With Adjustment Of Conditions Patents (Class 250/587)
  • Patent number: 11967411
    Abstract: A device, system, and method determines a reading environment by synthesizing downstream needs. The method at a workflow server includes receiving a request from a physician device utilized by a referring physician, the request directed to performing an imaging procedure. The method includes determining at least one normalized need from the request, the normalized need corresponding to the referring physician. The method includes generating information to be included in a reading environment based on the at least one normalized need, the information assisting an image interpreter in interpreting the imaging procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignees: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V., THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO
    Inventors: Merlijn Sevenster, Paul Joseph Chang
  • Patent number: 11475569
    Abstract: A method may include obtaining a breast image of an object that is acquired by an imaging device; determining a projection curve based on the breast image; determining a first valley point and a second valley point of the projection curve; determining a peak point of the projection curve based the first valley point and the second valley point of the projection curve; determining a first valley location, a second valley location, and a peak location in the breast image based on the peak point, the first valley point, and the second valley point of the projection curve; and determining a breast region in the breast image based on the first valley location, the second valley location, and the peak location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: SHANGHAI UNITED IMAGING HEALTHCARE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Liang Xu, Jing Yan, Hanyu Wang, Jie Niu, Haihua Zhou, Juan Feng, Le Yang, Na Zhang, Yange Ma
  • Patent number: 11150188
    Abstract: There are provided a control device of an image reading apparatus, an operation method and an operation program thereof, and an image detection system capable of quickly and easily outputting an image having an appropriate density for analysis from an image reading apparatus. An image receiving unit receives a pre-image output in pre-scanning performed before main scanning for outputting a main image for analysis in an image reading apparatus. A region information receiving unit receives information of a region in the pre-image designated by a user. A calculation unit calculates an appropriate voltage value that is a voltage value of the photomultiplier at which a density of the region becomes an appropriate density for analysis. A scanning conditions setting unit sets the appropriate voltage value as temporary scanning conditions of main scanning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Takashi Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 10939822
    Abstract: A method of guiding a cardiac treatment using a functional imaging modality, comprising: providing functional imaging modality data from a functional imaging modality which images an intrabody volume of a patient containing a heart, the patient having been injected with an imaging agent having a nervous tissue uptake by an autonomic nervous system (ANS) of the heart, the ANS comprising at least one GP; locating the at least one GP innervating the heart based on the functional imaging modality data; and providing the located at least one GP.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Tylerton International Holdings Inc.
    Inventors: Shlomo Ben-Haim, Yoel Zilberstien, Nathaniel Roth
  • Patent number: 10817993
    Abstract: A radiographic imaging system and imaging method that improves image quality of a combined image including a defective region caused by a structural object of a radiation detection apparatus are provided. The radiographic imaging system, which includes a plurality of radiation detection apparatuses that detect radiation and a combining processing unit that combines a plurality of radiographic images acquired from the plurality of radiation detection apparatuses to generate a combined image, corrects a pixel value of a correction target pixel of a region in which a structural object of a radiation detection apparatus is included in the combined image using a pixel value of a pixel in a range predetermined with reference to the correction target pixel of a region in which the structural object is not included in the combined image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Naoto Takahashi
  • Patent number: 10380690
    Abstract: Datasets may be characterized by patterns. The patterns may be caused or otherwise influenced by external factors, such as temporal, meteorological, and/or system factors. The external factors, as well as the patterns which result in the data values of the dataset because of the external factors, may provide for techniques used to account for missing data elements, outlier data elements and/or otherwise cleanse the dataset. New elements may be generated to provide for the missing data elements, and derivative datasets may be generated based on one or more cleansed datasets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc.
    Inventors: Jennifer Weng, Nataliya Frost, Shuo Liu, Panagiotis Xythalis, Lingrui Xiang, Xianqing Zou, Hariharan Kesavarao, Jie Zhu, Abhinaw Prakash
  • Patent number: 9906742
    Abstract: A method for estimating values lost to inoperable pixels on ultraviolet (UV) sensor arrays comprising identifying an inoperable pixel on a UV sensor array, applying a three by three kernel to the inoperable pixel, the three by three kernel being centered on the inoperable pixel, acquiring a centroid value for the inoperable pixel, applying a compensation algorithm based on the three by three kernel radial centroid value, and calculating estimated values for the inoperable pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.
