Emission Tomography Patents (Class 250/363.04)
  • Patent number: 11961042
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to detecting and registering unrecognized or unregistered objects. A minimum viable range (MVR) may be derived based on inspecting image data that represents objects. The MVR may be determined to be a certain MVR or an uncertain MVR according to one or more features represented in the image data. The MVR may be used to register corresponding objects according to the certain or uncertain determination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: MUJIN, Inc.
    Inventors: Jinze Yu, Jose Jeronimo Moreira Rodrigues, Rosen Nikolaev Diankov, Xutao Ye, Russell Islam
  • Patent number: 11947053
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for scanning a region of interest (ROI) by a gamma detector. An exemplary method includes determining, for each of multiple detector configurations, a respective weight based on an absorption profile, associating each of a plurality of portions of the ROI with a respective gamma attenuation value; and detecting gamma radiation from multiple detector configurations for time periods allocated among the detector configurations based on the weights determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Molecular Dynamics Limited
    Inventors: Tal Kenig, Zvi Devir
  • Patent number: 11925494
    Abstract: An imaging system is disclosed. The imaging system is operable to acquire and/or generate image data at positions relative to a subject. The imaging system includes a drive system configured to move the imaging system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Medtronic Navigation, Inc.
    Inventors: David A. Garlow, Robert P. Cloutier, John T. Hickey
  • Patent number: 11915346
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for performing operations including: accessing a current structural estimate of a region of interest; generating a first simulated X-ray measurement based on the current structural estimate of the region of interest; receiving a first real X-ray measurement; and generating an update to the current structural estimate of the region of interest as a function of the first simulated X-ray measurement and the first real X-ray measurement, the update being generated invariant on the current structural estimate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Elekta Limited
    Inventor: Jonathan Hugh Mason
  • Patent number: 11908146
    Abstract: A surgical visualization system that can include a structured light emitter, a spectral light emitter, an image sensor, and a control circuit is disclosed herein. The structured light emitter can emit a structured pattern of electromagnetic radiation onto an anatomical structure. The spectral light emitter can emit electromagnetic radiation including a plurality of wavelengths. At least one of the wavelengths can penetrate a portion of the anatomical structure and reflect off a subject tissue. The image sensor can detect the structured pattern of electromagnetic radiation reflected off the anatomical structure and the at least one wavelength reflected off the subject tissue. The control circuit can receive signals from the image sensor, construct a model of the anatomical structure, detect a location of the subject tissue, and determine a margin about the subject tissue, based on at least one signal received from the image sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Jason L. Harris, Kevin M. Fiebig, Daniel J. Mumaw
  • Patent number: 11885041
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for increasing luminescence uniformity and reducing afterglow of a Ce-doped gadolinium-aluminum-gallium garnet structure scintillation crystal, a crystal material and a detector. Sc ions are doped into the crystal material, and the Sc ions occupy at least an octahedral site. The effective segregation coefficient of active Ce ions is increased by a radius compensation effect of Sc—Ce ions and adjustment of lattice parameters, thereby the luminescence uniformity of the crystal is increased and the energy resolution is optimized; and at the same time, the potential barrier for Gd ions entering the octahedral site is increased, thereby the probability of the Gd ions entering the octahedral site is reduced, the density of point defects in the crystal is decreased, and the afterglow intensity is reduced. A general formula of the Ce-doped gadolinium-aluminum-gallium garnet structure scintillation crystal is {Gd1-x-y-pScxCeyMep}3[Al1-q]5O12, 0<x?0.1, 0<y<0.02, 0?p?0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: CHINA ELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY GROUP CORPORATION NO. 26 RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Yuchong Ding, Jingjing Qu, Qiang Wang, Lu Wang
  • Patent number: 11867843
    Abstract: A single photon counting sensor array includes one or more emitters configured to emit a plurality of pulses of energy, and a detector array comprising a plurality of pixels. Each pixel includes one or more detectors, a plurality of which are configured to receive reflected pulses of energy that were emitted by the one or more emitters. A mask material is positioned to cover some but not all of the detectors of the plurality of pixels to yield blocked pixels and unblocked pixels so that each blocked pixel is prevented from detecting the reflected pulses of energy and therefore only detects intrinsic noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: John Hostetler, Yahla Tachwali
  • Patent number: 11835669
