Radioactive Tracer Methods Patents (Class 250/303)
  • Patent number: 11573108
    Abstract: Provided herein are improved methods for estimating the flow velocity of a fluid in a vessel. Systems and methods are provided herein related to making and/or refining velocity measurements for flowing fluids, both single and multi-phase fluids, in vessels, such as pipes or conduits, utilizing contrast media property agent variations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Technology and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Kenneth W. Desmond, Gary L. Hunter
  • Patent number: 11474114
    Abstract: Artificial blood for a bloodstain pattern analysis includes water, an amino acid solution, bovine serum albumin, hemoglobin from bovine blood, potassium ferricyanide, sodium hyaluronate, sodium chloride, and tar color.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: REPUBLIC OF KOREA (NATIONAL FORENSIC SERVICE DIRECTOR MINISTRY OF THE INTERIOR AND SAFETY)
    Inventors: Sang Yoon Lee, Young Il Seo, Dong A Lim, Kyung Mi Kim, Eun Ah Joo, Je Hyun Lee, Ki Hwan Kim, Jin Pyo Kim, Jae Mo Goh, Nam Kyu Park, Se Hyun Shin
  • Patent number: 11293847
    Abstract: Test systems and methods for evaluating erosion of a test sample. The test systems include a particulate distribution structure configured to receive a supplied particulate stream and to discharge a distributed particulate stream. The test systems also include a particulate acceleration structure configured to receive the distributed particulate stream and to generate an accelerated particulate stream. The test systems further include a test sample fixture configured to hold the test sample at a test sample location positioned such that the accelerated particulate stream is incident upon the test sample location. The methods include methods of operating the test systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Matthew S. Jackson, Federico G. Gallo, Christian S. Mayer, Dragan Stojkovic, David Milton-Tayler, James Goddings
  • Patent number: 11215537
    Abstract: To measure an internal state of an engine, for example, the engine oil consumption conveniently and correctly, an inspection apparatus of the present invention for inspecting the internal state of the engine by using an exhaust gas of the engine including engine oil includes a data storage unit that stores content information about a plurality of elements contained in the engine oil, a data acceptance unit that accepts analysis information about a plurality of elements contained in the exhaust gas, and an inspection unit that compares the content information about the engine oil with the analysis information to inspect the internal state of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: HORIBA, LTD.
    Inventors: Ikue Takagi, Takashi Matsuyama
  • Patent number: 11187628
    Abstract: To measure an internal state of an engine, for example, the engine oil consumption conveniently and correctly, an inspection apparatus of the present invention for inspecting the internal state of the engine by using an exhaust gas of the engine including engine oil includes a data storage unit that stores content information about a plurality of elements contained in the engine oil, a data acceptance unit that accepts analysis information about a plurality of elements contained in the exhaust gas, and an inspection unit that compares the content information about the engine oil with the analysis information to inspect the internal state of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: HORIBA, LTD.