    Inventors: Kazimierz T Grzeslak, Stephen M Dolfini, Kurt J Nordhaus
  • Patent number: 9753158
    Abstract: There are provided the following components: an FPD that has a plurality of pixels, in which signal electric charges corresponding to amounts of X-rays incident are accumulated, and that is capable of nondestructively reading data which indicates the X-ray image; an amplifier that amplifies a signal sent from the FPD and has a variable gain; an evaluation value calculation section that obtains an evaluation value for evaluating the X-ray image; and a gain adjustment section that calculates a new gain of the amplifier used at the time of rereading. The gain of the amplifier is changed to a value of a new gain which is calculated by the gain adjustment section, and the X-ray image is reread.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: FUJIFILM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naoyuki Nishino, Naoto Iwakiri, Takeyasu Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 8428218
    Abstract: A dynamic tumor radiation treatment program for causing a computer to function. The program includes detecting an annihilation gamma ray with a gamma ray detector, storing the threshold of counting rate in a displacement threshold memory, computing the counting rate according to the detection signal of an annihilation gamma ray with a gamma ray counting rate computer, comparing the counting rate of annihilation gamma rays acquired from the gamma ray counting rate computer with the threshold of the counting rate acquired from the displacement threshold storage memory by means of a threshold comparator, judging whether or not the tumor is displaced out of the radiation irradiation spot by means of a tumor position judging unit, and making a control to stop radiation irradiation or outputting a stop command signal by means of an irradiation controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignees: National University Corporation Hokkaido University, Institute of National Colleges of Technology, Japan
    Inventors: Junichi Kaneko, Fumiyuki Fujita, Hiroki Shirato, Eiji Takada
  • Patent number: 8288729
    Abstract: A first leakage current value output from each signal line is stored in a storage unit, with a charge corresponding to an emitted radiation being held in a radiographic image detector, when the radiation is uniformly emitted to the radiographic image detector. A second leakage current value is acquired which is output from each signal line, with a charge corresponding to the radiation dose being held in the radiographic image detector, when the radiation passing through an object is emitted to the radiographic image detector. When the first and second leakage current values are equal to each other for each line corresponding to each signal line, all pixels on the line are determined to belong to a background area (lines A and C).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Masaharu Ogawa, Nobuyuki Iwasaki, Takao Kuwabara
  • Patent number: 8274061
    Abstract: A scanner includes a plurality of laser stimulating ray sources, a sample stage on which a sample containing a labeling substance is to be placed, a scanning mechanism, a photomultiplier for photoelectrically detecting light released from the labeling substance and producing analog image data, an A/D converter for converting the analog image data to digital image data, and a pixel density signal intensity simulating section for effecting simulation based on pre-scan digital image data produced by setting a voltage value of the photomultiplier to a given photomultiplier voltage value G0 to simulate density signal intensity of each pixel of digital image data that would be produced by setting the photomultiplier to a voltage value G different from the voltage value G0. According to the thus constituted scanner, it is possible to determine the voltage value of the photomultiplier simply and rapidly without causing on the degradation of a sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro Matsushita, Yoshifumi Shioe
  • Patent number: 8124949
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a modular scanning apparatus that can be advantageously used in both computed radiology devices and fixed scanning direct radiology devices. The scanning assembly advantageously utilizes a light collecting and measuring assembly having highly reflective surfaces in conjunction with a novel optical assembly within a light box type enclosure to enable a modular scanning and reading assembly that is compact, robust and also scaleable. The present invention further discloses novel computed radiography and direct radiography devices that utilize the modular scanning assembly to provide radiology devices that are highly robust and efficient and yet also simple to build, maintain, service and repair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: ICRCO, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen Neushul
  • Patent number: 7683358
    Abstract: A reference light source produces a reference light having a predetermined light intensity. A sensitivity measuring device acquires a detection signal from an operation, in which the reference light having been produced by the reference light source is photoelectrically detected with the photomultiplier. The sensitivity measuring device measures a sensitivity of the photomultiplier in accordance with a relationship between the thus acquired detection signal and a reference signal, which has been set previously and which has a level in accordance with the predetermined light intensity of the reference light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Kimihiko Satoh, Yasunori Ohta