    Abstract: A method of normalizing detector elements in an imaging system is described herein. The method includes a line source that is easier to handle for a user, and decouples the normalization of the detector elements into a transaxial domain and an axial domain in order to isolate errors due to positioning of the line source. Additional simulations are performed to augment the real scanner normalization. A simulation of a simulated line source closely matching the real line source can be performed to isolate errors due to physical properties of the crystals and position of the crystals in the system, wherein the simulated detector crystals are otherwise modeled uniformly. A simulation of a simulated cylinder source can be performed to determine errors due to other effects stemming from gaps between the detector crystals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: CANON MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Wenyuan Qi, Yi Qiang, Evren Asma, Xiaoli Li, Li Yang, Peng Peng, Jeffrey Kolthammer
  • Patent number: 11806182
    Abstract: A device (10) for performing an amyloid assessment includes a radiation detector assembly (12) including at least one radiation detector (14). At least one electronic processor (20) is programmed to: detect radiation counts over a data acquisition time interval using the radiation detector assembly; compute at least one current count metric from the detected radiation counts; store the at least one current count metric associated with a current test date in a non-transitory storage medium (26); and determine an amyloid metric based on a comparison of the at least one current count metric with a count metric stored in the non-transitory storage medium associated with an earlier test date.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Andriy Andreyev, Douglas B. McKnight, Nathan Serafino, Dane Pittock, Chuanyong Bai, Chi-Hua Tung
  • Patent number: 11769277
    Abstract: An imaging system includes a computed tomography (CT) imaging device (10) (optionally a spectral CT), an electronic processor (16, 50), and a non-transitory storage medium (18, 52) storing a neural network (40) trained on simulated imaging data (74) generated by Monte Carlo simulation (60) including simulation of at least one scattering mechanism (66) to convert CT imaging data to a scatter estimate in projection space or to convert an uncorrected reconstructed CT image to a scatter estimate in image space. The storage medium further stores instructions readable and executable by the electronic processor to reconstruct CT imaging data (12, 14) acquired by the CT imaging device to generate a scatter-corrected reconstructed CT image (42). This includes generating a scatter estimate (92, 112, 132, 162, 182) by applying the neural network to the acquired CT imaging data or to an uncorrected CT image (178) reconstructed from the acquired CT imaging data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Shiyu Xu, Peter Prinsen, Jens Wiegert, Ravindra Mohan Manjeshwar
  • Patent number: 11754824
    Abstract: An intelligent vital microscopy, IVM, device is described. The IVM device includes: a receiver configured to receive at least one IVM image of a human microcirculation, MC, of an organ surface; a learning processor coupled to the receiver and configured to: process the at least one IVM image and extract at least one MC variable therefrom, and identify from the extracted at least one MC variable of the at least one IVM image at least one of: an underlying cause for an observed abnormality, an intervention, a disease state, a disease diagnosis, a medical state of the human; a presence of a pathogen; and an output coupled to the learning processor and configured to output the identification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Active Medical, BV
    Inventors: Can Ince, Matthias Peter Hilty, Yasin Ince, Yavuz Ahiska
  • Patent number: 11751162
    Abstract: Described herein are techniques to enable a mobile device to determine a Z-axis coordinate based on altitudes associated with Wi-Fi access points detected in a Wi-Fi scan by the mobile device. One embodiment provides for an electronic device configured to compute a weighted average of Z-axis coordinates associated with detected Wi-Fi access points and determine a Z-axis coordinate for the electronic device based on the weighted average.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Brian S. Smith, Robert W. Mayor, Wei Kong, Lei Wang
  • Patent number: 11740125
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally pertains to an imaging apparatus for computed tomography imaging spectroscopy, which has circuitry configured to: obtain object image data being representative of light stemming from an object and being subject to an optical path and to a multiplexing process caused by a diffraction grating; and perform a spectral density reconstruction from an image of the object by inputting the obtained object image data into an spectral density reconstruction algorithm being configured to numerically solve a first equation describing the transformation of the light stemming from the object caused by the optical path into the object image based on a reduction of a dimensionality of a first function indicative of the optical path based on a symmetry of the first function, thereby reconstructing the spectral density of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Alexander Gatto, Günter Troll
  • Patent number: 11741569
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method and system compresses CT reconstruction images and can include: receiving a volumetric density file including one or more voxels; replacing one or more voxel density values below an air density value with the air density value; replacing one or more voxel density values above a material density value with the material density value; determining one or more voxels of interest; replacing one or more non-interesting voxel density values below a material surface density with the air density value; replacing one or more non-interesting voxel density values above the material surface density with the material density value; quantizing all voxels to provide a reduced volume image; and compressing the reduced volume image to provide a compressed volume image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: James R. Glidewell Dental Ceramics, Inc.