    Inventors: Ikue Takagi, Takashi Matsuyama
  • Patent number: 11179043
    Abstract: An apparatus for determining a functional index for stenosis assessment of a vessel is provided. The apparatus comprises an input interface (40) and a processing unit (50). The input interface is configured to obtain image data (30) representing a two-dimensional representation of a vessel (6). The processing unit (50) is configured to determine a course of the vessel (6) and a width (w1, w2) of the vessel along its course in the image data and is further configured to determine the functional index for stenosis assessment of the vessel based on the width of the vessel in the image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Christian Haase, Michael Grass, Bram Antonius Philomena Van Rens, Roland Wilhelmus Maria Bullens, Peter Maria Johannes Rongen, Arjen Van Der Horst, Raoul Florent, Romane Isabelle Marie-Bernard Gauriau, Javier Olivan Bescos, Holger Schmitt, Vincent Maurice André Auvray
  • Patent number: 11148233
    Abstract: An inspection system is configured to inspect the condition of a braze joint formed within a structure, wherein the braze joint is formed from a braze filler material having a tracer material disposed therein. The inspection system includes an energy source for directing energy towards the structure, an energy detector for detecting information regarding the structure following interaction with the energy directed from the energy source, and a data analysis system for analyzing the information detected by the energy detector. The data analysis system is configured to distinguish the tracer material from the remaining materials forming the structure in order to determine a suitability of the braze joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: HANON SYSTEMS
    Inventors: Qiong Zhang, Luan Gara, Guglielmo Abate, Craig Shaner
  • Patent number: 11041378
    Abstract: A method for monitoring pitting corrosion of a production tubing in a hydrocarbon well under downhole conditions during a production process using a coupon segment, the method comprising the steps of placing the coupon segment in the hydrocarbon well at a placement depth, the coupon segment is exposed to produced fluids and comprises an outer layer, an inner layer, and a hollow middle layer comprises a tracer fluid operable to leak into the produced fluids when pitting corrosion penetrates the outer layer, operating the production process in the hydrocarbon well such that produced fluids flow through the production tubing to a surface of the hydrocarbon well and wherein the produced fluids contact the coupon segment such that pitting corrosion occurs on the coupon segment; obtaining a sample of the produced fluids at the surface of the hydrocarbon well; and measuring an amount of the tracer fluid in the sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Tao Chen, Qiwei Wang, Fakuen Frank Chang
  • Patent number: 10898088
    Abstract: The disclosure provides technology for analyzing video data of a fluorescent contrast agent shot by a microscope during an operation, and provides a method and system allowing information such as BV, BF and MTT, and vascular wall thickness, to be estimated by fluorescent contrast agent analysis, by applying perfusion analysis methods. The method for processing intravascular hemodynamics images is characterized by shooting video using infrared light, wherein the object of shooting is a portion of a blood vessel injected with a fluorescent contrast agent; performing image analysis of a shape of a chronological change curve of intensity values which are image outputs from the video shooting; and calculating relative data for blood volume and blood flow based on results of the image analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: NATIONAL UNIVERSITY CORPORATION ASAHIKAWA MEDICAL UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Kyosuke Kamada, Hideaki Hayashi
  • Patent number: 10854349
    Abstract: The invention relates to a container (100, 901, 902, 903, 904, 905, 906, 907, 908, 909, 910) for the production of radioisotopes by irradiation of a precursor material formed by a one-piece metal casing, the wall of said casing including one thin portion (130) having a thickness of between 5 and 100 ?m, the remainder having a thickness greater than 100 ?m. The invention also relates to a method for obtaining the container and to a target assembly using same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: NANOMARKER SPRL
    Inventor: Milo Conard
  • Patent number: 10815775
    Abstract: The invention is a petroleum well tracer injection and monitoring method comprising the steps of providing a one or more curable liquid doped with one or more tracer, arranging said one or more liquid in an intervention liquid injecting tool, running the injection tool into a production tubing in a petroleum well to one or more desired injection position along the tubing, actuating the injection tool to apply one or more portions of the tracer doped liquid at said one or more desired positions, each said portion deposited to form a material deposition at a tubing wall of said tubing, allowing the well to produce and monitoring the tracers in the production flow and a tool to perform the injection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Inventor: Jon Eric Lauritzen
