Electronic Circuit Patents (Class 378/91)
  • Publication number: 20120269323
    Abstract: An x-ray source is described. During operation of the x-ray source, an electron source emits a beam of electrons. This beam of electrons is focused to a spot on a target by a magnetic focusing lens. In particular, the magnetic focusing lens includes an immersion lens in which a peak in a magnitude of an associated magnetic field occurs proximate to a plane of the target. Moreover, in response to receiving the beam of focused electrons, the target provides a transmission source of x-rays.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2011
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Inventors: David L. Adler, Wenbing Yun, Thomas Anthony Case
  • Publication number: 20120269321
    Abstract: The present invention relates to X-ray generating technology in general. Providing X-radiation having multiple photon energies may help differentiating tissue structures when generating X-ray images. Consequently, an X-ray generating device that allows the switching of a potential of an electron collecting element versus an electron emitting element for providing different energy modes is presented. According to the present invention, an X-ray generating device is provided, comprising an electron emitting element (16) and electron collecting element (20). The electron emitting element (16) and the electron collecting element (20) are operatively coupled for the generation of X-radiation (14). A potential is arranged between the electron emitting element (16) and the electron collecting element (20) for acceleration of electrons from the electron emitting element 16 to the electron collecting element (20), the electrons constituting an electron beam (7).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2010
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventor: Rolf Karl Otto Behling
  • Patent number: 8295442
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for an electron beam manipulation coil for an x-ray generation system includes the use of a control circuit. The control circuit includes a first low voltage source, a second low voltage source, and a first switching device coupled in series with the first low voltage source and configured to create a first current path with the first low voltage source when in a closed position. The control circuit also includes a second switching device coupled in series with the second low voltage source and configured to create a second current path with the second low voltage source when in a closed position and a capacitor coupled in parallel with an electron beam manipulation coil and positioned along the first and second current paths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Antonio Caiafa, Maja Harfman Todorovic, Joseph Leclaire Reynolds
  • Patent number: 8295431
    Abstract: A rotary joint for transmission of data from a data source to a data sink, between a rotating part and a stationary part, includes a transmission line arrangement fed from a transmission means, and also a receiving means which taps signals from the transmission line arrangement with the aid of a receiving coupler arrangement. A control unit controls the data source. For transmission of data having a small band-width an encoder is provided which converts the data from the data source to a duobinary code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Non-Contacting Rotary Joint
    Inventor: Stephan Lindorfer
  • Patent number: 8284896
    Abstract: A multiview x-ray scanning system for inspecting the 3D volume of an object has been presented. The method uses multiple x-ray sources and multiple x-ray beams. The object to be inspected is interposed in the trajectory of these beams and moved relative to these beams. The x-ray beams after passing through the object are detected by detectors that are interleaved to realize a compact design. In order that the interleaved detectors do not intersect, the location of detectors and sources is adjusted. Further, the design of detectors is such that they can be placed in close proximity to each other in order to realize a small footprint scanner having a high resolution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Inventor: Satpal Singh
  • Publication number: 20120250825
    Abstract: A radiographic apparatus includes an image acquisition controller for controlling operation of more than one electronic cassette. For signal communication between the image acquisition controller and the electronic cassettes, each electronic cassette may be connected to a communication cable. These communication cables are connected to a switching hub that intermediates communication between the electronic cassettes and the image acquisition controller. The radiographic apparatus includes multiple power supplies corresponding in number to the electronic cassettes. Each electronic cassette maybe connected to one power supply through a power cable separately from the communication cable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: FUJIFILM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yutaka YOSHIDA, Yusuke KITAGAWA, Katsumi SHIMADA, Noriaki IDA
  • Patent number: 8279072
    Abstract: A method for determining a maintenance interval for a consumable part and/or for equipment containing a consumable part obtains a plurality of measurements of temperature of the consumable part, receives each of the measurements at a totalizing unit, correlates each of the measurements to one of a plurality of temperature subranges, accumulates for each of the subranges an amount of time the measurements of temperature were correlated to each of the subranges, determines a total time by aggregating the accumulated time for each subrange with a weighting function, and generates a signal to prompt a maintenance event when the total time equals or passes a runtime setpoint. In supplement to or in alternative to the above, the method also correlates a subrange of two sequential measurements, indexes a breakpoint register if the correlated subranges are different, and generates a signal to prompt a maintenance event when a value of the breakpoint register equals or passes a breakpoint setpoint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: MRL Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin B. Peck, Bjorn W. Larsson
