carrying out a navigation of an operation, by real-time reconstructing and displaying an image of a slice in which an object such as an insertion object inside a subject exists.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for determining the phase volume fractions for a multiphase oil well effluent is disclosed. The apparatus measures multiple energy gamma ray attenuations through the effluent mixture, and the method determines the phase volume fractions from these measurements when the mixture is under inhomogeneous flow conditions. The apparatus includes a pipe section with a Venturi through which the mixture flows. A source of radiation transmits rays at two or more energy levels through the mixture. A solid state detector measures the transmitted attenuation count rates. A low absorption window of a truncated cone shape is preferably incorporated in lieu of the pipe wall in the area of the detector. The method comprises measuring ray attenuation, in the two-energy example, at one high energy emission line, to differentiate between the gas and liquid components, and at a relatively lower energy emission line, to differentiate between the oil and water phases within the liquid component.

Abstract: In order to provide a photoelectric conversion device of high S/N ratio or high resolution in which the outputs of sensor cells except any defective sensor cell can be made to have normal values, thereby to obtain data of higher precision, any switching element that does not operate normally is removed in a photoelectric conversion device wherein a plurality of sensor cells, in each of which a photoelectric element and a switching element are connected, are arrayed in two dimensions on a substrate.

Abstract: A system for processing signals from a radiation detector with semiconductors. A plurality of elementary detectors are placed side-by-side along a detection surface or a detection volume in which radiation referred to as incident radiation is capable of giving up its energy in at least one interaction. The device includes the supplying in response to each incident ray, an amount of energy corresponding to the sum of the energies given up during each interaction induced by the incident radiation. This device may be used in medical imaging.

Abstract: In the present invention, penetrating radiation (X-rays) is projected by penetrating radiation (X-ray) generating means 14 onto a tablet package 12a. The penetrating radiation (X-rays) is detected by penetrating radiation (X-ray) detecting means 16. Tablet count determining means 18 determines the number of tablets packaged in the tablet package 12a, based on the detection result supplied from the penetrating radiation (X-ray) detecting means 16. Comparing and verifying means 18 extracts from prescription data tablet count data associated with the tablets supposed to be packaged in the tablet package 12a, and verifies whether the tablets are packaged as directed by the prescription data, by comparing the tablet count data with the number of tablets determined by the tablet count determining means 18.