  • Patent number: 10675003
    Abstract: This disclosure provides systems and methods for intravascular imaging. Some systems may be configured to generate a screening image of a section of a patient's vessel, identify one or more sub-sections of the screening image that each include a diagnostically significant characteristic of the vessel, and imaging the one or more sub-sections. Some systems may be configured to automatically identify the one or more sub-sections and/or to allow a user to manually identify the one or more sub-sections. Some systems may be configured to automatically image the one or more sub-sections after the one or more sub-sections are identified. In some examples, the system may be configured to displace blood during imaging of the sub-sections to enhance image quality. The system may be configured to minimize the period of time blood is displaced by synchronizing imaging and blood displacement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: ACIST MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Jason F. Hiltner, Kendall R. Waters, Thomas C. Moore
  • Patent number: 10429518
    Abstract: An image generating apparatus for image generation and dose calculation is provided. The image generating apparatus includes a movable detector for detecting nuclear radiation during a detection period and an evaluation system. The evaluation system includes an interface system for transmitting detector data to the evaluation system. The detector data include information about the detected radiation for image generation. The evaluation system further includes a data memory portion for storing the detector data. The evaluation system further includes a program memory portion with a program for repeatedly determining at least one quality value with respect to image generation during the detection period. The image generating apparatus includes an output system including at least one output unit. The at least one output unit includes one output unit for outputting an instruction to a user for further moving the detector in dependence of the detector data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: SURGICEYE GMBH
    Inventors: Joerg Traub, Philipp Matthies, Matthias Keicher
  • Patent number: 10264977
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for the transcutaneous determination of organ function in a subject. The method includes administering a fluorescent indicator substance to the subject, determining a first and a second concentration-time curve of the fluorescent indicator in a body fluid of the patient and fitting the concentration-time curves to a four compartment kinetic model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: MediBeacon Inc.
    Inventors: Ralf Heinrich, Johannes Pill, Sabine Neudecker, Daniel Schock-Kusch, Juergen Guenther, Stefan Koenig, Jochen Friedmann
  • Patent number: 10246997
    Abstract: A device for testing samples of material in a fluid upstream of a pump of a fluid pumping installation and a pumping installation comprising such a device, the device comprising: a casing having one inlet opening for the fluid and one outlet opening for the fluid, the outlet opening fixed to the pump; and a perforated cartridge to contain the samples of material to be tested, the perforated cartridge being arranged in the casing between the inlet opening and the outlet opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: PCM TECHNOLOGIES
    Inventors: Stephanie Serres, Gregoire Crotte, Eric Perret
  • Patent number: 10228489
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for detecting glacier melting based on tracer technology. The method includes the following steps. 1. Different tracer agents with equal concentration are respectively added into a plurality of water samples. The water sample and the tracer agents are mixed well. Meanwhile, the volume and the mass of each glacier model are recorded. A plurality of water samples added with tracer agents are frozen layer by layer from inside to outside to establish a plurality of glacier models. 2. The surrounding environmental factors of the glacier model are adjusted. Water samples of the glacier models melted under different environmental factor conditions are collected. Furthermore, the concentrations of different kinds of tracer agents in the water samples are measured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: CHINA INSTITUTE OF WATER RESOURCES AND HYDROPOWER RESEARCH
    Inventors: Denghua Yan, Hao Wang, Baisha Weng, Tianling Qin, Wanli Shi, Guoqiang Dong, Xinlei Guo
  • Patent number: 10215667
