Patents by Inventor Kai M. Vetter

Kai M. Vetter 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: 8519343
    Abstract: Apparatus for detecting and locating a source of gamma rays of energies ranging from 10-20 keV to several MeV's includes plural gamma ray detectors arranged in a generally closed extended array so as to provide Compton scattering imaging and coded aperture imaging simultaneously. First detectors are arranged in a spaced manner about a surface defining the closed extended array which may be in the form a circle, a sphere, a square, a pentagon or higher order polygon. Some of the gamma rays are absorbed by the first detectors closest to the gamma source in Compton scattering, while the photons that go unabsorbed by passing through gaps disposed between adjacent first detectors are incident upon second detectors disposed on the side farthest from the gamma ray source, where the first spaced detectors form a coded aperture array for two or three dimensional gamma ray source detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: U.S. Department of Energy
    Inventors: Lucian Mihailescu, Kai M. Vetter
  • Patent number: 8330114
    Abstract: Systems that increase the position resolution and granularity of double sided segmented semiconductor detectors are provided. These systems increase the imaging resolution capability of such detectors, either used as Compton cameras, or as position sensitive radiation detectors in imagers such as SPECT, PET, coded apertures, multi-pinhole imagers, or other spatial or temporal modulated imagers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC
    Inventors: Lucian Mihailescu, Kai M. Vetter, Daniel H. Chivers
  • Publication number: 20120112080
    Abstract: Systems that increase the position resolution and granularity of double sided segmented semiconductor detectors are provided. These systems increase the imaging resolution capability of such detectors, either used as Compton cameras, or as position sensitive radiation detectors in imagers such as SPECT, PET, coded apertures, multi-pinhole imagers, or other spatial or temporal modulated imagers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2012
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Applicant: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC.
    Inventors: Lucian MIHAILESCU, Kai M. VETTER, Daniel H. CHIVERS
  • Patent number: 8153986
    Abstract: A system in one embodiment includes an array of radiation detectors; and an array of imagers positioned behind the array of detectors relative to an expected trajectory of incoming radiation. A method in another embodiment includes detecting incoming radiation with an array of radiation detectors; detecting the incoming radiation with an array of imagers positioned behind the array of detectors relative to a trajectory of the incoming radiation; and performing at least one of Compton imaging using at least the imagers and coded aperture imaging using at least the imagers. A method in yet another embodiment includes detecting incoming radiation with an array of imagers positioned behind an array of detectors relative to a trajectory of the incoming radiation; and performing Compton imaging using at least the imagers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC
    Inventors: Lucian Mihailescu, Kai M. Vetter
  • Patent number: 8110810
    Abstract: Methods are presented that increase the position resolution and granularity of double sided segmented semiconductor detectors. These methods increase the imaging resolution capability of such detectors, either used as Compton cameras, or as position sensitive radiation detectors in imagers such as SPECT, PET, coded apertures, multi-pinhole imagers, or other spatial or temporal modulated imagers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC
    Inventors: Lucian Mihailescu, Kai M. Vetter, Daniel H. Chivers
  • Publication number: 20110220804
    Abstract: This paper presents various methods that were developed to increase the position resolution and granularity of double sided segmented semiconductor detectors. These developments will increase the imaging resolution capability of such detectors, either used as Compton cameras, or as position sensitive radiation detectors in imagers such as SPECT, PET, coded apertures, multi-pinhole imagers, or other spatial or temporal modulated imagers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2006
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Inventors: Lucian Mihailescu, Kai M. Vetter, Daniel H. Chivers
  • Patent number: 7732773
    Abstract: Gamma-ray tracking methods for use with granular, position sensitive detectors identify the sequence of the interactions taking place in the detector and, hence, the position of the first interaction. The improved position resolution in finding the first interaction in the detection system determines a better definition of the direction of the gamma-ray photon, and hence, a superior source image resolution. A PET system using such a method will have increased efficiency and position resolution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC
    Inventors: Lucian Mihailescu, Kai M. Vetter
  • Publication number: 20090122958
    Abstract: A system in one embodiment includes an array of radiation detectors; and an array of imagers positioned behind the array of detectors relative to an expected trajectory of incoming radiation. A method in another embodiment includes detecting incoming radiation with an array of radiation detectors; detecting the incoming radiation with an array of imagers positioned behind the array of detectors relative to a trajectory of the incoming radiation; and performing at least one of Compton imaging using at least the imagers and coded aperture imaging using at least the imagers. A method in yet another embodiment includes detecting incoming radiation with an array of imagers positioned behind an array of detectors relative to a trajectory of the incoming radiation; and performing Compton imaging using at least the imagers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2008
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Inventors: Lucian Mihailescu, Kai M. Vetter