    Inventors: Fedor Chelnokov, Grant Karapetyan
  • Patent number: 11734470
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, a computer-implemented method for modelling an electrochemical process is disclosed, the electrochemical process comprising treating a surface of an object in a container containing an electrolyte, the method comprising following steps: enclosing the object by a control surface; generating a mesh on the control surface; generating a mesh on the object; generating a mesh on the container walls, anode surfaces and electrolyte meniscus; generating a mesh of the electrolyte contained within the control surface; generating a mesh of the electrolyte surrounding the control surface and determining approximate and/or analytical solutions of partial differential equations describing said electrochemical process in each element of the mesh of the control surface and/or of the electrolyte.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: ELSYCA N.V.
    Inventors: Leslie Edward John Bortels, Bart Juul Wilhelmina Van Den Bossche
  • Patent number: 11723608
    Abstract: One embodiment provides a gamma camera system, including: a stand, a rotatable gantry supported by the stand, and a transformable gamma camera connected by mechanical supports to the rotatable gantry and comprising groups of tiled arrays of gamma detectors and a collimator for each group of tiled arrays of gamma detectors; the transformable gamma camera being configured to subdivide into a plurality of subdivided gamma cameras, each of the subdivided gamma cameras having at least one of the groups of tiled arrays of gamma detectors and corresponding collimator, wherein the subdivision into a plurality of subdivided gamma cameras facilitates contouring with a region of interest for a spatial resolution. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: KROMEK GROUP. PLC
    Inventor: James W. Hugg
  • Patent number: 11701065
    Abstract: Various aspects include methods compensating for Compton scattering effects in pixel radiation detectors. Various aspects may include determining whether gamma ray detection events occurred in two or more detector pixels within an event frame, determining whether the gamma ray detection events occurred in detector pixels within a threshold distance of each other in response to determining that gamma ray detection events occurred in two or more detector pixels within the event frame, and recording the two or more gamma ray detection events as a single gamma ray detection event having an energy equal to the sum of measured energies of the two or more gamma ray detection events located in a detector pixel having a highest measured energy in response to determining that the gamma ray detection events occurred in detector pixels within the threshold distance of each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: REDLEN TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Krzysztof Iniewski, Saeid Taherion, Glenn Bindley
  • Patent number: 11684332
    Abstract: Described are methods and systems for scanning at least a portion of a patient with a gamma detector mounted on an arm extending towards the patient. One described method includes: obtaining data indicative or coordinates of points on the outer surface of the patient; determining a target position for the gamma detector based on the data indicative, of the coordinates; and causing the gamma detector to detect gamma radiation from the patient when the gamma detector is at the target position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Molecular Dynamics Limited
    Inventors: Tal Kenig, Uri Goldberg, Eli Stern
  • Patent number: 11660060
    Abstract: A whole body PET and CT combined detector and device, comprising a CT scanner frame (4) and a PET detection chamber (5) at the front and the rear along a common central axis. The CT scanner frame (4) is provided with a housing and also has a cylindrical CT scanning channel vertical to the central axis; the PET detection chamber (5) is formed by a plurality of PET detection modules (6, 7) adjacent to each other, and PET detection crystals (10) are all arranged in a direction towards to the chamber, the PET detection chamber (5) is entirely closed or a first opening is formed at the side adjacent to the CT scanner frame (4); each of the PET detection modules (6, 7) is composed of the PET detection crystals (10), a photoelectric sensor array (8), and a light guide (9); and except for the first opening, the cross-sectional areas of all gaps of the PET detection chamber (5) are smaller than the detected surface area of the smallest one of the PET detection crystals (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: SHANDONG MADIC TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jiguo Liu
  • Patent number: 11622742
    Abstract: Embodiments provide a computer-implemented method of deriving a periodic motion signal from imaging data for continuous bed motion acquisition, including: acquiring a time series of three dimensional image volumes; estimating a first motion signal through a measurement of distribution of each three dimensional image volume; dividing the time-series of three dimensional image volumes into a plurality of axial sections overlapping each other by a predetermined amount; performing a spectral analysis on each axial section to locate a plurality of three dimensional image volumes which are subject to a periodic motion; performing a phase optimization on each axial section to obtain a three dimensional mask; estimating a second motion signal through the three dimensional mask and the time-series of three dimensional image volumes; and estimating a final motion signal based on the first motion signal and the second motion signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Schleyer, Inki Hong, Judson P. Jones
