Patents by Inventor Stephan Mair

Stephan Mair 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: 9874643
    Abstract: A storage phosphor plate assembly includes at least one storage phosphor plate having a storage phosphor layer for storing X-ray information and a substrate layer on which the storage phosphor layer is provided. The substrate layer contains a permanent magnetic material, and a support plate contains a magnetic material, the at least one storage phosphor plate being held on the support plate due to magnetic forces. The invention further relates to an X ray cassette and a system for reading out storage phosphor plate. An easy and safe handling of storage phosphor plates of various sizes and/or forms, in particular during the read-out process in the read-out system, is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: AGFA HEALTHCARE NV
    Inventors: Anton Pirmann, Stephan Mair
  • Patent number: 9857481
    Abstract: An apparatus for reading out X-ray information stored in a storage phosphor layer includes a light source for generating stimulating light which can stimulate the storage phosphor layer to emit stimulated emission, an optical fiber, in particular a single mode fiber, which is optically coupled to the light source and generates a stimulating light beam from the stimulating light, and a deflection element for deflecting the stimulating light beam to move over the storage phosphor layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: AFGA HEALTHCARE NV
    Inventors: Georg Reiser, Stephan Mair, Bernhard Stadtmueller
  • Publication number: 20170090043
    Abstract: A storage phosphor plate assembly includes at least one storage phosphor plate having a storage phosphor layer for storing X-ray information and a substrate layer on which the storage phosphor layer is provided. The substrate layer contains a permanent magnetic material, and a support plate contains a magnetic material, the at least one storage phosphor plate being held on the support plate due to magnetic forces. The invention further relates to an X ray cassette and a system for reading out storage phosphor plate. An easy and safe handling of storage phosphor plates of various sizes and/or forms, in particular during the read-out process in the read-out system, is achieved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2015
    Publication date: March 30, 2017
    Inventors: Anton PIRMANN, Stephan MAIR
  • Publication number: 20170031036
    Abstract: An apparatus for reading out X-ray information stored in a storage phosphor layer includes a light source for generating stimulating light which can stimulate the storage phosphor layer to emit stimulated emission, an optical fiber, in particular a single mode fiber, which is optically coupled to the light source and generates a stimulating light beam from the stimulating light, and a deflection element for deflecting the stimulating light beam to move over the storage phosphor layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2015
    Publication date: February 2, 2017
    Inventors: Georg REISER, Stephan MAIR, Bernhard STADTMUELLER
  • Patent number: 9551797
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and to a corresponding method for reading out X-ray information stored in a storage phosphor layer (1) comprising a light source (2) for generating a stimulation light beam (3) which can stimulate the storage phosphor layer (1) to emit emission light, and a deflection element (4) for deflecting the stimulation light beam (3) in such a way that the deflected stimulation light beam (3?) is moved over the storage phosphor layer (1). In order to achieve the highest possible quality of the X-ray image obtained in the simplest and most cost-effective way possible, a drive device (5) is provided for driving the deflection element (4) by delivering drive energy to the deflection element (4) dependently upon a location of the deflected stimulation light beam (3?) and/or dependently upon a position, in particular an angular position, of the deflection element (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: AGFA HEALTHCARE NV
    Inventors: Georg Reiser, Stephan Mair
  • Publication number: 20160084966
    Abstract: A method and device for reading out X-ray image information stored in a storage phosphor layer with a stimulating light beam includes deflecting the stimulating light beam to alternately move it in a first direction and in a second direction, opposite to the first direction, across the storage phosphor layer. During the movements of the stimulating light beam in the first direction and the second direction, detection emission light emitted by the storage phosphor layer and converting them into corresponding first and second detector signals, respectively. The first and second detector signals are compared with each other. The first and/or second detector signals, which were obtained during the movements of the stimulating light beam across the storage phosphor layer in the first direction and second direction, respectively, are corrected dependent on the results of the comparison.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2014
    Publication date: March 24, 2016
    Applicant: AGFA HEALTHCARE NV
    Inventors: Georg REISER, Stephan MAIR, Malte SCHULZ, Ralph THOMA
  • Publication number: 20160061965
    Abstract: A method and device for reading out X-ray image information stored in a storage phosphor layer with a stimulating light beam includes deflecting the stimulating light beam to alternately move it in a first direction and in a second direction, opposite to the first direction, across the storage phosphor layer. During movements of the stimulating light beam in the first and second directions emission light emitted by the storage phosphor layer is detected and converted into corresponding first and second detector signals, respectively. The first and/or second detector signals are corrected with regard to influences from the stimulating light beam being alternately moved in the first direction and in the second direction across the storage phosphor layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2014