  • Patent number: 8259903
    Abstract: Presented is a system and method for dynamically adjusting X-ray power levels to achieve consistent image quality. The method comprises estimating power and photon density based on current process parameters, comparing those estimates with reference values associated with desirable image quality, adjusting the X-ray power level in response to the operation of comparing, and then performing the operations of estimating, comparing, and adjusting so that the estimates approach the reference values. In embodiments, the estimating, comparing, and adjusting operations are performed dynamically as process parameters, such as X-ray spot size and distance to the target, dynamically change. The system comprises a database for storing the reference values and a processor for estimating the photon and power density based on current process parameters, comparing the reference values with the estimates, and outputting a signal to adjust one of the current process parameters such as X-ray power level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Chin H. Toh
  • Publication number: 20120207274
    Abstract: Disclosed are an X-ray imaging system and a positioning method of the same that automatically measure a relative positional relationship between devices. According to an aspect, an X-ray imaging system may include: a movable imaging device having a sensor; one or more beacons; a controller configured to analyze position information recognized by the sensor, to compare a relative position between the imaging device and the one or more beacons and to determine a position of the imaging device based on a positional error; and a drive device configured to move the imaging device to the position determined by the controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2012
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Soo Sang Yang, Jong Hwan Park, Seung Hoon Shin
  • Publication number: 20120207277
    Abstract: An X-ray detection signal processing apparatus of the present invention is such that after a signal from a preamplifier has been converted into a digital signal at a high speed by means of a high speed analog-to-digital converter (1), a process for removing influences brought about by a component that has been decayed by a differential time constant in the preamplifier is performed on a digital basis in a digital signal processing block (2). An event detecting unit (3) within the digital signal processing block (2), smoothen the signal from the high speed analog-to-digital converter (1) for a predetermined shaping time with the use of a filter function for high speed shaping, detects as an event information the timing at which the smoothened signal exceeds a predetermined threshold and attains the maximum value, and add such event information to the signal from the high speed analog-to-digital converter (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2011
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Applicant: RIGAKU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yukio Sako
  • Patent number: 8232529
    Abstract: An idling time period after applying a bias to a conversion element until a start of an accumulation of the conversion element for deriving an image and an accumulation period from the start of the accumulation to a termination of the accumulation are measured. An offset correction of the image is conducted by using a dark current accumulation charge quantity in the accumulation calculated based on the measured idling time period and accumulation period and stored dark current response characteristics. Thus, even just after applying the bias to the conversion element, the offset correction can be properly conducted. An imaging apparatus which can execute a good radiographing without increasing costs and a size even just after applying the bias to the conversion element is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsuro Takenaka, Tadao Endo, Toshio Kameshima, Tomoyuki Yagi, Keigo Yokoyama
  • Publication number: 20120177183
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed towards a method of changing wireless communication channels in a connected host and client system. For example, in one embodiment, the link quality of a connection is monitored by the host or the client. If the connection has a link quality below a predetermined threshold but remains intact, a channel switch request is sent, synchronization packages are exchanged between the host and client on the current channel, the channel of the system is changed to a new channel, and the system resumes communications on the new channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2011
    Publication date: July 12, 2012
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: James Zhengshe Liu, Kenneth Kump, Gireesha Rao, Chuande Liu, Craig Dennis
  • Publication number: 20120163542
    Abstract: A portable radiographic image capture device includes a radiographic image data generating unit, a wired communication unit that and performs wired communication with an image capture controller; a wireless communication unit that performs wireless communication with a communication base station; a storing unit that stores first wireless communication configuration data related to a first communication base station; and an update unit that, when the image capture controller is wire-connected, acquires from the image capture controller second wireless communication configuration data related to a second communication base station with which the image capture controller performs wireless communication, and updates the first wireless communication configuration data with the acquired second wireless communication configuration data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2011