  • Patent number: 11625827
    Abstract: Among other things, one or more systems and/or techniques for visually augmenting regions within images are provided herein. An image of an object, such as a bag, is segmented to identify an item (e.g., a metal gun barrel). Features of the item are extracted from voxels representing the item within the image (e.g., voxels within a first region), such as a size, shape, density, and orientation of the item. Response to the features of the item matching predefined features of a target item to detect, one or more additional regions are identified, such as a second region proximate to the first region based upon a location of the second region corresponding to where a connected part of the item (e.g., a plastic handle of the gun) is predicted to be located. The one or more regions are visually distinguished within the image from other regions (e.g., colored, highlighted, etc.).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Analogic Corporation
    Inventor: David Schafer
  • Patent number: 11619752
    Abstract: Provided is a CZT semiconductor activity meter and an activity measuring device, which relate to the field of medical apparatus and instruments. The CZT semiconductor activity meter includes a shell, a CZT probe, a package substrate and a processing module, wherein the CZT probe is arranged on an end of the shell, the package substrate is arranged at the middle part of the shell and abuts against an inner wall of the shell, the CZT probe is connected to one side of the package substrate, the other side of the package substrate and the inner wall of the shell together form a package inner cavity, and the processing module is accommodated in the package inner cavity and connected to the package substrate. The CZT semiconductor activity meter has a small volume, is convenient to operate, does not require manual control during detection, and can be used at room temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: SHANXI MEDICAL UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Sijin Li, Haiyan Liu, Gangqiang Zha
  • Patent number: 11620772
    Abstract: A system may transform sensor data from a sensor domain to an image domain using data-driven manifold learning techniques which may, for example, be implemented using neural networks. The sensor data may be generated by an image sensor, which may be part of an imaging system. Fully connected layers of a neural network in the system may be applied to the sensor data to apply an activation function to the sensor data. The activation function may be a hyperbolic tangent activation function. Convolutional layers may then be applied that convolve the output of the fully connected layers for high level feature extraction. An output layer may be applied to the output of the convolutional layers to deconvolve the output and produce image data in the image domain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: The General Hospital Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew S. Rosen, Bo Zhu, Bruce R. Rosen
  • Patent number: 11607190
    Abstract: A nuclear medicine (NM) multi-head imaging system is provided that includes a gantry, plural detector units mounted to the gantry, and at least one processor operably coupled to at least one of the detector units. The detector units are mounted to the gantry. Each detector unit defines a detector unit position and corresponding view oriented toward a center of the bore. Each detector unit is configured to acquire imaging information over a sweep range corresponding to the corresponding view. The at least one processor is configured to, for each detector unit, determine plural angular positions along the sweep range corresponding to boundaries of the object to be imaged, generate a representation of each angular position for each detector unit position, generate a model based on the angular positions using the representation, and determine scan parameters to be used to image the object using the model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: GE Precision Healthcare LLC
    Inventors: Jean-Paul Bouhnik, Yaron Hefetz
  • Patent number: 11598822
    Abstract: A leakage voltage detection system can be easily mounted on a ground structure such as an existing street light or a traffic light and can detect a leakage voltage of an electric structure in real time. The leakage voltage detection system includes a sensor node mounted on a ground structure, and an equipment management server that determines a risk of a leakage voltage in the ground structure based on detection voltage information from the sensor node. The sensor node includes an electric field probe that measures a potential difference caused by an electric field detected by electrodes, and a sensor box that detects the potential difference between the electrodes of the electric field probe and transmits the potential difference to the equipment management server as a detection voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomohiko Yano, Takashi Kawamoto, Hideyuki Nagaishi
  • Patent number: 11576641