  • Patent number: 7612357
    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: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert HealthCare GmbH
    Inventors: Stephen Mair, Jens Nissen, Stefan Stallmeister
  • Publication number: 20090224188
    Abstract: Radiation images, which are obtained while reciprocally moving a scattered radiation removing means, are efficiently corrected. An image processing apparatus performs shading correction and gain correction on a radiation image which is obtained by detecting radiation that passes through a subject and is detected by a radiation detector while reciprocally moving the scattered radiation removing means, using a reference image. An irradiation control means controls irradiation of radiation during obtainment of the reference image such that irradiation is ceased after the scattered radiation removing means is reciprocally moved for k periodic reciprocal motions (k is an integer greater than or equal to 1) from initiation of irradiation. Meanwhile, irradiation of the radiation during obtainment of the radiation image is controlled such that irradiation is ceased after the scattered radiation removing means is reciprocally moved for m periodic reciprocal motions (m is an integer greater than or equal to 1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Publication date: September 10, 2009
    Applicant: FUJIFILM CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiroshi YAMAKITA
  • Patent number: 7550754
    Abstract: A computed radiography (CR) system for imaging an object is provided. The system includes a radiation source, a storage phosphor screen, an illumination source and a two dimensional imager. The radiation source is configured to irradiate the storage phosphor screen, and the storage phosphor screen is configured to store the radiation energy. The illumination source is configured to illuminate at least a sub-area of the storage phosphor screen to stimulate emission of photons from the storage phosphor screen. The two dimensional (2D) imager is configured to capture a two dimensional image from the storage phosphor screen using the stimulated emission photons. A method of reading a storage phosphor screen is also provided. The method includes illuminating at least a sub-area of the storage phosphor screen using an illumination source to stimulate emission of photons from the storage phosphor screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Clifford Bueno, Nelson Raymond Corby, Jr., Kenneth Gordon Herd
  • Publication number: 20090146079
    Abstract: A computed radiography plate including a substrate is provided. The computed radiography plate also includes at least one phosphor layer disposed above the substrate. The computed radiography plate also includes a protective layer disposed above the phosphor layer. The computed radiography plate further includes multiple patterns inscribed within at least one of the phosphor layer, the protective layer or the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2007
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Nelson Raymond Corby, JR., Clifford Bueno
  • Patent number: 7391848
    Abstract: In a method for quickly taking and evaluating X-ray pictures of an examination object imaged on a digital X-ray detector, the first step is for a partial imaging surface required for X-ray examination of the respective examination object to be automatically selected with reference to size and position from the entire imaging surface of the X-ray detector. After this, only the imaging data of the partial imaging surface that are compiled per examination are used as a basis for evaluation and/or display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Martin Spahn
  • Patent number: 7342242
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for estimating photmultiplier sensitivity change is provided, which is capable of properly and easily estimating the sensitivity change in a photomultiplier used in a radiation image reading unit constructed to read out a radiation image using the photomultiplier. The method and apparatus obtain exposure conditions used when the radiation image was recorded on the storage phosphor sheet by the exposure condition obtaining means, then calculate an estimated amount of radiation irradiated on the storage phosphor sheet by the sensitivity change information obtaining means based on the exposure conditions obtained by the exposure condition obtaining means, cumulatively add the estimated amount of radiation for each radiation image recorded on the storage phosphor sheet, and obtain the cumulative value of the estimated amounts as the information that indicates the sensitivity change in the photomultiplier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Kimihiko Satoh, Yasunori Ohta
  • Patent number: 7335905
    Abstract: Corrective image data obtained by reading a stimulable phosphor sheet which is uniformly irradiated with a radiation are masked, and added and averaged into reference data. The ratio between the reference data and the corrective image data is generated as sensitivity correcting data. Desired radiation image information is then read from the stimulable phosphor sheet, corrected by the sensitivity correcting data, and outputted to an external image processing apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroaki Yasuda, Eiichi Kanagawa
  • Patent number: 7329892