    Abstract: A sampling and preparation system is positioned in a coal and biomass co-fired power station, which includes a sampling pipe connected with a boiler flue of the co-fired power station. The sampling pipe from the end close to the boiler flue to the other end away from the boiler flue includes a filtering device, a mass flow controller, a carbon dioxide trap and a pumping device. The sampling and preparation system also includes a carbon dioxide transfer device and a 14C testing device. The carbon dioxide transfer device is applied to transferring the carbon dioxide from the carbon dioxide trap to the 14C testing device which is applied to measuring the 14C in the carbon dioxide sample. The system may calculate the biomass blending ratio of the coal and biomass co-fired power station rapidly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: Zhejiang University
    Inventors: Zhongyang Luo, Yuxing Tang, Chunjiang Yu, Mengxiang Fang, Qinhui Wang, Tao Wang
  • Patent number: 10217220
    Abstract: Methods for the determination of transit time in circulatory systems and applications of the same. In at least one embodiment, the method includes the steps of obtaining a biological tree image showing a vasculature of at least part of a mammalian biological tree including at least a vessel segment, determining a transit time in the vessel segment, determining a blood volume in the vessel segment, determining a blood volume in a first vascular tree comprising the vessel segment, and calculating a transit time in the first vascular tree based upon the transit time through the vessel segment, the blood volume in the vessel segment, and the blood volume in the first vascular tree.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: DTherapeutics, LLC
    Inventor: Ghassan S. Kassab
  • Patent number: 10209249
    Abstract: Labelled silica nanoparticles for immunochromatographic reagent, comprising silica nanoparticles containing a labelled substance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: THE FURUKAWA ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hideki Aizawa, Michio Ohkubo
  • Patent number: 10199131
    Abstract: A sample transfer system for nuclear irradiation and a method of automatically irradiating sample containers is disclosed. The sample transfer system includes a conduit which may define a passage for transferring a plurality of sample containers, an input assembly which may be configured to allow the plurality of sample containers to pass through the conduit in a predefined order, and an exposure assembly which may be configured to receive the sample containers via the conduit and rotate the sample containers in front of a radiation source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Inventors: Azim Khajeali Chaleshtori, Alireza Farajollahi
  • Patent number: 9976955
    Abstract: Optical spectroscopy system and method possessing spectral selectivity sufficient to distinguish isotopic line of the metal of interest. Each of the light beams, counter-propagating through vial with vapor of the sample, has been originated from the same light output of the laser source and modulated at a corresponding judiciously-determined frequency. The light-output, in turn, possesses a carrier frequency and two side-band frequencies defined with respect to a mean value of excitation frequencies of isotopes in the vapor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: ARIZONA BOARD OF REGENTS ON BEHALF OF ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Damian Kokkin, Timothy Steimle
  • Patent number: 9962332
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for preventing nasolacrimal duct obstruction (NLDO) in a patient receiving high dose radioactive iodine for treatment of cancer. The method includes administering an effective amount of perchlorate anion to the eyes of the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: KEM Patent Holdings, LLC
    Inventor: Kenneth Eli Morgenstern
  • Patent number: 9943233
    Abstract: Automated image analysis used in vascular disease characterization. Coronary vasculature in particular is automatically characterized in some embodiments for lesion complexity and related anatomical and/or functional parameters related to disease state. In some embodiments, a “virtual revascularization” model is used as a reference in disease state determinations. In some embodiments, disease parameters are determined for application by a disease characterization tool such as a SYNTAX Score calculator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: CathWorks Ltd.
    Inventors: Guy Lavi, Uri Merhav
  • Patent number: 9933056
    Abstract: A deflection device for an inspection device is provided, wherein the deflection device has a working appliance having a main body and a pivoting element. The pivoting element is arranged pivotably about a pivot axis relative to the main body, a flexible fixation element, having a first end and a second end, wherein the main body is arranged at the first end, and a pulling element having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the pulling element is fixed at the pivoting element, and wherein the second end of the pulling element is fixed in the region of the second end of the fixation element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: IPEK INTERNATIONAL GMBH
    Inventors: Marvin Kiesel, Dominik Pomp
  • Patent number: 9889424