    Abstract: Gamma cameras may be used to obtain two-dimensional images of an emitting object, of which the most common form is the “Anger-type” gamma camera. The primary components in a conventional Anger-type gamma camera include, but are not limited to: a plurality of photo-multiplier tubes, a scintillator material, and a collimator. The disclosed invention claims a novel use of a gamma camera which eliminates the collimator. The new method is a method of forming an initial image from the incident radiation, which does not depend on any mechanical or other means of restricting the incident radiation to be passed on to a position-sensitive radiation detector. This method then uses mathematical deconvolution to produce an image of the object without the need for a collimator and without reliance on a pre-existing image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: CFL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Kelly Farrar
  • Patent number: 11579315
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for scanning a region of interest (ROI) by a gamma detector. An exemplary method includes determining, for each of multiple detector configurations, a respective weight based on an absorption profile, associating each of a plurality of portions of the ROI with a respective gamma attenuation value; and detecting gamma radiation from multiple detector configurations for time periods allocated among the detector configurations based on the weights determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Molecular Dynamics Limited
    Inventors: Tal Kenig, Zvi Devir
  • Patent number: 11557068
    Abstract: A method for image reconstruction from plural copies, the method including receiving a series of measured projections pi of a target object h and associated background; iteratively reconstructing images hi(k) of the target object and images gi(k) of the background of the target object for each member i of the series of the measured projections pi over plural iterations k; and generating a final image of the target object h, based on the reconstructed images hi, when a set condition is met. The index i describes how many elements are in the series of projections pi, and iteration k indicates how many times the reconstruction of the image target is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: KING ABDULLAH UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Xin Gao, Renmin Han
  • Patent number: 11481964
    Abstract: A three-dimensional volume modeling method may include rotating a three-dimensional biological object having a translucent outer surface to different angular positions, capturing different two-dimensional images of the three-dimensional biological object, each of the different two-dimensional images being at a different angular position, and modeling an exterior of the three-dimensional biological object based upon the different two-dimensional images. The method may further involve identifying a point of an internal structure of the three-dimensional biological object each of the two-dimensional images and modeling the internal structure of the three-dimensional biological object in three-dimensional space relative to the exterior of the three-dimensional biological object by triangulating the point amongst the different two-dimensional images using a three-dimensional volumetric template of the three-dimensional biological object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Yang Lei, Viktor Shkolnikov, Daixi Xin
  • Patent number: 11481934
    Abstract: An exemplary system, method and computer-accessible medium for generating an image(s) of a portion(s) of a patient(s) can be provided, which can include, for example, receiving first information associated with a combination of positron emission tomography (PET) information and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) information, generating second information by applying a convolutional neural network(s) (CNN) to the first information, and generating the image(s) based on the second information. The PET information can be fluorodeoxyglucose PET information. The CNN(s) can include a plurality of convolution layers and a plurality of parametric activation functions. The parametric activation functions can include, e.g., a plurality of parametric rectified linear units. Each of the convolution layers can include, e.g., a plurality of filter kernels. The PET information can be reconstructed using a maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) procedure to generate a MLE image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: NEW YORK UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Fernando Boada, David Rigie
  • Patent number: 11426135
    Abstract: A multi-modality imaging system allows for selectable photoelectric effect and/or Compton effect detection. The camera or detector is a module with a catcher detector. Depending on the use or design, a scatter detector and/or a coded physical aperture are positioned in front of the catcher detector relative to the patient space. For low energies, emissions passing through the scatter detector continue through the coded aperture to be detected by the catcher detector using the photoelectric effect. Alternatively, the scatter detector is not provided. For higher energies, some emissions scatter at the scatter detector, and resulting emissions from the scattering pass by or through the coded aperture to be detected at the catcher detector for detection using the Compton effect. Alternatively, the coded aperture is not provided. The same module may be used to detect using both the photoelectric and Compton effects where both the scatter detector and coded aperture are provided with the catcher detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander Hans Vija, Miesher Rodrigues
  • Patent number: 11369265
