Patents Assigned to Triple Ring Technologies, Inc.
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Patent number: 9257207Abstract: An x-ray collimator can be constructed from multiple subassemblies, which at least includes a first subassembly that reduces the leakage of x-ray radiation between adjacent apertures and a second subassembly that reduces the spill of x-ray radiation around the detector face. Each of these subassemblies has numerous apertures. In the first subassembly these apertures correspond to focal spots on an x-ray source, and in the second subassembly, these apertures are shaped such that the dimensions increase from smaller entrances to larger exits.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 2011Date of Patent: February 9, 2016Assignee: Triple Ring Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Tobias Funk, Brian Wilfley, Peter Holst
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Patent number: 9254114Abstract: The present invention pertains to an apparatus and method for adaptive exposure in imaging systems. An x-ray source for producing x-ray radiation and an x-ray detector for measuring amount of x-ray radiation passing through the human patient and striking the detector can be used. A tomographic image of the human patient or a tomosynthetic image of the human patient can be generated. Region of interest filtering and equalization filtering can be utilized. Filtering can be accomplished with a mechanical shield or shutter or with electronic control of the x-ray source.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2014Date of Patent: February 9, 2016Assignee: Triple Ring Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Tobias Funk, Steve Denis Burion, Augustus Percival Lowell, Kate LeeAnn Bechtel, Joseph Anthony Heanue, Brian Patrick Wilfley
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Patent number: 9214311Abstract: The present invention pertains to a method and apparatus for generating a beam of charged particles, accelerating the charged particles toward a first side of a layer of X-ray target material configured to emit Bremsstrahlung radiation through a second side, receiving the Bremsstrahlung radiation on a first face of an additional layer of a different X-ray target material configured to emit characteristic fluorescence X-rays with energy above 20 keV through a second face, wherein the additional layer of X-ray target material is located within 3 mm of the second side of the first layer of material. The first X-ray target material can have an atomic number greater than 21.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2013Date of Patent: December 15, 2015Assignee: Triple Ring Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Tobias Funk, Brian Patrick Wilfley
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Patent number: 9186524Abstract: The present invention pertains to a system for electronic brachytherapy wherein a layer of target material can produce reflection and transmission X-rays when struck by electrons from a cathode. An alternative system can have a fixed-size containment structure around a miniature X-ray source, with X-ray attenuating coolant fluid between the source and containment structure. A balloon can be around the fixed-size containment structure and can be inflated with an X-ray inert gas.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2012Date of Patent: November 17, 2015Assignee: Triple Ring Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Tobias Funk, Brian Patrick Wilfley, Joseph Anthony Heanue
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Patent number: 9188549Abstract: The present invention pertains to a system and method for X-ray imaging wherein a targeted fluence at the detector for projection images can be achieved at a plurality of projection angles around the imaging subject by control of exposure times implemented during image acquisition. Exposure time for a second projection image may be determined by the fluence in a first projection image, and in a third projection image by the fluence in a second projection image, where projection images are acquired within two degrees of one another. An acquisition parameter calculation can be configured to calculate acquisition parameters, such as said exposure times, to achieve the targeted fluence in projection images and can be coupled to a rotation controller that implements the acquisition parameters by controlling a relative angle between the imaging subject and X-ray image acquisition device.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2015Date of Patent: November 17, 2015Assignee: Triple Ring Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Tobias Funk
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Patent number: 9173621Abstract: The present invention pertains to a system and method for adaptive X-ray filtration comprising a volume of X-ray attenuating material with a central less attenuating three-dimensional region. The volume of X-ray attenuating material can be positioned within 10 cm from an X-ray source and rotated around an internal axis of rotation. The volume of X-ray attenuating material can be symmetric around the internal axis while the central less attenuating region can be asymmetric around the internal axis. Rotating the volume by a predetermined angle around the internal axis can change the amount of attenuation of an X-ray beam through the filter. The volume can be rotated by the same predetermined angle as an imaging subject or X-ray source and detector are rotated during X-ray image acquisition.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2013Date of Patent: November 3, 2015Assignee: Triple Ring Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Tobias Funk