    Abstract: Images are obtained with a reading device, such that an efficient pixel existence range of efficient pixels capable of being read out within a read-out sensitivity range of the reading device varies for different images, and such that the efficient pixel existence range in each image contains an overlapping area, which overlaps with the efficient pixel existence range in one of the other images. Correction processing is performed on the images, which have the common overlapping area, for correcting pixel values of pixels in at least either one of the images, such that the pixel values of the pixels in the overlapping area of one of the images become identical with the pixel values of the pixels in the overlapping area of the other image. A single image is composed from the images having been obtained from the correction processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Satoshi Arakawa
  • Patent number: 7319234
    Abstract: Structural noise is accurately removed by a radiographic image correcting apparatus. A correction image data set, generated from a reference image data set obtained from a stimulable phosphor sheet onto which radiation has been uniformly irradiated, that includes at least four times the amount of structural noise compared to quantum noise, is recorded in a memory means. A correcting means corrects a radiographic image data set, employing the correction image data set recorded in the memory means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Yukio Kanegae
  • Patent number: 7312467
    Abstract: An apparatus and associated method for reading out X-ray information of an X-ray picture stored in a phosphor layer includes: an irradiation device for irradiating the phosphor layer with a stimulating light beam to be moved along a line over the phosphor layer, and in so doing stimulating the phosphor layer into emitting emission light; a detector for collecting the emission light emitted from the storage phosphor layer and for converting the emission light collected into a detector signal S; a processing unit for deducing picture signal values B for pixels of the picture along the line from the detector signal S; and two or more sensors located at different reference positions to collect reference times when the light beam is located at the different reference positions. The processing unit deduces a number of detector signal values D from the detector signal S to deduce the picture signal values B between the two reference times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert HealthCare GmbH
    Inventors: Bernd Gerstlauer, Detlef Brautmeier, Rainer Nebosis, Axel Kasper
  • Patent number: 7247875
    Abstract: A process for the collection and presentation of an X-ray image stored in a phosphor layer, includes the steps of: collecting information in an area of the phosphor layer and in an area adjacent to, and outside of, the phosphor layer; dividing the information collected into image information and edge information, taking into account a run of the information collected, whereby the image information corresponds to the information collected in the area of the phosphor layer, and the edge information corresponds to the information collected in the area adjacent to, and outside of, the phosphor layer; and presenting the image information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Werner Haug, Detlef Brautmeier, Horst Scherer
  • Patent number: 7227168
    Abstract: A system and corresponding method for reading out X-ray information stored in a phosphor layer, includes a read-out device for reading out the X-ray information stored in the phosphor layer, and an input unit integrated in to the read-out device for entering additional information by an operator where the input unit is in the form of a graphical input unit into which the additional information can be entered in graphical form by the operator. Moreover, an allocation device is provided for allocating the entered additional information in graphical form to the X-ray information read out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert Healthcare GmbH
    Inventor: Hannes Serro
  • Patent number: 7208750
    Abstract: A radiation image reading apparatus includes an image reading section for reading a radiation image on a stimulable phosphor sheet by scanning the stimulable phosphor sheet with exciting light in a main scanning direction, and a conveying section having a windable member to hold the stimulable phosphor sheet, a supporting member to support the windable member, and a driving section to move the windable member so as to convey the stimulable phosphor sheet to the image reading section in a sub scanning direction. The apparatus further includes a vibration damping mechanism being in contact with the windable member to damp vibration of the windable member, and a vibration refraining mechanism being in contact with the vibration damping mechanism to refrain vibration of the vibration damping mechanism itself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Medical & Graphic, Inc.
    Inventor: Masahiro Umemura
  • Patent number: 7180042
    Abstract: An image input apparatus which includes a detection section (10) to detect radiographic image from a recording member (4) having radiographic image information recorded thereon, and reads the detected radiographic image, the image input apparatus including: a creation section (17) to create a plurality of correction values for correction of unevenness on the image or radiography sensitivity, in which the plurality of correction values correspond to a plurality of detection regions; a storage section (17) to store the created plurality of correction values; and a selecting section (13) to select an optimal correction value upon image reading, wherein the optimal correction value is used for the image reading.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Holdings, Inc.