    Abstract: An ophthalmic apparatus may include: a wavelength sweeping light source; a reference optical system; a calibration optical system; a light receiving element configured to receive calibration interference light which is a combination of calibration light and reference light; and a signal processor configured to sample a calibration interference signal outputted from the light receiving element when it receives the calibration interference light. The signal processor may sample the calibration interference light in at least first and second frequency bands, which are different and used for measuring a specific region of a subject eye. The ophthalmic apparatus calculates a difference between first and second waveforms, the first waveform being a waveform of the calibration interference signal that is sampled in the first frequency band and Fourier transformed, the second waveform being a waveform of the calibration interference signal that is sampled in the second frequency band and Fourier transformed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: TOMEY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuji Nozawa, Masahiro Yamanari, Takashi Kamo
  • Patent number: 11367227
    Abstract: A method of imaging includes obtaining projection data for an object representing an intensity of radiation detected along a plurality of rays through the object, obtaining an outline of the object via a secondary imaging system, the secondary imaging system using non-ionizing radiation, determining, based on the outline, a model and model parameters for the object, calculating, based on the model and the model parameters, a volumetric attenuation map for the object, and reconstructing, based on the projection data and the volumetric attenuation map, an attenuation-corrected volumetric image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: CANON MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Karthikayan Balakrishnan, Kent C. Burr
  • Patent number: 11318677
    Abstract: In some examples, with respect to feature protection for three-dimensional printing, a three-dimensional model of a three-dimensional object to be printed may be ascertained. A determination may be made as to whether a configuration of a three-dimensional model feature of the three-dimensional model matches a removable feature configuration from a set of removable feature configurations. Based on a determination that the configuration of the three-dimensional model feature of the three-dimensional model matches the removable feature configuration from the set of removable feature configurations, the three-dimensional model feature may be removed from the three-dimensional model to generate a modified three-dimensional model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Joshua Shepherd, Brent Ewald, Matthew A. Shepherd
  • Patent number: 11307313
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system for PET imaging. The system may include a detector module and an electronics module. The detector module may include a scintillator array having N rows of scintillators arranged in a first direction and M columns of scintillators arranged in a second direction, a first set of photosensors coupled to the scintillator array and extending in the second direction, and a second set of photosensors coupled to the scintillator array and extending in the first direction. The electronics module may detect a first set of electrical signals generated by the first set of photosensors and a second set of electrical signals generated by the second set of photosensors, and identify a scintillator within the scintillator array that has interacted with an impinging radiation ray relating to an electrical signal of the first set of electrical signals or the second set of electrical signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: SHANGHAI UNITED IMAGING HEALTHCARE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ze Chen, Ting Lu
  • Patent number: 11301688
    Abstract: A system and method for automatically detecting prohibited materials in a compartment at a security checkpoint includes receiving a three-dimensional representation of a compartment from an imaging device connected to the computing system, and classifying each voxel of the three-dimensional representation using a trained neural network to determine whether any voxel classifications of the three-dimensional representation correspond to a voxel classification of a prohibited material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Mohamed Nooman Ahmed, Samuel H. Woo
  • Patent number: 11249198
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for scanning a region of interest (ROI) by a gamma detector. An exemplary method includes determining, for each of multiple detector configurations, a respective weight based on an absorption profile, associating each of a plurality of portions of the ROI with a respective gamma attenuation value; and detecting gamma radiation from multiple detector configurations for time periods allocated among the detector configurations based on the weights determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Inventors: Tal Kenig, Zvi Devir
  • Patent number: 11249206
