Patents Assigned to Alara, Inc.
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Patent number: 7005664Abstract: Methods and device are provided for improved storage screen readout. In one embodiment, a storage screen readout device comprises a first wavelength source and a second wavelength source, means of collecting phosphorescence stimulated by the sources, and means of effecting relative motion between the sources and the screen in order to obtain image information. The first wavelength may be selected to pump signal on the screen to be more easily readout by said second wavelength source. The sources may direct energy sequentially onto the screen, simultaneously onto the screen, any combination of the two, or combinations with other sources.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2004Date of Patent: February 28, 2006Assignee: Alara, Inc.Inventors: Christopher R. Mitchell, Jerel Smith
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Publication number: 20050167622Abstract: Methods and device are provided for improved storage screen readout. In one embodiment, a storage screen readout device comprises a first wavelength source and a second wavelength source, means of collecting phosphorescence stimulated by the sources, and means of effecting relative motion between the sources and the screen in order to obtain image information. The first wavelength may be selected to pump signal on the screen to be more easily readout by said second wavelength source. The sources may direct energy sequentially onto the screen, simultaneously onto the screen, any combination of the two, or combinations with other sources.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 29, 2004Publication date: August 4, 2005Applicant: ALARA, INC.Inventors: Christopher Mitchell, Jerel Smith
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Publication number: 20050156125Abstract: A method and system is provided for improving and organizing workflow of a computed radiography system comprising of one or more storage phosphor readers, and multiple workstations which control and receive image data from the readers. In one embodiment, the method comprises temporarily associating an imaging cassette, containing a storage phosphor imaging plate, with a specific workstation. The imaging cassette is transported to the reader and inserted into the reader. The image plate reader is temporarily associated with the specific workstation. This temporary association allows the workstation to control the reader; and allow for sending of an X-ray image data from the reader only to the specific workstation. In other embodiments, this workflow may be adapted for use with networks having a plurality of image plate readers and a plurality of workstations.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 26, 2004Publication date: July 21, 2005Applicant: ALARA, INC.Inventors: Joseph Rimsa, Christopher Mitchell, Karl Minser, Charles Cantoni
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Publication number: 20050012057Abstract: Methods and device are provided for improved storage screen erasure. A storage screen erasure device comprises a first wavelength source and a second wavelength source. The first wavelength may be selected to pump signal on the screen to be more easily erased by said second wavelength source. The sources may direct energy sequentially onto the screen, it may occur simultaneously, or any combination of the two.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 10, 2004Publication date: January 20, 2005Applicant: ALARA, INC.Inventors: Jerel Smith, Christopher Mitchell
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Patent number: 6773160Abstract: A combined imaging plate scanning and erasing system, comprising: (a) a housing; (b) an imaging plate cassette infeed assembly positioned within the housing, the maging plate cassette infeed assembly comprising: (i) a mechanism to pull an imaging plate cassette into the housing; (ii) a mechanism to open the imaging plate cassette; and (iii) a mechanism to remove an imaging plate from the cassette; (c) a scanner positioned within the housing; (d) a curved path erasing assembly positioned between the imaging plate infeed assembly and the scanner; and (e) an imaging plate transportation assembly to move the imaging plate back and forth in a path extending from the imaging plate cassette, past the erasing assembly and through a scan area adjacent to the scanner.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 2001Date of Patent: August 10, 2004Assignee: Alara, Inc.Inventors: Wayne Evans, H. Keith Nishihara, Brian P. Wilfley, Douglas A. Reim, William F. Witt, Sung Kim, Ron Smith, Perry Anderson, Heather Klaubert, Gary Cantu, James Olef Jensen, Eric J. Shrader
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Patent number: 6700131Abstract: A method of compensating for differences in detective gain between a plurality of different scanning heads in a multiple scanning head imaging plate scanner, comprising: (a) scanning each of the scanning heads across an imaging plate thereby determining the detected signal at successive locations across the imaging plate for each of the scanning heads; (b) calculating an inverse relationship to the detected signal at successive locations across the imaging plate for each of the scanning heads; (c) scanning each of the scanning heads across an imaging plate containing an image thereon, thereby determining an image value at the successive locations across the imaging plate for each of the scanning heads; and (d) applying the inverse relationship to the determined image values at the successive locations across the imaging plate for each of the scanning heads.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2001Date of Patent: March 2, 2004Assignee: Alara, Inc.Inventors: H. Keith Nishihara, Brian P. Wilfley
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Patent number: 6510197Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming and reading a radiation image of an object is provided. The method is performed by placing an object of which a radiation image is to be taken adjacent a platform that is positioned between a storage layer radiation screen and an electromagnetic wave radiation source such that radiation from the electromagnetic wave radiation source which traverses the object is absorbed by the storage layer radiation screen; forming a latent radiation image of the object on the storage layer radiation screen by causing the electromagnetic wave radiation source to emit radiation, a portion of the emitted radiation traversing the object and being absorbed by the storage layer radiation screen; and reading the latent radiation image of the object from the storage layer radiation screen.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2000Date of Patent: January 21, 2003Assignee: Alara, Inc.Inventors: Christopher R. Mitchell, Joseph R. Rimsa, Edward P. Donlon, Gregory A. Sprehn
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Patent number: 6492654Abstract: A system is provided for scanning an object, the system comprising: a drive shaft having a proximal portion and a longitudinal axis; a motor including a motor shaft having a rotational axis, the motor serving to rotate the motor shaft about the rotational axis; a flexible joint coupling the drive shaft to the motor shaft by the proximal portion of the drive shaft, the flexible joint having a range of motion which allows the longitudinal axis of the drive shaft to move relative to the rotational axis of the motor shaft; and an object attached to the drive shaft which is movable along the longitudinal axis of the drive shaft in response to the drive shaft being rotated by the motor. This system may be used in a drum scanner system and may be used to read storage layer radiation screens.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2001Date of Patent: December 10, 2002Assignee: Alara, Inc.Inventors: Edward P. Donlon, Joseph R. Rimsa, Louis Hlousek
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Patent number: 6490339Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming and reading a radiation image of an object is provided. The method is performed by placing an object of which a radiation image is to be taken adjacent a platform that is positioned between a storage layer radiation screen and an electromagnetic wave radiation source such that radiation from the electromagnetic wave radiation source which traverses the object is absorbed by the storage layer radiation screen; forming a latent radiation image of the object on the storage layer radiation screen by causing the electromagnetic wave radiation source to emit radiation, a portion of the emitted radiation traversing the object and being absorbed by the storage layer radiation screen; and reading the latent radiation image of the object from the storage layer radiation screen.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 2001Date of Patent: December 3, 2002Assignee: Alara, Inc.Inventors: Christopher R. Mitchell, Joseph R. Rimsa, Edward P. Donlon, Gregory A. Sprehn
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Patent number: 6198111Abstract: A system is provided for scanning an object, the system comprising: a drive shaft having a proximal portion and a longitudinal axis; a motor including a motor shaft having a rotational axis, the motor serving to rotate the motor shaft about the rotational axis; a flexible joint coupling the drive shaft to the motor shaft by the proximal portion of the drive shaft, the flexible joint having a range of motion which allows the longitudinal axis of the drive shaft to move relative to the rotational axis of the motor shaft; and an object attached to the drive shaft which is movable along the longitudinal axis of the drive shaft in response to the drive shaft being rotated by the motor. This system may be used in a drum scanner system and may be used to read storage layer radiation screens.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 1998Date of Patent: March 6, 2001Assignee: Alara, Inc.Inventors: Edward P. Donlon, Joseph R. Rimsa, Louis Hlousek