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Applicant: FUJIFILM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kouichi KITANO, Kentaro NOMA, Yukihisa IKEGAME
  • Patent number: 8194823
    Abstract: A cassette allows radiation image information stored therein to be used immediately after an X-ray radiation image is captured in a patient's room, and a mobile X-ray image capturing apparatus incorporates such a cassette. The mobile X-ray image capturing apparatus has a cradle serving as a mount for receiving the cassette which has a radiation detector. The mobile X-ray image capturing apparatus captures a radiation image of the patient (subject) in the patient's room. The cassette serves as a mobile station. While the cassette (mobile X-ray image capturing apparatus) is moving, the radiation image information stored in the cassette is transmitted to a server via a transmitting and receiving terminal, a mobile hospital communication network, and a hospital LAN.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Yasunori Ohta, Eiichi Kito, Tsuyoshi Tanabe, Takuya Yoshimi
  • Publication number: 20120128127
    Abstract: A portable radiation imaging system (10) includes a radiation source (11), a radiation detector (7), a remote trigger unit (17) that activates the radiation source (11) and the radiation detector (7) to initiate an imaging operation, a computing device (13) that receives and processes image data generated by the radiation detector (7), and a universal power box (UPB) (1) operatively connected to the radiation source, the radiation detector, the trigger unit and the computing device. A first wireless link (50) is established between the UPB (1) and the computing device (13), and a second wireless link (60) is established between the trigger unit (17) and the UPB (1). Under the control of the UPB (1), the trigger unit uses the second wireless link (50) to send a control signal to the radiation source (11) to initiate the radiation operation, and the computing device (13) uses the first wireless link (50) to receive image data from the radiation detector (7).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2010
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Applicant: VIRTUAL IMAGING, INC.
    Inventors: Peter M Chicchetti, Michael L Rocha, Christopher Duca
  • Publication number: 20120106708
    Abstract: The invention relates to a control process for a medical imaging device comprising an anti-collision unit, a source of X-rays, an image detector, a control unit for the source of X-rays and for the image detector. The process comprises determining at least one trajectory of the source of X-rays and of the image detector as a function of at least one previously fixed control parameter by means of the control unit, locating in space at least one object that may be on the at least one trajectory, and verifying that the at least one trajectory of the source of X-rays and the image detector will not risk a collision between the source of X-rays and the at least one object or the image detector and the at least one object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2011
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Inventors: Yves Lucien Trousset, Bernard Bouvier
  • Publication number: 20120082297
    Abstract: An x-ray detector amplifier operably couples to an analog-to-digital converter interface and a switched voltage clamp is operably disposed there between. By one approach, the switched voltage clamp comprises a switched electrical connection to a constant potential (such as, but not limited to, ground). These teachings will accommodate a control circuit configured to control the switched voltage clamp. This can comprise, for example, controlling the switched voltage clamp in synchronicity with the pulsed x-ray source. These teachings will also accommodate an integrator operably connected between the x-ray detector amplifier and the analog-to-digital converter interface. In such a case, the switched voltage clamp and be controlled to remove substantially any voltage offset contribution of the x-ray detector amplifier (due, for example, to significant temperature excursions) to a signal that is integrated by the aforementioned integrator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2010
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Applicant: VARIAN MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventor: Timothy R. Fox
  • Patent number: 8135113
    Abstract: An image capture system for recording X-ray images in real time is disclosed. The image capture system includes an image pickup device, a sensing module and a surgical navigation device. The sensing module is used to detect the on/off status of the image pickup device. While the image pickup device is turned on to capture an X-ray image, the sensing module transmits a notification signal to the surgical navigation device. After receiving the notification signal, the surgical navigation device records the X-ray image captured by the image pickup device and the relative position between the image pickup device and the patient in real time. Thus, the real-time recording of the relative position between the image pickup device and the patient will prevent inaccurate image reading that occurs when the patient's position and image pickup device shift after the X-ray image has been captured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: AccuMIS Inc.