    Abstract: A method of normalizing detector elements in an imaging system is described herein. The method includes a line source that is easier to handle for a user, and decouples the normalization of the detector elements into a transaxial domain and an axial domain in order to isolate errors due to positioning of the line source. Additional simulations are performed to augment the real scanner normalization. A simulation of a simulated line source closely matching the real line source can be performed to isolate errors due to physical properties of the crystals and position of the crystals in the system, wherein the simulated detector crystals are otherwise modeled uniformly. A simulation of a simulated cylinder source can be performed to determine errors due to other effects stemming from gaps between the detector crystals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: CANON MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Wenyuan Qi, Yi Qiang, Evren Asma, Xiaoli Li, Li Yang, Peng Peng, Jeffrey Kolthammer
  • Patent number: 11241589
    Abstract: A method for tracking and irradiating a target using a radiotherapy apparatus, a device and a radiotherapy apparatus are provided. The radiotherapy apparatus includes a first ray source, a second ray source, and at least one detector. The method includes: moving the first ray source to a first location to emit a ray beam; receiving the ray beam emitted from the first ray source at the first location and generating first image data of a target according to the received ray beam, by the detector; and adjusting the second ray source according to the first image data to make the second ray source move to the first location and an emitted ray beam pass through the target, wherein a time taken for the second ray source to move to the first location is a positive integer multiple of a preset respiratory period of a patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: OUR NEW MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES
    Inventors: Jiuliang Li, Hao Yan, Jinsheng Li
  • Patent number: 11231508
    Abstract: For dead time determination for a gamma camera or other detector, a long-lived point source of emissions is positioned so that the gamma camera detects the emissions from the source while also being used to detect emissions from the patient. The long-lived point source, in the scan time, acts as a fixed frequency source of emissions, allowing for dead time correction measurements that include the crystal detector effects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.
    Inventor: Manojeet Bhattacharya
  • Patent number: 11191510
    Abstract: Provided are an imaging system and method based on multiple-gamma photon coincidence events. The imaging system includes: a plurality of detector assemblies arranged in a non-parallel manner, a time coincidence module and a computer platform. Each detector assembly includes a collimator and a detector configured to measure time and to detect a multiple-gamma photon coincidence event constituted by a plurality of single-gamma photon events cascade-emitted by a radionuclide within a short time. The method is configured to determine validity of the multiple-gamma photon coincidence event, calculate a plurality of non-parallel projection lines where the decay of the radionuclide takes place, determine a location where the decay of the radionuclide takes place according to the non-parallel projection lines, and obtain a distribution of the radionuclide in the subject according to the location where the decay of the radionuclide takes places.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: TSINGHUA UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Yaqiang Liu, Tianyu Ma, Peng Fan
  • Patent number: 11185295
    Abstract: An imaging system includes a collimator assembly, a detector assembly and a control device. The collimator assembly is configured to collimate photons emitted from an imaged subject. The collimator assembly includes a plurality of slit-plates, each of the plurality slit-plates including one or more slits configured to collimate the photons in a first direction, and a plurality of slats parallel to a transverse plane of the imaging system. The detector assembly is configured to generate signals based on the collimated photons. The control device is configured to place the plurality of slit-plates in a plurality of locations to provide a plurality of fields of view of the imaging system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: UIH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Tao Feng, Hongdi Li
  • Patent number: 11176640
    Abstract: An ultrasound observation device includes a controller. The controller is configured to: calculate feature data of an ultrasound signal by analyzing the ultrasound signal; divide an area of interest preliminarily set on an ultrasound image into a plurality of sections; and set an attenuation rate for each of the sections; correct the attenuation rate in a range including at least a boundary between adjacent sections in a manner smoothly changing across the adjacent sections; and perform attenuation correction on the feature data using the corrected attenuation rate to calculate correction feature data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Junichi Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 11166690
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus and associated methods are provided to receive measured projection data in a primary region and correct for scatter by processing the imaging data as two separate components: non-scatter-corrected data and scatter-only data. Separate image processing (e.g., reconstruction) allows for the use of individualized data processing, including filters, suited to the source data, thereby focusing on specific aspects of the source data, including, for example, noise and artifact reduction, resolution, edge preservation, etc. Combining the separately processed data results in an optimized balance of these aspects with improved image quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: Accuray, Inc.