    Abstract: A method for producing a radionuclide is provided that produces molybdenum trioxide 99 (Mo-99.O3) and technetium oxide 99m (Tc-99m2.O7) by emitting an electron beam accelerated by an electron linear accelerator to a molybdenum trioxide 100 (Mo-100.O3) powder sample, and which separates and purifies technetium oxide 99m from both the molybdenum trioxide 99 and the technetium oxide 99m by using a radionuclide separation/purification unit. The method for producing a radionuclide supplies temperature-regulated gas to the molybdenum trioxide 100 powder sample during an irradiation period during which the electron beam is emitted to the molybdenum trioxide 100 powder sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takahiro Tadokoro, Yuko Kani
  • Patent number: 9885628
    Abstract: Example systems and methods for testing materials and assemblies for voids, cracks, or other defects are provided. One example system for testing a part includes a chamber configured to accept the part, and a vacuum source connected to the chamber. The example system also includes a fluid source connected to the chamber and configured to provide a radioactive or isotope-labeled fluid to the chamber. In addition, the example system includes a detector configured to detect a presence or absence of radioactivity or the isotope-labeled fluid in the part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Kevin O. Gaw
  • Patent number: 9851371
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for measuring the kinematics of at least one rotor of an engine (14), especially a turbomachine, characterized in that the measurement is performed by gamma ray scintigraphy, the method comprising steps consisting in providing the rotor with radioactive tracers, and, during the operation of the engine, detecting the gamma rays emitted by said tracers by means of at least two gamma cameras (30).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Safran Aircraft Engines
    Inventor: Benjamin Petard
  • Patent number: 9814433
    Abstract: A method for vascular modeling is disclosed. The method, in some embodiments, comprises receiving a plurality of 2-D angiographic images of a portion of a vasculature of a subject, and processing the images to automatically detect 2-D features, for example, paths along vascular extents, which are projected into 3-D to determine homologous features among blood vessels. In some embodiments, projection and/or image registration is iteratively altered to improve feature position matching. Based on 3-D vascular extents and their registration to 2-D images, additional features such as vascular width are optionally determined and added to the model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: CathWorks LTD.
    Inventors: Nessi Benishti, Ifat Lavi, Ran Kornowski, Idit Avrahami, Guy Lavi
  • Patent number: 9720114
    Abstract: The invention provides a test device for assessing the detection capability of an X-ray system with a medium and/or large tunnel size. The device comprises a support and at least one test module mounted on the support. The device may optionally also comprise a stand which holds the support at a predetermined angle to the horizontal. The test module, or at least one of the test modules, is capable of being used in a test for an aspect of the detection capability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organization
    Inventors: Ned Blagojevic, Dudley Creagh
  • Patent number: 9691148
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a medical imaging analyzer includes an imaging unit, a calculator, and an analyzer. The imaging unit divides an area including an object of a subject to be captured into a plurality of partial areas such that the partial areas overlap each other to form an overlapping area, and administers a contrast agent to each of the partial areas to capture a plurality of time-series images. The calculator calculates, based on the transition of the pixel value in one of the time-series images having the overlapping area, the transition of the pixel value in the other time-series image having the overlapping area. The analyzer analyzes the time-series images based on the transition of the pixel value in the one and the other of the time-series images to obtain the hemodynamics of the subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignees: TOSHIBA MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION, KOBE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Yasuko Fujisawa, Naoki Sugihara, Shigeharu Ohyu, Yoshiharu Ohno
  • Patent number: 9689991
    Abstract: A radiation probe system and method incorporating adaptive gamma radiation background subtraction for enhanced radiation detection capability is disclosed. The system and method are generally applicable to radiation “frisking” applications in which the contamination area may have high gamma radiation background levels that normally would result in loss of contamination radiation detection accuracy. Readings from a background radiation detector (BRD) are subtracted from a contamination radiation detector (CRD) to determine a count rate solely associated with contamination. A background subtraction factor (BSF) is used to scale the BRD subtraction and is automatically adjusted based on environmental conditions. A smoothing algorithm is used to increase/decrease the BRD and/or CRD acquisition times to account for signal variations in BRD/CRD measurement readings. The system and method provide for lower limit of detection (LLD) radiation levels that are below that of conventional radiation detectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: MIRION TECHNOLOGIES (CANBERRA) SAS