    Inventor: Tsuyoshi Ito
  • Patent number: 7170080
    Abstract: A read-out device reads out X-rays stored in phosphor layers. To improve image quality, the read-out device is controlled such that an X-ray of a first body part, e.g. of a limb, stored in a phosphor layer is read out by the read-out device controlled in a first read-out mode, and an X-ray of a second, different body part, e.g. of a thorax, stored in the phosphor layer is read out by the read-out device controlled in a second 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 include, but are not limited to, the size of the pixels, the intensity and/or the width of a focus range of stimulation light on the phosphor layer, the sampling rate of a detector, and a speed of the phosphor layer in relative movement to the read-out device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert HealthCare GmbH
    Inventors: Robert Fasbender, Clemens Herrmann, Johan Lamotte, Stephan Mair, Horst Scherer, Jörg Frankenberger
  • Patent number: 7161166
    Abstract: Light emitted by a stimulable phosphor sheet, on which a radiation image has been stored, is detected with a line sensor comprising line sensor constituting units arrayed such that their certain regions overlap each other. A test image, in which edge patterns are embedded at positions corresponding to the overlapping regions of the line sensor constituting units, is read out, and test image signal components are acquired from each of the line sensor constituting units. Position matching processing is performed on radiation image signal components of a radiation image signal representing the radiation image, which have been obtained from the line sensor constituting units, and in accordance with edge pattern signal components, which represent the edge patterns and are contained in the test image signal components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroaki Yasuda
  • Patent number: 7157728
    Abstract: Apparatus for reading out X-ray information stored in a stimulatable phosphor layer, includes: a plurality of light sources used to emit stimulation light which can stimulate the phosphor layer to emit emission light; a detector used to collect emission light emitted from the phosphor layer; and a control unit for controlling an intensity of the light sources by using a control parameter determined from a reference light source in a regulation unit. The highest possible level of homogeneity and constancy of the light sources will be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert HealthCare GmbH
    Inventor: Werner Nitsche
  • Patent number: 7102149
    Abstract: The inspection method comprises: preparing a storage fluorescent inspection sheet that has stored and recorded a radiation inspection image which has a density pattern in which one or more low-density and high-density regions having a contrast difference of at least 1:20 are arrayed in a horizontal scanning direction; obtaining an image inspection signal representing the radiation inspection image, by photoelectrically reading the radiation inspection image from the storable fluorescent inspection sheet; and inspecting the influence of stray light, based on an image reproduced from the image inspection signal. An inspection image plate has contrast differences of high-density and low-density regions of at least 1:20.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Osamu Kuroda, Hiroyuki Karasawa
  • Patent number: 7084419
    Abstract: There is described an image inputting apparatus for inputting a radiation image that is formed on a radiation sensitive panel by projecting radial rays penetrated through a subject. The apparatus includes a detector to detect the radiation image projected onto the radiation sensitive panel and a sensitivity compensating section to automatically find a sensitivity compensation value, which is employed for compensating for a sensitivity of the detector so that a signal value of the radiation image detected by the detector is substantially equal to a predetermined ideal value when a predetermined dose of the radial rays is irradiated onto the radiation sensitive panel. The apparatus also includes a storage section to store the predetermined ideal value of the signal value. The sensitivity compensating section finds an optimum sensitivity-offset value, which makes the signal value of the radiation image equal to the predetermined ideal value stored in the storage section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignee: Konica Corporation
    Inventor: Tsuyoshi Ito
  • Patent number: 7026638
    Abstract: A scanning apparatus (10) for scanning radiographic media (22) comprises a housing (11) with a scanning stage (12) mounted within the housing. A scanning head is mounted on the scanning stage and the scanning stage is adapted for translational movement along an axis (16). An opening (18) in the housing receives a cassette (20) and radiographic media has a latent image (24) disposed in the cassette. The radiographic media has a ferromagnetic end (26) and the cassette consists of a closed box shape having an upper door (28) and a lower door (30). A first magnet (32) is secured to the upper door and a second magnet (34) is secured to the lower door. The polarity of the first magnet is in the same orientation as the polarity of the second magnet. A magnetic latch (36) is mounted within the scanning apparatus to hold the radiographic media at the ferromagnetic end, and the magnetic latch is mounted so that the polarity of the magnetic latch repels the polarity of the first and second magnets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Roger S. Kerr, Seung-Ho Baek
  • Patent number: 6998624
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for radiation measurement suitable for use within and outside nuclear reactor or accelerator facilities when there is a need to perform real-time monitoring of radiation intensity over a wide dynamic range at many and broadly distributed sites of measurement. The apparatus and method are based on two principles: constant radiation monitoring and integrating measured radiation with a stimulable phosphor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute
    Inventor: Masaki Katagiri
  • Patent number: 6995347
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for correcting a signal representation of a radiation image of an object wherein correction by means of correction values is performed simultaneously with image read out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2006
    Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert N. V.