    Inventors: Hong-Yu Zhu, Ming-Chang Wu, Chi-Bin Wu
  • Patent number: 8130909
    Abstract: There is provided a radiographic imaging device including: a radiation detector having plural sensor portions; a receiving unit that receives request data requesting radiation irradiation permission from a control device that controls a radiation source; a control unit that controls the radiation detector such that an accumulation extraction operation is repeatedly performed that extracts charge that has accumulated in each sensor portions of the radiation detector, the accumulation extraction operation being performed after a specific accumulation period has elapsed that is greater than the irradiation period of radiation; a determination unit that determines whether or not radiation irradiation of the irradiation period from the radiation source is possible within the accumulation period of the accumulation extraction operation; and a permission unit that permits radiation irradiation if the determination unit has determined that irradiation is possible, and otherwise that permits radiographic image after s
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Naoyuki Nishino, Kouichi Kitano, Keiji Tsubota, Yasunori Ohta, Yutaka Yoshida
  • Publication number: 20110317809
    Abstract: Disclosed in a portable radiation image capturing apparatus in which irradiation with radiation is detected without providing an interface with a radiation generating device and which consumes reduced power when capturing a radiation image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2009
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA MEDICAL & GRAPHIC, INC.
    Inventor: Yoshihiko Eguchi
  • Patent number: 8077828
    Abstract: When the same subject is to be imaged consecutively plural times, a radiation imaging device is controlled so as to change an imaging time interval between respective imagings according to a set imaging region of the subject. When a chest portion of a subject is to be imaged, a control section designates an image obtained at a second imaging as an image for diagnosis, image quality correction processing is not performed at a first imaging, and an imaging time interval is greatly reduced compared to when other regions are imaged, thereby reducing motion artifacts of an energy subtraction image. When regions other than a chest region are imaged, the control section designates an image obtained at a first imaging as an image for diagnosis, performs image quality correction processing at the first imaging, and an imaging time interval is increased compared to when the chest region is imaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Tatsuya Aoyama
  • Publication number: 20110255666
    Abstract: A method for imaging an object includes radiating the object of interest and sensing the radiation that penetrates through the object using a detector having at least one active area and at least one inactive area, determining when the radiation is completed using information received from the inactive area of the imaging detector, and reconstructing an image of the object using information received from the active area of the imaging detector. A medical imaging system and a computer-readable medium are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2010
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Inventors: James Zhengshe Liu, Feng (Frank) Gao, Chuande Liu, Ping Xue, Jon Omernick, Donald Langler
  • Patent number: 8031837
    Abstract: For a simplified and particularly flexible control of an x-ray system having an x-ray source, an x-ray detector and a control and monitoring unit, the control and monitoring unit is designed to be mobile and portable and has means for controlling and monitoring the x-ray system. In particular, the portable control and monitoring unit has a computing unit, a data storage device, means for image processing, means for outputting and displaying imaging and/or system data and means for inputting data and/or instructions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Martin Spahn
  • Publication number: 20110222662
    Abstract: An X-ray tube (1), a medical device (21) comprising an X-ray tube, a program element and a computer readable medium are proposed. The X-ray tube comprises a target (3) adapted for generating X-rays upon impact of an electron beam (7) on a focal spot (9), and a further electrode (11). The further electrode (11) is arranged and adapted for measuring thermo ionic electron emission from the target (3). The X-ray tube is adapted for providing a signal relating to a temperature of the target based on thermo ionic electron emission measured by the further electrode (11). The medical device (21) comprises an X-ray tube (1) according to the invention and a temperature evaluation unit (23) connected to the X-ray tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2009
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventor: Rolf Karl Otto Behling
  • Patent number: 7988356
