Patents by Inventor Gert Merckx

Gert Merckx has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10542958
    Abstract: An X-ray system for taking an X-ray image of an object includes an X-ray source, an X-ray detector, depth camera(s) covering at least an area covered by an X-ray bundle and configured to obtain depth images and a client device including a display adapted to display an impression image to a user. The system further includes a controller configured to derive the impression image including a representation of this area from the depth images; and to obtain from the client device a first geometric position correction of the X-ray imaging system with respect to this impression image; and to convert the first geometric position correction to an actual geometric position configuration of the X-ray imaging system by a known relation between the one or more depth cameras and the X-ray imaging system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: AGFA NV
    Inventor: Gert Merckx
  • Patent number: 10441240
    Abstract: A method of monitoring a radiation amount received from an X-ray source in an X-ray imaging system for taking an X-ray image of an object includes the steps of obtaining one or more depth images from one or more depth cameras; the one or more depth cameras covering at least an area covered by an X-ray bundle of an X-ray source of the X-ray imaging system; positioning the object against or on a surface including radiation measurement chambers and identifying select radiation measurement chambers underneath the object from the one or more depth images and/or from a single depth image derived from the one or more depth images; and activating the select radiation measurement chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: AGFA NV
    Inventor: Gert Merckx
  • Publication number: 20170135668
    Abstract: A method of monitoring a radiation amount received from an X-ray source in an X-ray imaging system for taking an X-ray image of an object includes the steps of obtaining one or more depth images from one or more depth cameras; the one or more depth cameras covering at least an area covered by an X-ray bundle of an X-ray source of the X-ray imaging system; positioning the object against or on a surface including radiation measurement chambers and identifying select radiation measurement chambers underneath the object from the one or more depth images and/or from a single depth image derived from the one or more depth images; and activating the select radiation measurement chambers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2015
    Publication date: May 18, 2017
    Applicant: Agfa Healthcare NV
    Inventor: Gert MERCKX
  • Publication number: 20170119338
    Abstract: An X-ray system for taking an X-ray image of an object includes an X-ray source, an X-ray detector, depth camera(s) covering at least an area covered by an X-ray bundle and configured to obtain depth images and a client device including a display adapted to display an impression image to a user. The system further includes a controller configured to derive the impression image including a representation of this area from the depth images; and to obtain from the client device a first geometric position correction of the X-ray imaging system with respect to this impression image; and to convert the first geometric position correction to an actual geometric position configuration of the X-ray imaging system by a known relation between the one or more depth cameras and the X-ray imaging system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2015
    Publication date: May 4, 2017
    Inventor: Gert MERCKX
  • Publication number: 20170112460
    Abstract: A method of automatically configuring an X-ray imaging system for taking an X-ray image of an object includes, first, obtaining one or more depth images from one or more depth cameras covering at least an area covered by an X-ray bundle of an X-ray source. Then, a thickness of the object is determined from the depth image(s). Then, this thickness value is converted to a dose configuration of the X-ray imaging system by taking into account a transmission length of the X-ray bundle through the object and knowledge about tissue types being imaged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2015
    Publication date: April 27, 2017
    Inventor: Gert MERCKX
  • Patent number: 9406124
    Abstract: An image is segmented by subjecting the image to an iterative thresholding operation, and a hierarchical representation of clusters is obtained by analyzing the results of each of the iterative thresholding steps to find clusters of adjacent image elements. A type class is assigned to a leaf cluster of the hierarchical representation and the assigned class is propagated towards the top of the hierarchical representation. Then a mask is generated marking the locations of image elements contained in the top ancestral clusters of a specific type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: AGFA HEALTHCARE NV
    Inventors: Gert Merckx, Jeroen Cant
  • Publication number: 20150228072
    Abstract: An image is segmented by subjecting the image to an iterative thresholding operation, and a hierarchical representation of clusters is obtained by analyzing the results of each of the iterative thresholding steps to find clusters of adjacent image elements. A type class is assigned to a leaf cluster of the hierarchical representation and the assigned class is propagated towards the top of the hierarchical representation. Then a mask is generated marking the locations of image elements contained in the top ancestral clusters of a specific type.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2013
    Publication date: August 13, 2015
    Applicant: AGFA HEALTHCARE NV
    Inventors: Gert Merckx, Jeroen Cant