    Inventors: Luc Struye, Paul Leblans
  • Patent number: 6969007
    Abstract: A device and a method for reading out information stored in a storage layer. In this connection it is possible to support the storage layer on a support surface. An emission radiation transmitted from the storage layer is received by means of a receiving device. A distance between the receiving device and the support surface can be variably adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Werner Stahl, Heribert Hammer
  • Patent number: 6853740
    Abstract: An image processing method is intended to extract an irradiation area in an image easily and accurately. A calculation unit 202 calculates secondary difference values of density values representing respective areas in three areas of a rectangular shape arranged in parallel on an image, determined by a calculation area input unit 200 and a calculation area determination unit 201, between adjacent rectangular areas and the secondary difference values thus calculated are stored in a memory unit 203. Then a judgment unit 204 judges one end point of an irradiation area from the secondary difference values thus stored and an irradiation area determination unit 205 determines the irradiation area, based on a plurality of end points thus judged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2005
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Shinbata
  • Patent number: 6825479
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for radiation measurement suitable for use within and outside nuclear reactor or accelerator facilities when there is a need to perform real-time monitoring of radiation intensity over a wide dynamic range at many and broadly distributed sites of measurement. The apparatus and method are based on two principles: constant radiation monitoring and integrating measured radiation with a stimulable phosphor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignee: Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute
    Inventor: Masaki Katagiri
  • Patent number: 6778691
    Abstract: A method of automatic determination of preferred tone-scale parameters for digital radiographic images comprising; providing an input digital medical image and an associated tone-scale LUT (look-up table) determining the associated contrast parameter which will result in preferred equivalent contrast with the tone-scale LUT; determining the toe and shoulder parameters which will result in preferred equivalent toe and shoulder with the associated tone-scale LUT; determining the density shift parameter which will result in preferred equivalent density with the associated tone-scale LUT; and generating a preferred LUT from the results of said three determining steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Lori L. Barski, Richard L. Van Metter
  • Publication number: 20040155209
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for correcting a signal representation of a radiation image of an object wherein correction by means of correction values is performed simultaneously with image read out.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2003
    Publication date: August 12, 2004
    Inventors: Luc Struye, Paul Leblans
  • Patent number: 6759673
    Abstract: A radiation image readout apparatus scans an excitation light in a main scanning direction and a sub scanning direction over a stimulable phosphor sheet, on which radiation energy has been stored, and detects the stimulated emission emitted thereupon; wherein, various types of phosphor sheets can be read out at a high resolution and high sensitivity. The excitation light energy level for obtaining an adequate sensitivity for each type of phosphor sheet is obtained. A controller controls the intensity of the excitation light emitted from the light source and the speed of the scanning mechanism, that is, the readout speed, whereby the excitation light projected onto a phosphor sheet of which the diffusion rate has been controlled by the inclusion therein of an navy blue colorant is of a greater energy level than the excitation light projected onto the white stimulable phosphor sheet not containing the navy blue colorant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2004
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Taizo Akimoto, Masashi Hakamata
  • Patent number: 6740898
    Abstract: Two image signals representing radiation image information are acquired from opposite surfaces of a stimulable phosphor sheet, on which the radiation image information has been stored. Operation processing is performed on the two image signals in accordance with predetermined operation processing parameters, and an operation-processed image signal representing the radiation image information is obtained. A ratio between read-out sensitivities with respect to the opposite surface sides of the sheet and/or the predetermined operation processing parameters with respect to at least either one surface side of the sheet are controlled in accordance with read-out conditions employed at the time of the image signal acquisition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Company, Limited
    Inventor: Hiroaki Yasuda
  • Publication number: 20040031938
    Abstract: There is described an image inputting apparatus for inputting a radiation image that is formed on a radiation sensitive panel by projecting radial rays penetrated through a subject. The apparatus includes a detector to detect the radiation image projected onto the radiation sensitive panel and a sensitivity compensating section to automatically find a sensitivity compensation value, which is employed for compensating for a sensitivity of the detector so that a signal value of the radiation image detected by the detector is substantially equal to a predetermined ideal value when a predetermined dose of the radial rays is irradiated onto the radiation sensitive panel. The apparatus also includes a storage section to store the predetermined ideal value of the signal value. The sensitivity compensating section finds an optimum sensitivity-offset value, which makes the signal value of the radiation image equal to the predetermined ideal value stored in the storage section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2003
    Publication date: February 19, 2004