    Abstract: A cooling unit is provided in a storage section to locally cool a heat generating portion of an imaging device and to thereby reduce nonuniformity of the distribution of the temperature in the imaging device. Detectors detect a mount orientation of the imaging device, that is, whether the imaging device is mounted in landscape orientation or portrait orientation. Cooling portions of the cooling unit are selectively driven on the basis of the detection result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tetsuo Watanabe
  • Patent number: 7986767
    Abstract: An actual-past-radiography position database stores, as actual-past-radiography positions, the position of a radiographic image detector and the position of a radiation source when radiography was actually performed, associating the position of the radiographic image detector and the position of the radiation source with information about a subject. When the radiation source and the radiographic image detector are positioned to perform radiography, position adjustment amounts for adjusting the positions of the radiation source and the radiographic image detector from standard positions stored in the standard position database are output, as aid information. The aid information is output based on the actual-past-radiography positions that are stored in the actual-past-radiography position database and that are associated with the information about the subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventor: Satoru Oogami
  • Publication number: 20110158390
    Abstract: There is provided a radiographic imaging apparatus including: a control unit housing a control section and a power source section; a panel unit housing a radiation detection panel; a connection member that rotatably connects one edge portion of each of the control unit and the panel unit so as to adopt two states: a closed state in which one face of the control unit faces one face of the panel unit, and an open state in which the one face of the control unit and the one face of the panel unit are side-by-side facing in substantially the same direction, wherein in the open state the other face of the panel unit is positioned higher than the other face of the control unit; and a support member positioned below the other face of the panel unit and supporting the panel unit when in the open state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2010
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Applicant: FUJIFILM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasunori OHTA, Naoyuki NISHINO, Naoto IWAKIRI, Haruyasu NAKATSUGAWA
  • Publication number: 20110150171
    Abstract: A computed tomography (CT) system that includes a rotational gantry and a stationary structure communicatively coupled to the rotational gantry is provided. The rotational gantry includes an X-ray source configured to emit an X-ray beam through a subject, an X-ray detector comprising one or more detector elements that receive incoming X-rays and to convert the incoming X-rays to image signals, and a data acquisition unit that processes the image signals to generate processed image data. The stationary structure is coupled to the rotational gantry via one or more slip rings that transfer the processed image data from the rotational gantry to stationary memory integral with the stationary structure via a bidirectional serial data exchange protocol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2009
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Brian Joseph Breuer, Roy-Arnulf Helge Nilsen, Steven John Woloschek, Scott David Slavic, Naveen Stephen Chandra, Paavana Sainath
  • Publication number: 20110110494
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a digital radiography system which provides detachable and portable flat panel detectors (hereinafter, referred to as ‘electronic cassettes’) and transreceives data recorded in the electronic cassettes in on-line through a network. The digital radiography system includes bucky trays on which a plurality of portable electronic cassettes is detachably mounted, and a workstation connected with the bucky trays through communication to identify the plurality of portable electronic cassettes mounted on the bucky trays and to download pre-processing files of the identified electronic cassettes through the network or a portable storage device or to store files, generated by the plurality of electronic cassettes, in the storage device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2009
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Inventor: Jong In Lee
  • Patent number: 7934869
    Abstract: Embodiment of the invention describes a system and a method for positioning an object from a first pose to a second pose. The method displays concurrently a first image and a second image on a display device, wherein the first image and the second image represent respectively the first pose and the second pose of the object. The method updates, in response to a change in a pose of the display device, the second image such that an alignment of the first image and the second image on the display device depends on the change in the pose of the display device, and positions the object from the first pose to the second pose based on the change in the pose of the display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Research Labs, Inc.