    Publication date: March 3, 2016
    Inventors: Georg REISER, Stephan MAIR, Malte SCHULZ, Ralph THOMA
  • Patent number: 9128197
    Abstract: A system, a device, and a method for reading out X-ray information stored in a storage phosphor plate includes a storage phosphor plate and a device for reading out X-ray information stored in the storage phosphor plate including a light source for generating stimulating light that excites the storage phosphor plate to have it emit first emission light, and a detector for detecting the first emission light emitted by the storage phosphor plate. At least one marking is arranged and configured in such a way that stimulating light can impinge on the marking and can be at least partially reflected and/or scattered by the marking and/or can excite the marking to have it emit second emission light, wherein the reflected or scattered stimulating light, respectively, or emitted second emission light, respectively, can be detected by the detector, and marking information can be derived therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: Agfa HealthCare NV
    Inventor: Stephan Mair
  • Publication number: 20140070104
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system, a device as well as a method for reading out X-ray information stored in a storage phosphor plate (1), comprising a storage phosphor plate (1) and a device for reading out X-ray information stored in the storage phosphor plate (1) comprising a light source (2) for generating stimulating light (3), which can excite the storage phosphor plate (1) to have it emitting first emission light, and a detector (7) for detecting the first emission light emitted by the storage phosphor plate (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: AGFA HEALTHCARE NV
    Inventor: Stephan Mair
  • Patent number: 8629419
    Abstract: A method and to a corresponding apparatus reads out X-ray information stored in a storage phosphor plate (1), the storage phosphor plate (1) being irradiated with stimulation light (3) and so being stimulated into emitting emission light which is collected by a detector (9) during several measuring times and being converted into corresponding emission light signals (S, R). In order to guarantee high reliability when examining sensitivity fluctuations, in particular with different types of detectors, provision is made such that reference measurements are taken by the detector (9) during several reference measuring times and several reference signals are thus produced, the individual reference measuring times falling respectively between the measuring times, and the reference signals being used for examining the sensitivity of the detector (9) to emission light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Agfa HealthCare NV
    Inventors: Horst Scherer, Thomas Hartmann, Stephan Mair, Heinz-Josef Romanski
  • Publication number: 20130234048
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and to a corresponding method for reading out X-ray information stored in a storage phosphor layer (1) comprising a light source (2) for generating a stimulation light beam (3) which can stimulate the storage phosphor layer (1) to emit emission light, and a deflection element (4) for deflecting the stimulation light beam (3) in such a way that the deflected stimulation light beam (3?) is moved over the storage phosphor layer (1). In order to achieve the highest possible quality of the X-ray image obtained in the simplest and most cost-effective way possible, a drive device (5) is provided for driving the deflection element (4) by delivering drive energy to the deflection element (4) dependently upon a location of the deflected stimulation light beam (3?) and/or dependently upon a position, in particular an angular position, of the deflection element (4).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: AGFA HEALTHCARE NV
    Inventors: Georg Reiser, Stephan Mair
  • Patent number: 8278637
    Abstract: A process, and to a corresponding apparatus for reading out and erasing X-ray information stored in storage phosphor layers, comprising the following: irradiating the storage phosphor layer (1) with stimulation light (3) by means of which the storage phosphor layer (1) is stimulated to emit emission light, collecting the emission light emitted at different locations (x, y) of the storage phosphor layer (1) with a detector (7), detector signal values (D(x, y)) being obtained for different locations (x, y) of the storage phosphor layer (1), and irradiating the storage phosphor layer (1) with erasing light (21), the quantity of erasing light (21) being determined by means of the detector signal values (D(x, y)).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Agfa HealthCare N.V.
    Inventors: Stephan Mair, Thomas Hartmann, Bernd Gerstlauer
  • Publication number: 20110049397
    Abstract: A process, and to a corresponding apparatus for reading out and erasing X-ray information stored in storage phosphor layers, comprising the following: irradiating the storage phosphor layer (1) with stimulation light (3) by means of which the storage phosphor layer (1) is stimulated to emit emission light, collecting the emission light emitted at different locations (x, y) of the storage phosphor layer (1) with a detector (7), detector signal values (D(x, y)) being obtained for different locations (x, y) of the storage phosphor layer (1), and irradiating the storage phosphor layer (1) with erasing light (21), the quantity of erasing light (21) being determined by means of the detector signal values (D(x, y)).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2010
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Applicant: AGFA HEALTHCARE N.V.