    Inventor: Tsuyoshi Ito
  • Patent number: 6653652
    Abstract: Stimulating rays produced by a line light source are linearly irradiated onto an area of a stimulable phosphor sheet, on which a radiation image has been stored. Light, which is emitted from the linear area of the sheet exposed to the linear stimulating rays, is received and photoelectrically converted by a line sensor. Outputs of the line sensor are corrected in accordance with variation in sensitivity among a plurality of pixel regions of the line sensor, which pixel regions are arrayed along the length direction of the linear area of the stimulable phosphor sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroaki Yasuda
  • Patent number: 6635897
    Abstract: An image signal representing radiation image information on an object stored on a stimulable phosphor sheet is read out by scanning the stimulable phosphor sheet with a stimulating light beam and photoelectrically detecting light emitted from the stimulable phosphor sheet upon stimulation thereof by a photodetector having a photoelectric surface. A variable transmittance medium whose transmittance to the light emitted from the stimulable phosphor sheet upon stimulation thereof is variable continuously or stepwise is inserted into the optical path of the light between the stimulable phosphor sheet and the photoelectric surface of the photodetector The transmittance of the variable transmittance medium is changed according to the amount of light emitted from the stimulable phosphor sheet upon stimulation thereof so that the photoelectric surface is not saturated by an excessive amount of light impinging thereupon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2003
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Arakawa, Hiroyuki Karasawa, Hiroaki Yasuda
  • Publication number: 20030178590
    Abstract: Corrective image data obtained by reading a stimulable phosphor sheet which is uniformly irradiated with a radiation are masked, and added and averaged into reference data. The ratio between the reference data and the corrective image data is generated as sensitivity correcting data. Desired radiation image information is then read from the stimulable phosphor sheet, corrected by the sensitivity correcting data, and outputted to an external image processing apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2003
    Publication date: September 25, 2003
    Applicant: FUJI PHOTO FILM CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Yasuda, Eiichi Kanagawa
  • Patent number: 6624439
    Abstract: At least two stimulable phosphor sheets are superposed with an energy separation filter, which absorbs low energy components of radiation, intervening therebetween and are exposed to radiation carrying image information of an object, and radiation images of the object are stored on the sheets. A first image signal is detected from a first sheet located on the side close to the object. A stimulable phosphor sheet, which allows detection of two image signals from its opposite surfaces, is utilized as a second sheet located on the side remote from the object. An addition process is performed on a front surface side image signal, which has been detected from a front surface of the second sheet, and a back surface side image signal, which has been detected from a back surface of the second sheet, in order to obtain a second image signal. A subtraction process is performed on the first image signal and the thus obtained second image signal, and an energy subtraction image signal is thereby obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Satoshi Arakawa
  • Patent number: 6624413
    Abstract: A corona treating apparatus has an electrically conductive electrode housing with a downwardly opening channel, within which are adjustably positioned a number of conductive electrode segments. Each segment has a stem which extends into the channel, and a foot which extends below the channel and which overlies an electrically conductive electrode roller, over which the material to be treated travels. Top springs extend into bores in the top of the electrode segments, and ball detents extend through the housing to urge against slots on one side of the segments. Each electrode segment stem has a first lip which engages with an upper ledge when the segment is in a retracted position, and a second lip which engages with a lower ledge on the opposite wall when the segment is in an active position. Pushing upwardly on one sideward flange of an electrode foot readily changes the position of each segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignee: QC Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth J. Klein
  • Patent number: 6580525
    Abstract: A digital image signal is read out at a predetermined picture element density by causing a light beam to repeatedly scan a recording medium bearing thereon an image in a main scanning direction at a predetermined main scanning speed while moving the recording medium in a sub-scanning direction substantially perpendicular to the main scanning direction at a predetermined sub-scanning speed, thereby two-dimensionally scanning the recording medium with the light beam, photoelectrically detecting signal light emitted from the recording medium upon exposure to the light beam to obtain an analog image signal, sampling the analog image signal at a predetermined intervals, and quantizing the sampled values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2003
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoto Iwakiri, Satoshi Arakawa
  • Patent number: 6570178
    Abstract: A radiation image data readout apparatus in which read out is performed so that a detected light quantity for each CCD element of each CCD sensor is set at a quantity below the saturation charge quantity of each CCD element, and the level of noise is reduced. The radiation energy stored on a readout-line of a stimulable phosphor sheet is estimated, and based on the estimated quantity of radiation energy, a controller sets the readout conditions, which are formed of the charge accumulation time of the readout line and the binning conditions, and readout is performed by a line sensor according to these conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroaki Yasuda