    Inventors: Yuri A. Ivanov, John C. Barnwell, III, Andrea E. G. Bradshaw
  • Publication number: 20110096903
    Abstract: A multiview x-ray scanning system for inspecting the 3D volume of an object has been presented. The method uses multiple x-ray sources and multiple x-ray beams. The object to be inspected is interposed in the trajectory of these beams and moved relative to these beams. The x-ray beams after passing through the object are detected by detectors that are interleaved to realize a compact design. In order that the interleaved detectors do not intersect, the location of detectors and sources is adjusted. Further, the design of detectors is such that they can be placed in close proximity to each other in order to realize a small footprint scanner having a high resolution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2009
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Inventor: Satpal Singh
  • Publication number: 20110075811
    Abstract: In a cassette-type X-ray detection device, an X-ray detector and a self diagnostic circuit are contained in a cassette casing. When the cassette-type X-ray detection device gets a shock, the self diagnostic circuit is actuated. The self diagnostic circuit reads out from the X-ray detector an offset image being a dark current image, and analyzes the offset image. The self diagnostic circuit finds out an abnormal portion from the offset image, and diagnoses whether the X-ray detector is available, unavailable, or partly available based on the size and position of the abnormal portion. Shock detection and a diagnostic result are displayed on a touch panel provided in the cassette casing, and sent to a console device via a communication unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2010
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Applicant: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Jun Enomoto
  • Patent number: 7915589
    Abstract: An idling time period after applying a bias to a conversion element until a start of an accumulation of the conversion element for deriving an image and an accumulation period from the start of the accumulation to a termination of the accumulation are measured. An offset correction of the image is conducted by using a dark current accumulation charge quantity in the accumulation calculated based on the measured idling time period and accumulation period and stored dark current response characteristics. Thus, even just after applying the bias to the conversion element, the offset correction can be properly conducted. An imaging apparatus which can execute a good radiographing without increasing costs and a size even just after applying the bias to the conversion element is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsuro Takenaka, Tadao Endo, Toshio Kameshima, Tomoyuki Yagi, Keigo Yokoyama
  • Patent number: 7899150
    Abstract: A computer tomography device is provided. The computer tomography device includes a rotating part and a stationary part. The rotating part has an X-ray tube for radiographing an object to be examined with X-rays and a detector for detecting the X-rays transmitted through the object. A stationary part has a data processing device for evaluating the detected measuring results, and a transmitter for supplying the X-ray tube and/or the detector and other rotating consumers with supply voltage by contactless transmission of electric power between the stationary and the rotating part. The transmitter is designed for contactless data transmission between the stationary part and the rotating part in addition to the contactless transmission of electrical power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Walter Beyerlein, Werner Kühnel
  • Publication number: 20110013745
    Abstract: An intraoral x-ray sensor with embedded standard computer interface. The sensor includes a data transfer cable with improved mechanical strength and heat transferring properties. The cable is quad-twisted USB cable and includes two data lines, a ground line, and fillers twisted within a metallic sheath, e.g., a metal braided shield. The cable is symmetrically organized about a centerline. The symmetric cable has an improved life due to the ability to withstand mechanical stress (e.g., rotational stress). The sensor includes a processor and a housing with an inner metallization layer. The sheath is coupled to the inner metallization layer to transfer heat generated by the processor from the inner metallization layer to the sheath.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2010
    Publication date: January 20, 2011
    Applicant: IMAGING SCIENCES INTERNATIONAL LLC
    Inventors: Uwe Zeller, Doug Golay
  • Publication number: 20100329425
    Abstract: A data acquisition system includes a charge-sensitive amplifier (CSA) configured to receive a charge from an x-ray detector, the CSA includes a high-gain electronic voltage amplifier, an electrical energy storage device coupled with the amplifier, and an electrical resistor coupled with the amplifier. The data acquisition system includes a baseline sampling circuit configured to receive an output from the CSA and to sample a baseline signal from the CSA, at least one discriminator coupled to an output of the CSA and to an output of the baseline sampling circuit, the at least one discriminator configured to output a voltage if the output of the CSA exceeds a threshold, and a counter coupled to an output of the discriminator and configured to output a digital signal indicative of a photon count received at the x-ray detector and based on the output from the CSA and on the signal from the CSA.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2009