    Inventors: Archibald Dupont, Adrien Gallozzi Ulmann, Frédéric Meyer, Nabil Menaa, Xavier Ducoux
  • Patent number: 9682860
    Abstract: Provided are processes and systems for the reclamation of tritium from a tritiated byproduct material. A liquid organic tritium containing material is subjected to a series of reactions to isolate purified tritium gas that can be used in subsequent tritiation reactions. The processes involve in some aspects a semi-automated system that subjects a byproduct liquid organic tritium containing material to an oxidation to produce tritiated water, a chemical splitting of the tritiated water to form a tritiated gas that is substantially free of oxygen or other contaminants, and the isolation of purified tritium gas from hydrogen containing HT gas. The processes and systems provided substantially reduce both the cost to produce tritium source material for labeling of organic molecules and the amount of byproduct that requires disposal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: PerkinElmer Health Sciences, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Maroun, Steven T. Schaeffer, William D. MacIntosh, III, Anthony F. De Louise, III
  • Patent number: 9651447
    Abstract: Example systems and methods for testing materials and assemblies for voids, cracks, or other defects are provided. One example system for testing a part includes a chamber configured to accept the part, and a vacuum source connected to the chamber. The example system also includes a fluid source connected to the chamber and configured to provide a radioactive or isotope-labeled fluid to the chamber. In addition, the example system includes a detector configured to detect a presence or absence of radioactivity or the isotope-labeled fluid in the part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Kevin O. Gaw
  • Patent number: 9589347
    Abstract: The method comprising acquiring and analyzing by computer means image information of video sequences of two or more dimensions obtained from contrast-enhanced signals, for example ultrasound, coherence tomography, fluorescence images, or Magnetic Resonance Imaging, of a body part or tissue, for example of an organ, of a living subject; detecting events from said information of video sequences; selecting a Region of Interest of said body part or tissue; computing a first graph representative of a local vascular network of said image information of video sequences in which the edges of the graph are estimated by the temporal relationship among spatially remote signals of said image information of video sequences within a set of video sequences; and using said graph for assessment of vascular networks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignees: EXPERT YMAGING, S.L., HOSPITAL CLINIC I PROVINCIAL DE BARCELONA, FUNDACIO CLINIC PER A LA RECERCA BIOMEDICA (FCRB), UNIVERSITAT DE BARCELONA
    Inventors: Ivan Amat Roldan, Jaime Bosch Genover, Annalisa Berzigotti, Maria Rosa Gilabert Solé
  • Patent number: 9518817
    Abstract: An inner diameter measuring device comprises an object to be measured supporting carriage, being arranged movably along a rail installed on an upper surface of a bed and used for holding a hollow pipe to be measured, a supporting shaft extended from a base end to a forward end of the bed, being insertable into the pipe to be measured and being cantilever-supported, and an inner diameter measuring unit installed on a forward end of the supporting shaft, being insertable into the pipe to be measured and for measuring the inner surface of the pipe to be measured. The inner diameter measuring unit is adapted to be inserted into the pipe to be measured, and is adapted to measure an inner diameter of the pipe to be measured in a process where the object to be measured supporting carriage is moved toward the base end of the supporting shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: IHI Corporation
    Inventors: Michiko Baba, Kouzou Hasegawa, Norimasa Taga
  • Patent number: 9454886
    Abstract: Radioactive integrated circuit (IC) devices with radioactive material embedded in the substrate of the IC itself, and including logic for “fingerprinting” (that is, determining characteristics that identify the source of the radioactive source material). Radioactive IC devices with embedded detector hardware that determine aspects of radioactivity such as total dose and/or ambient radiation. Radioactive IC devices that can determine an elapsed time based on radioactive decay rates. Radioactive smoke detector using man-made, relatively short half-life radioactive source material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC.