    Inventors: Stephan Mair, Thomas Hartmann, Bernd Gerstlauer
  • Patent number: 7601973
    Abstract: The invention relates to a radiography system with a recording device and to a corresponding method for recording X-rays in storage phosphor layers. In order to improve a picture quality of an X-ray, a recording control is provided for controlling the recording device such that in a first phosphor layer having a first thickness, an X-ray with a first energy limit of the X-ray radiation is recorded, and in a second phosphor layer, having a second thickness which is greater than the first thickness, an X-ray with a second energy limit of the X-ray radiation is recorded, the second energy limit of the X-ray radiation being greater than the first energy limit of the X-ray radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert HealthCare GmbH
    Inventors: Joerg Frankenberger, Robert Fasbender, Clemens Herrmann, Johan Lamotte, Stephan Mair, Horst Scherer
  • Patent number: 7465950
    Abstract: An apparatus (1) for reading out X-ray information of an X-ray image stored in a storage phosphor layer (4) includes an irradiation device (13) for irradiating the storage phosphor layer (4) with stimulation radiation (14) and a detection device (16) for collecting emission radiation (15) which the storage phosphor layer (4) emits as a result of the irradiation by means of the stimulation radiation (14). The irradiation device (13) and the detection device (16) are fixedly or rigidly associated with one another. Furthermore, an actuation device (8) is provided for producing a relative movement between the storage phosphor layer (4) on the one hand and the irradiation device (13) and the detection device (16) on the other hand. According to the invention, the apparatus (1) includes acquiring unit (19, 19?, 20, 20?, 21, 21?) for acquiring a speed of the relative movement. In this way, in a technically simple way, good image quality of an X-ray image read out can be guaranteed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Stephan Mair, Stefan Stallmeister, Jens Nissen
  • Publication number: 20080055587
    Abstract: A method and to a corresponding apparatus reads out X-ray information stored in a storage phosphor plate (1), the storage phosphor plate (1) being irradiated with stimulation light (3) and so being stimulated into emitting emission light which is collected by a detector (9) during several measuring times and being converted into corresponding emission light signals (S, R). In order to guarantee high reliability when examining sensitivity fluctuations, in particular with different types of detectors, provision is made such that reference measurements are taken by the detector (9) during several reference measuring times and several reference signals are thus produced, the individual reference measuring times falling respectively between the measuring times, and the reference signals being used for examining the sensitivity of the detector (9) to emission light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2007
    Publication date: March 6, 2008
    Applicant: AGFA HEALTHCARE N.V.
    Inventors: Horst Scherer, Thomas Hartmann, Stephan Mair, Heinz-Josef Romanski
  • Patent number: 7329891
    Abstract: In order to improve the picture quality of X-rays, a read-out control is provided for controlling a read-out device such that a first storage phosphor layer, which has a first thickness d1, is read out by the read-out device controlled in a first read-out mode, and a second storage phosphor layer, which has a second thickness d2 which is greater than the first thickness d1, is read out by the read-out device controlled in a second read-out mode, the second read-out mode being different from the first read-out mode. The scan parameters of the read-out device set in the first read-out mode are different from the scan parameters set in the second read-out mode in at least one scan parameter. The scan parameters are, for example, the size of the pixels, a pulse duration and/or intensity and/or width of a focus range of stimulation light, integration time and/or feed time of the detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Jörg Frankenberger, Robert Fasbender, Clemens Herrmann, Johan Lamotte, Stephan Mair, Horst Scherer
  • Patent number: 7304316
    Abstract: A storage phosphor plate for the storage of X-ray information, including a storage phosphor layer which stores the X-ray information and can be stimulated by stimulation light into emitting emission light, and a support layer on which the storage phosphor layer is located, the support layer being partially transparent for the stimulation light, and having a thickness d and an absorption coefficient for the stimulation light, where (k times d)?0.2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert HealthCare GmbH
    Inventor: Stephan Mair
  • Publication number: 20070153975
    Abstract: An apparatus (1) for reading out X-ray information of an X-ray image stored in a storage phosphor layer (4) includes an irradiation device (13) for irradiating the storage phosphor layer (4) with stimulation radiation (14) and a detection device (16) for collecting emission radiation (15) which the storage phosphor layer (4) emits as a result of the irradiation by means of the stimulation radiation (14). The irradiation device (13) and the detection device (16) are fixedly or rigidly associated with one another. Furthermore, an actuation device (8) is provided for producing a relative movement between the storage phosphor layer (4) on the one hand and the irradiation device (13) and the detection device (16) on the other hand. According to the invention, the apparatus (1) includes acquiring unit (19, 19?, 20, 20?, 21, 21?) for acquiring a speed of the relative movement. In this way, in a technically simple way, good image quality of an X-ray image read out can be guaranteed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2006
    Publication date: July 5, 2007
    Applicant: AGFA-GEVAERT HEALTHCARE GMBH
    Inventors: Stephan Mair, Stefan Stallmeister, Jens Nissen
  • Publication number: 20070152179
    Abstract: An apparatus (1) for reading out X-ray information of an X-ray image stored in a storage phosphor layer (4) is pivotable and includes acquiring unit (24) for acquiring an orientation of the apparatus (1). In this way, in a technically simple way, good image quality of an X-ray image read out can be guaranteed. Furthermore, the invention relates to a radiography module with this type of apparatus (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2006
    Publication date: July 5, 2007
    Applicant: AGFA-GEVAERT HEALTHCARE GMBH
    Inventors: Stephan Mair, Jens Nissen, Stefan Stallmeister