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Inventors: Jianjun Guo, Naresh Kesavan Rao, John Eric Tkaczyk, Yanfeng Du, Naveen Chandra
  • Patent number: 7835496
    Abstract: The invention relates to an user interface comprising: a read only memory for an operating parameter of an X-ray system with each one section for contrast medium injection, for data acquisition, for reconstruction of data, for image storage and for displaying of an image; a write-read-memory for the operating parameter which has to be transferred to the corresponding section of the X-ray system; and a control unit for copying the operating parameter from the read only memory into the write-read-memory. The copied operating parameter is graphically supported within the write-read-memory alterable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Michael Maschke
  • Patent number: 7822178
    Abstract: A radiographic imaging system comprises: offset correction unit for performing offset correction on a radiographic image acquired by a radiation detector using a offset correction data in a storage, dark image acquisition unit for acquiring a dark image with the radiation detector at a given timing in the absence of radiation emitted from a radiation source, residual image judgment unit for judging whether or not dark image acquired by the dark image acquisition unit contains a residual image resulting from an immediately preceding irradiation, offset correction data renewal unit for producing offset correction data based upon the dark image and storing the offset correction data in the storage for renewal when the residual image judgment unit judges the dark image to contain no residual image, and producing no offset correction data when the residual image judgment unit judges the dark image to contain a residual image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventor: Jun Enomoto
  • Patent number: 7822180
    Abstract: A method includes automatically determining a specific mobile device to use from a plurality of mobile devices based on at least one of a battery metric, a patient procedure, and a location of the devices or of the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Kevin Andrew Coombs
  • Publication number: 20100189223
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for the X-ray irradiation of materials is provided. This apparatus includes an irradiation chamber, a number of flat electromagnetic (X-ray) sources having a number of addressable cathode emitters, a support mechanism, a heat transfer system, a shielding system, and a process controller. A shielded portal within the shielding system allows access to an interior volume of the irradiation chamber. The electromagnetic sources are positioned on or embedded within interior surfaces of the irradiation chamber. These electromagnetic sources generate an electromagnetic flux, such as an X-ray flux, where this flux is used to irradiate the interior volume of the irradiation chamber and any materials placed therein. The operation of the electromagnetic sources and the number of addressable cathode emitters being controlled by the process controller. The materials placed within the interior of the chamber may be supported by a low attenuation support mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2010
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Inventors: Mark Eaton, Babu Chalamala, Mitall More
  • Patent number: 7764765
    Abstract: A cassette allows radiation image information stored therein to be used immediately after an X-ray radiation image is captured in a patient's room, and a mobile X-ray image capturing apparatus incorporates such a cassette. The mobile X-ray image capturing apparatus has a cradle serving as a mount for receiving the cassette which has a radiation detector. The mobile X-ray image capturing apparatus captures a radiation image of the patient (subject) in the patient's room. The cassette serves as a mobile station. While the cassette (mobile X-ray image capturing apparatus) is moving, the radiation image information stored in the cassette is transmitted to a server via a transmitting and receiving terminal, a mobile hospital communication network, and a hospital LAN.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventors: Yasunori Ohta, Eiichi Kito, Tsuyoshi Tanabe, Takuya Yoshimi
  • Patent number: 7751529
    Abstract: A radiation image radiographing system 1 including a radiation image detector 5 detecting a radiated radiation to obtain image information, a console 6 operating the radiation image detector 5, and associating means for performing the association with the console 6 operating the radiation image detector 5 at the time of radiography, wherein the radiation image detector 5 includes a power supplying means 21 controlling the state of power supply according to the operation status of the console 6 associated by the associating means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Medical & Graphic, Inc.