    Inventors: Michael S. Gordon, Kenneth P. Rodbell
  • Patent number: 9396913
    Abstract: A charge read-out structure for photon and particle detectors, which is capable of spatially-resolving a position of the charge. The structure comprises a resistive element defining a detection surface which is capacitively coupled to an array of electrically insulated electrodes. Each electrode in the array is capacitively coupled to an adjacent electrode in the array to form a capacitively coupled network of electrodes. Selected ones of the electrodes in the array are each coupled to an array output for connection to a respective charge measurement device. The resistive element has a resistivity sufficient to temporarily localize a charge induced on the resistive element to an area corresponding to a subset of said electrodes in the array and for a duration sufficient for signal measurement from the array of electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: University of Leicester
    Inventor: Jonathan Stephen Lapington
  • Patent number: 9384862
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a liquid-metal coolant includes adding nanoparticles to the liquid-metal coolant to change neutronic properties of the liquid-metal coolant. The nanoparticles have neutronic properties different from that of the liquid-metal coolant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: GE-HITACHI NUCLEAR ENERGY AMERICAS LLC
    Inventors: Brett J. Dooies, Eric P. Loewen
  • Patent number: 9366766
    Abstract: The present invention provides a radiation detector, a radiographic imaging device and a radiographic imaging system that may detect radiation with high precision. Namely, in the radiation detector, radiation detection pixels include detection TFTs, and light that has been converted from radiation is illuminated directly from a scintillator onto the detection TFTs. Accordingly, leak current occurs in semiconductor active layers of the detection TFTs corresponding to the amount (intensity) of the illuminated light, and the leak current flows in to signal lines. Accordingly, radiation may be detected by monitoring the leak current, and enables timings, such as the start of irradiation of radiation, to be detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Okada
  • Patent number: 9262824
    Abstract: Described herein are methods and systems for analyzing biomedical images using new models. Example models include a linear reference region model and a reference agent model. In one example aspect, a computer-implemented method is provided. The method may involve determining, based on a set of biomedical images, a first concentration-activity curve and a second concentration activity-curve. Additionally, the method may further include determining a value of at least one pharmacokinetic (PK) parameter based on the first concentration-activity curve and the second concentration-activity curve and a linear model that relates the first concentration-activity curve to the second concentration-activity curve. The value of the at least one PK parameter may be determined based on application of a linear least square fitting algorithm to the linear model. Also, the method may include causing a graphical display to provide a visual indication of the value of the at least one PK parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Arizona Board of Regents on Behalf of the University of Arizona
    Inventors: Mark D. Pagel, Julio Cardenas-Rodriguez
  • Patent number: 9163966
    Abstract: A measuring apparatus (10) for determining the volume flow of glue in a gluing device (100) for an apparatus, particularly a bottoming device or a tubing machine, for manufacturing bags or semifinished bag products. The measuring apparatus (10) comprises a pressure accumulator (20) having a gas volume (22) and a glue volume (24) that is separated from the gas volume (22) by a pressure equalization element (26), particularly a flexible membrane, wherein the glue volume (24) as a glue port (28) for connection to a glue line (110) of the gluing device (100), and the pressure accumulator (20) comprises a pressure sensor (30) for determining the internal pressure inside the pressure accumulator (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: Windmöller & Hölscher KG
    Inventors: Andreas Lamkemeyer, Achim Seeberger
  • Patent number: 9164181
    Abstract: A scintillation crystal capable of emitting scintillation light can have a main body and a feature extending from the main body along a side of the scintillation crystal. The feature can have a dimension that is no greater than 2.5 times a wavelength of the scintillating light. In an embodiment, the feature and the main body can have substantially the same composition, and in a further embodiment the scintillation crystal can be interface free between the feature and the main body. The feature can be formed along the side of the scintillation crystal by removing portions of the scintillation crystal. In particular, the feature can be formed by abrading a surface of the scintillation crystal with an abrasive material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: SAINT-GOBAIN CERAMICS & PLASTICS, INC.