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Patent number: 9131844Abstract: The present invention pertains to a method and apparatus for pressure sore detection. A modulated optical signal based on a digital code sequence is transmitted to human tissue. A temporal transfer characteristic is derived from the modulated optical signal. Tissue characteristics is determined based on the temporal transfer characteristic.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2012Date of Patent: September 15, 2015Assignee: Triple Ring Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Joseph Anthony Heanue, Lester John Lloyd, Kate Leeann Bechtel, Brian Patrick Wilfley
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Patent number: 9125570Abstract: The present invention pertains to an apparatus and method for delivering radiation to a human patient or other mammal. A scanning electron beam x-ray source is used and the detector can be a photon counting detector. The area of the detector is less than the area of field of view in the patient. Tomosynthesis can be used to generate images and images can be produced rapidly in real time.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 2011Date of Patent: September 8, 2015Assignees: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University, Triple Ring Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Norbert Joseph Pelc, Rebecca Fahrig, Joseph Anthony Heanue, Edward Gerald Solomon, Brian Patrick Wilfley
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Publication number: 20150247810Abstract: The present invention pertains to a system and method for X-ray imaging wherein a targeted fluence at the detector for projection images can be achieved at a plurality of projection angles around the imaging subject by control of exposure times implemented during image acquisition. Exposure time for a second projection image may be determined by the fluence in a first projection image, and in a third projection image by the fluence in a second projection image, where projection images are acquired within two degrees of one another. An acquisition parameter calculation can be configured to calculate acquisition parameters, such as said exposure times, to achieve the targeted fluence in projection images and can be coupled to a rotation controller that implements the acquisition parameters by controlling a relative angle between the imaging subject and X-ray image acquisition device.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 15, 2015Publication date: September 3, 2015Applicant: TRIPLE RING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventor: Tobias Funk
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Patent number: 9107642Abstract: The present invention pertains to an apparatus and method for inverse geometry volume computed tomography medical imaging of a human patient. A plurality of stationary x-ray sources for producing x-ray radiation are used. A rotating collimator located between the plurality of x-ray sources and the human patient is also used. A rotating detector can also be used.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2014Date of Patent: August 18, 2015Assignee: Triple Ring Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Tobias Funk, Joseph Anthony Heanue, Waldo Stephen Hinshaw, Edward Gerald Solomon, Brian Patrick Wilfley
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Publication number: 20150216488Abstract: The present invention pertains to an apparatus and method for X-ray imaging a human patient. A vacuum bell bonded to an X-ray radiation-permeable window that can emit X-ray radiation from a plurality of spots located 1 cm from its edge, a collimator, and a detector are used. A ring of stationary X-ray sources can also be used with a stationary collimator and a rotating slot collimator and detector. An X-ray beam can be aligned in an X-ray system by establishing a position of the beam with respect to a moving collimator at a number of points in time, monitoring the velocity of the collimator, navigating the beam to a calculated position of a hole in the collimator, and correcting the alignment of the beam based on the location of the beam on the detector.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 17, 2015Publication date: August 6, 2015Applicant: Triple Ring Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Tobias Funk
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Publication number: 20150196261Abstract: The present invention pertains to an apparatus and method for medical imaging comprising rotating two X-ray source-detector pairs around an axis of rotation simultaneously to quickly acquire image data and form a computed tomography (CT) dataset. The sources can be configured to emit radiation from a plurality of discrete locations. The CT dataset can be utilized as a prior to reconstruct a three-dimensional image from subsequent bi-planar imaging with these source-detector pairs.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 26, 2015Publication date: July 16, 2015Applicant: TRIPLE RING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventor: TOBIAS FUNK
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Patent number: 9036770Abstract: The present invention pertains to a system and method for X-ray imaging wherein a targeted fluence at the detector for projection images can be achieved at a plurality of projection angles around the imaging subject by control of exposure times implemented during image acquisition. Exposure time for a second projection image may be determined by the fluence in a first projection image, and in a third projection image by the fluence in a second projection image, where projection images are acquired within two degrees of one another. An acquisition parameter calculation can be configured to calculate acquisition parameters, such as said exposure times, to achieve the targeted fluence in projection images and can be coupled to a rotation controller that implements the acquisition parameters by controlling a relative angle between the imaging subject and X-ray image acquisition device.Type: GrantFiled: May 16, 2013Date of Patent: May 19, 2015Assignee: Triple Ring Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Tobias Funk