    Inventors: Chuanyong Bai, Zhicong Yu, Amit Jain, Daniel Gagnon
  • Patent number: 11160519
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for imaging with detectors having moving heads are provided. One apparatus includes a gantry and a plurality of detector units mounted to the gantry. At least some of the plurality of detector units are movable relative to the gantry to position one or more of the detector units with respect to a subject. The detector units are movable along parallel axes with respect to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Tzachi Rafaeli, Yaron Hefetz
  • Patent number: 11081212
    Abstract: A method for computing the release rate of a controlled release drug and medical device using a combination of imaging data and computational physics is described. The method employs a three-dimensional digital representation of a drug sample, derived from two-dimensional or three-dimensional imaging, which captures the drug active pharmaceutical ingredient (API), excipients, and porosity with distinctive contrasts. Direct numerical simulations are conducted on the three-dimensional digital representation to derive effective transport properties of the API going through a porous matrix or membrane. Drug release rate can be predicted more efficiently than laboratory-based methods. When there is strong heterogeneity presented in the drug, a further method is described that engages imaging and release simulations at multiple scales. Computerized systems and programs for performing the methods are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: DigiM Solution LLC
    Inventor: Shuang Zhang
  • Patent number: 11069053
    Abstract: Systems and methods for optical material characterization of waste materials using machine learning are provided. In one embodiment, a system comprises: an imaging device configured to generate image frames an area and target objects within the area; an object characterization processor coupled to the imaging device and comprising Neural Processing Units and a Neural Network Parameter Set. The Neural Network Parameter Set stores learned parameters utilized by the one or more Neural Processing Units for characterizing the one or more target objects. The Neural Processing Units are configured by the Neural Network Parameter Set to detect a presence of a plurality of different materials within the image frames based on a plurality of different features. For a first image frame of the plurality of image frames, the Neural Processing Units outputs material characterization data that identifies which of the plurality of different materials are detected in the first image frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: AMP Robotics Corporation
    Inventors: Matanya B. Horowitz, James A. Bailey
  • Patent number: 11058388
    Abstract: Various embodiments are described herein for a system and method of integrated X-ray imaging and microscopic imaging of an imaging area having a sample on a sample stage. An X-ray apparatus may be disposed within the imaging area and be configured to acquire X-ray image data of at least a portion of the sample. A microscopic imaging apparatus may be disposed within the imaging area and be configured to acquire microscopic image data of the at least a portion of the sample. In some embodiments, a processing unit may then control the X-ray apparatus to acquire X-ray image data of the at least the portion of the sample, and generate one or more corresponding X-ray images; determine a region of interest (ROI) of the sample based on the one or more X-ray images; and control the microscopic imaging apparatus to obtain at least one microscopic image based on the ROI.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: PERIMETER MEDICAL IMAGING, INC.
    Inventors: David Rempel, Andrew Berkeley, Elizabeth Alice Munro, Yaaseen Atchia
  • Patent number: 11054534
    Abstract: A Time-Resolved PET imaging system for producing real-time, high resolution, three-dimensional positron emission tomographic images without performing sinogram formation or image reconstruction. The third dimension is provided by measuring the ?T between the arrival times of gamma rays from a positron event being detected by two cooperating detectors. In order to determine the location of a positron event along the lines of response, the measurement includes a fast scintillator, constant fraction discriminator and the digital intervalometer. The arrival time of each photon in the annihilation process is recorded with respect to a clock frequency with picosecond resolution. This approach requires significantly fewer positron events, thus requiring fewer detectors, thereby resulting in a new, real-time TPET imaging system that is more efficient and more economical to produce than conventional PET systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Inventors: Ronald Nutt, Lynda J. Nutt
  • Patent number: 11054535
    Abstract: A directional radiation detection system and an omnidirectional radiation detector. The omnidirectional radiation detector detects radiation comprising at least one of: (i) gamma rays; and (ii) neutron particles. A radiation scatter mask (RSM) of the radiation detection system includes a rotating sleeve received over the omnidirectional radiation detector and rotating about a longitudinal axis. The RSM further includes: (i) a fin extending longitudinally from one side of the rotating sleeve; and (ii) a wall extending from the rotating sleeve and spaced apart from the fin having an upper end distally positioned on the rotating sleeve spaced apart or next to from a first lateral side of the fin and a lower end proximally positioned on the rotating sleeve and spaced apart from or next to a second lateral side of the fin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventors: Robert Olesen, Bryan Egner, Darren Holland, Valerie Martin, James Bevins, Larry Burggraf, Buckley O'Day