    Inventor: Peter R. Menge
  • Patent number: 9146326
    Abstract: An x-ray image detector monitors the intensity of incident x-rays to detect an end of radiation from an x-ray source when the x-ray intensity decreases to a threshold level or less. The x-ray intensity gets down to zero with a variable time lag from the start of decreasing, called radiation wave tail. Depending on the gradient of declivity in time curve of the decreasing x-ray intensity, calculated at the time when the end of radiation is detected, the x-ray image detector decides a delay time from the end-of-radiation detection time to a reading start time to start reading signal charges from the image detector. Thus, the reading start time may be adjusted to the point when the x-ray intensity gets down to zero, which will improve S/N ratio and prevent shading artifacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Takeshi Kuwabara, Keita Watanabe, Jun Enomoto, Yasufumi Oda, Takeshi Koishi
  • Patent number: 8455834
    Abstract: Systems and methods for nuclear medicine (NM) imaging using different radiopharmaceuticals are provided. One method includes generating images of a region of interest (ROI) from radioactive emissions from a localization radiopharmaceutical to position the ROI in a field-of-view (FOV) of a gamma camera based on the generated images of the ROI. The method further includes performing an imaging scan of the ROI using an imaging radiopharmaceutical to acquire image data of the ROI, wherein the imaging radiopharmaceutical is different than the localization radiopharmaceutical.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Leonid Tsukerman
  • Patent number: 8442179
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for identifying and tagging a target, such an individual or an item, are described that provide an improved mechanism for identifying the target without alerting the target. In this regard, a method and apparatus can irradiate the target so as to create a radioisotope signature for the target. By thereafter monitoring the radioisotope signature, the target can be identified and tracked in a covert manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: John L. Adamski, Richard H. Bossi, James M. Nelson, William G. Bartholet
  • Patent number: 8239002
    Abstract: Systems and methods disclosed provide for guiding a tool using a source of radioactivity. The method includes implanting a source of radioactivity at a position having a geometric relationship to a target tissue, determining at least an indication of a location of the source using at least one radioactivity detecting position sensor, and positioning a tool at a desired relative location with respect to the target tissue based on the determined location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Novatek Medical Ltd.
    Inventors: David Maier Neustadter, Giora Kornblau
  • Patent number: 8208987
    Abstract: A method for quantifying the uptake of at least one radiotracer in a body region of a patient of interest to a positron emission tomography measurement is disclosed. In at least one embodiment of the method, the uptake of the radiotracer in the body region of the patient of interest to the positron emission tomography measurement is quantified taking into account at least one permeability information item relating to the permeability of at least one blood vessel of the patient, in particular in the body region of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Arne Hengerer, Ralph Strecker
  • Patent number: 8158433
    Abstract: The present invention relates to identification tagging, and is specifically directed to identification tagging of ammunition. An isotopic taggant is deposited in a layer at the interface between the primer and the propellant so that, as the ammunition is fired, the taggant is dispersed throughout the propellant. The taggant is thus contained in the gunshot residue formed during the firing, and can be read by analysis of residue particles. Alternatively, the taggant may be deposited in a layer under the primer reactants, or in pellets which are easily destroyed by the chemical reactions involved in firing the ammunition, again dispersing the taggant throughout the propellant and the gunshot residue. Non-isotopic chemical taggants may also be employed if they are encoded so as to minimize the possibility of the information being destroyed or improperly read after the taggants are exposed to the chemical reactions in firing the ammunition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Inventor: Richard P Welle
  • Publication number: 20110309242
    Abstract: A system may include transmission of an activation beam to one or more non-radioactive elements disposed in a patient volume, wherein the elements become radioactive in response to the activation beam, detection of radiation emitted by the one or more now-radioactive elements, determination of respective locations of the one or more now-radioactive elements based on the detected radiation, and transmission of a treatment beam to the patient volume based on the respective locations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2010
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Applicant: SIEMENS MEDICAL SOLUTIONS USA, INC.
    Inventor: Jonathan S. Maltz
  • Publication number: 20110284742
    Abstract: A Kr-85 tracer gas is mixed with the carrier gas in a pressurized bottle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2010
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Inventors: DELMAR L. BARKER, Richard J. Wright