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Patent number: 9014328Abstract: The present invention pertains to an apparatus and method for X-ray imaging a human patient. A vacuum bell bonded to an X-ray radiation-permeable window that can emit X-ray radiation from a plurality of spots located 1 cm from its edge, a collimator, and a detector are used. A ring of stationary X-ray sources can also be used with a stationary collimator and a rotating slot collimator and detector. An X-ray beam can be aligned in an X-ray system by establishing a position of the beam with respect to a moving collimator at a number of points in time, monitoring the velocity of the collimator, navigating the beam to a calculated position of a hole in the collimator, and correcting the alignment of the beam based on the location of the beam on the detector.Type: GrantFiled: July 4, 2014Date of Patent: April 21, 2015Assignee: Triple Ring Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Tobias Funk
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Patent number: 9001962Abstract: The present invention pertains to an apparatus and method for medical imaging comprising rotating two X-ray source-detector pairs around an axis of rotation simultaneously to quickly acquire image data and form a computed tomography (CT) dataset. The sources can be configured to emit radiation from a plurality of discrete locations. The CT dataset can be utilized as a prior to reconstruct a three-dimensional image from subsequent bi-planar imaging with these source-detector pairs.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2012Date of Patent: April 7, 2015Assignee: Triple Ring Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Tobias Funk
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Publication number: 20150055751Abstract: The present invention pertains to an apparatus and method for adaptive exposure in imaging systems. An x-ray source for producing x-ray radiation and an x-ray detector for measuring amount of x-ray radiation passing through the human patient and striking the detector can be used. A tomographic image of the human patient or a tomosynthetic image of the human patient can be generated. Region of interest filtering and equalization filtering can be utilized. Filtering can be accomplished with a mechanical shield or shutter or with electronic control of the x-ray source.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 25, 2014Publication date: February 26, 2015Applicant: TRIPLE RING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Tobias Funk, Steve Denis Burion, Augustus Percival Lowell, Kate LeeAnn Bechtel, Joseph Anthony Heanue, Brian Patrick Wilfley
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Publication number: 20150049855Abstract: The present invention pertains to an apparatus and method for inverse geometry volume computed tomography medical imaging of a human patient. A plurality of stationary x-ray sources for producing x-ray radiation are used. A rotating collimator located between the plurality of x-ray sources and the human patient is also used. A rotating detector can also be used.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 26, 2014Publication date: February 19, 2015Applicant: TRIPLE RING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Tobias Funk, Joseph Anthony Heanue, Waldo Stephen Hinshaw, Edward Gerald Solomon, Brian Patrick Wilfley
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Patent number: 8908828Abstract: The present invention pertains to a method and apparatus for contactless control of a medical imaging system. A medical image can be acquired and displayed, and an aspect of the image can be altered based on a tracked position of a user body part. The user can be sensed by a sensing device, and the user body part tracked by a tracking unit in a first processing unit. A second processing unit can be coupled to the first processing unit and can have a control unit for controlling the medical imaging system.Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 2012Date of Patent: December 9, 2014Assignee: Triple Ring Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Steve Denis Burion, Henry Hong Lin Liu
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Publication number: 20140294139Abstract: The present invention pertains to a system and method for adaptive X-ray filtration comprising a volume of X-ray attenuating material with a central less attenuating three-dimensional region. The volume of X-ray attenuating material can be positioned within 10 cm from an X-ray source and rotated around an internal axis of rotation. The volume of X-ray attenuating material can be symmetric around the internal axis while the central less attenuating region can be asymmetric around the internal axis. Rotating the volume by a predetermined angle around the internal axis can change the amount of attenuation of an X-ray beam through the filter. The volume can be rotated by the same predetermined angle as an imaging subject or X-ray source and detector are rotated during X-ray image acquisition.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 28, 2013Publication date: October 2, 2014Applicant: TRIPLE RING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventor: TOBIAS FUNK
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Patent number: 8848862Abstract: The present invention pertains to an apparatus and method for inverse geometry volume computed tomography medical imaging of a human patient. A plurality of stationary x-ray sources for producing x-ray radiation are used. A rotating collimator located between the plurality of x-ray sources and the human patient is also used. A rotating detector can also be used.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2013Date of Patent: September 30, 2014Assignee: Triple Ring Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Tobias Funk, Joseph Anthony Heanue, Waldo Stephen Hinshaw, Edward Gerald Solomon, Brian Patrick Wilfley