    Inventor: Hiromu Ohara
  • Patent number: 7742573
    Abstract: A system is provided, which includes a rotatable gantry for receiving an object to be scanned. The system includes an x-ray source for projecting x-rays of two different energy levels towards the object and also a power supply, which energizes the x-ray source to two different voltage levels at a predetermined rate for generating x-rays at two different energy levels. The power supply in the system includes a fixed voltage source to input a voltage to a switching module with number of identical switching stages. Each stage in the switching module consists of a first switch, which charges a capacitor in a conducting state and output a first voltage, a second switch, which connects the fixed voltage source and the capacitor in series to output a second voltage in a conducting state and a diode which blocks a reverse current from the capacitor to the power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Antonio Caiafa, Colin Richard Wilson
  • Patent number: 7722252
    Abstract: A diagnostic tool for an x-ray imaging system includes a first test device configured to simulate a first load condition of an x-ray tube, and a first connector electrically coupled to the first test device and configured to couple the first test device to a high-voltage generator in the x-ray imaging system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Liang Tang, John Breunissen, Eric Biehr
  • Publication number: 20100111257
    Abstract: An X-ray generation unit for generating X-rays, an X-ray imaging unit for performing X-ray imaging, and an X-ray imaging control unit for controlling X-ray imaging communicate information with one another via a communication line, to pick up a medical X-ray image. The X-ray generation unit receives X-ray imaging permission from the X-ray imaging control unit, and the X-ray imaging unit receives the X-ray imaging permission from the X-ray imaging control unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2009
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Koji Takekoshi
  • Patent number: 7711406
    Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a method for detecting an electromagnetic field in an imaging system including emitting an electromagnetic field with an electromagnetic transmitter, sensing an electromagnetic field with an imaging system detector, and reading a field image from the detector based at least in part on the electromagnetic field. The imaging system detector is capable of reading an object image and a field image. The detector may be an amorphous silicon flat panel x-ray detector. The electromagnetic transmitter may be used in surgical navigation. The position of a surgical device, instrument, and/or tool may be determined based in part on the field image. The detector may be coordinated to acquire the field image when the electromagnetic transmitter is emitting an electromagnetic field. The detector may be coordinated to acquire the object image when the electromagnetic transmitter is not emitting an electromagnetic field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Paul Kenneth Kuhn, Peter Traneus Anderson, John Robert Lamberty
  • Patent number: 7686512
    Abstract: X-ray system with an x-ray radiation source, a digital solid-state image detector with a calibration facility acquiring calibration data in order to ensure an optimum image quality, whereby the x-ray system has at least one sensor or interacts with a sensor which detects any person who may be present in the vicinity, whereby the acquisition of the calibration data is initiated when no person has been detected by the at least one sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Martin Spahn
  • Publication number: 20100054624
    Abstract: There is provided a radiographic imaging device including: a radiation detector having plural sensor portions; a receiving unit that receives request data requesting radiation irradiation permission from a control device that controls a radiation source; a control unit that controls the radiation detector such that an accumulation extraction operation is repeatedly performed that extracts charge that has accumulated in each sensor portions of the radiation detector, the accumulation extraction operation being performed after a specific accumulation period has elapsed that is greater than the irradiation period of radiation; a determination unit that determines whether or not radiation irradiation of the irradiation period from the radiation source is possible within the accumulation period of the accumulation extraction operation; and a permission unit that permits radiation irradiation if the determination unit has determined that irradiation is possible, and otherwise that permits radiographic image after s
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2009
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Applicant: FUJIFILM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naoyuki NISHINO, Kouichi KITANO, Keiji TSUBOTA, Yasunori OHTA, Yutaka YOSHIDA
  • Patent number: 7668361
    Abstract: The invention relates to an imaging system for imaging an object (4), said imaging system comprising a detection unit (3) for consecutively acquiring projection data sets (Pi) of the object (4), said detection unit (3) having a temporal response function that is characterized by at least a time constant (?), a rotation unit that, while the projection data sets (Pi) are being acquired, moves the detection unit (3) around the object (4) with an essentially constant angular velocity (?), a reconstruction unit (9) for computing an image data set (13) of the object (4) from the projection data sets (Pi), and a filter unit (10) that, in an active state, applies a filter (f) on the image data set (13) to compute a correction, which filter acts as a derivative on the perturbed image, essentially in a direction corresponding to the direction of the angular velocity, is essentially proportional to the time constant (?) and is essentially proportional to the angular velocity (?), said filter unit (10) being arranged to
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventor: Lothar Spies
  • Publication number: 20100034354
    Abstract: A coupler is provided with a protrusion and a flange-shaped locking portion. A case of an image receptor houses an X-ray detector and an unlocking mechanism including a movable locking portion. The movable locking portion is made to protrude into a depression by the urging force of a locking assist spring. When the case is attached to the coupler, the movable locking portion locks the locking portion, thereby holding the case and the coupler together. The central axis of the cylindrical surface of the depression corresponds to substantially the center of the X-ray detection area of the X-ray detector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2009
    Publication date: February 11, 2010
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Katsushi Kato