Patents Examined by Anastasia Midkiff
  • Patent number: 9826954
    Abstract: A diagnostic gage (12) that can be implemented into a tissue-simulating headform (17) or other anthropomorphic surrogate test device (11) as a means of determining the internal strain within the test surrogate. One embodiment of the gage consists of a matrix or substrate embedded with x-ray contrast agents (14) and a series of holes within the substrate (15) that provide contrasting markers in an x-ray image and a means of closely coupling the gage to the test specimen. The relative motion of these contrasting markers can be monitored using x-ray fluoroscopy equipment (e.g., source (10) and detector (13)). This gage provides a means of determining the internal strain within a headform surrogate model for the purpose of evaluating the performance of helmets in terms of reducing the occurrence of concussion among other biomechanical injuries from trauma.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Inventor: Oren E. Petel
  • Patent number: 9826950
    Abstract: A method to adjust or tune mechanical settings of a mammography apparatus comprising an x-ray source, a paddle and a detector with a detector cover, wherein before executing an x-ray measurement a patient's breast is placed and compressed between the detector cover and the paddle, wherein prior to the x-ray measurement reaction forces between the mammography apparatus and the patient's breast are minimized. The invention relates further to a mammography apparatus comprising an x-ray source, a paddle and a detector with a detector cover, which apparatus is provided with at least one weighing means to measure the downwards forces exerted by (the part of) the apparatus above the weighing means towards the ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Academisch Medisch Centrum bij de Universiteit van Amsterdam
    Inventors: Gerardus Johannes Den Heeten, Cornelis Antonius Grimbergen, Christiaan Neeleman
  • Patent number: 9820707
    Abstract: An X-ray device includes a C-bracket having a radiation detector rotatably mounted on the C-bracket. The radiation detector may be rotated by a motor drive. The axis of rotation is perpendicular to the detector surface. The motor drive is a torque motor that includes a stator and a rotor. The radiation detector is coupled to the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Michael Atzinger
  • Patent number: 9823201
    Abstract: The present specification discloses a multi-view X-ray inspection system having, in one of several embodiments, a three-view configuration with three X-ray sources. Each X-ray source rotates and is configured to emit a rotating X-ray pencil beam and at least two detector arrays, where each detector array has multiple non-pixellated detectors such that at least a portion of the non-pixellated detectors are oriented toward both the two X-ray sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Rapiscan Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Edward James Morton
  • Patent number: 9818569
    Abstract: A high dose output, through transmission target X-ray tube and methods of use includes, in general an X-ray tube for accelerating electrons under a high voltage potential having an evacuated high voltage housing, a hemispherical shaped through transmission target anode disposed in said housing, a cathode structure to deflect the electrons toward the hemispherical anode disposed in said housing, a filament located in the geometric center of the anode hemisphere disposed in said housing, a power supply connected to said cathode to provide accelerating voltage to the electrons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: RAD SOURCE TECHNOLOGIES, INC
    Inventor: Phillip Kent Ausburn
  • Patent number: 9817131
    Abstract: An apparatus is described herein. The apparatus comprises a first modality unit and a second modality unit. The first modality unit is located within a gantry. The second modality unit within the gantry is moveable along an examination axis to be concentric about with the first modality unit such that a field of view of the first modality unit and a field of view of the second modality unit are centered about a single point of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Adam Clark Nathan
  • Patent number: 9814436
    Abstract: A radiographic imaging device including: a sensor portion that generates an output signal according to an irradiated amount of irradiated radiation; a detector that based on the output signal detects a radiation irradiation start of radiation irradiated from a radiation source during capture of a radiographic image; a noise data generation means that, based on an output signal from the sensor portion in a non-irradiation state of radiation from the radiation source, generates noise data relating to noise incorporated in the output signal; a controller that controls detection sensitivity to radiation irradiation start in the detector according to a degree of variation in noise level expressed by the noise data; and an imaging unit that captures the radiographic image after radiation irradiation start has been detected by the detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Yasufumi Oda
  • Patent number: 9801594
    Abstract: A system for tracking tumors during radiotherapy by interleaving treatment pulses with imaging pulses is disclosed. The system includes a multisource scanning eBeam X-ray tube having a plurality of focal spots. The X-ray tube is configured to emit X-rays to a plurality of different locations on a target by sequentially emitting the X-rays to the focal spots in the plurality of focal spots. This is done such that the X-rays can be emitted to the plurality of different locations on the target without substantially moving the X-ray tube or the target. The system further includes an imager panel configured to act as the target and configured to receive the X-rays from the focal spots of the X-ray tube. The system further includes a tomosynthesis reconstruction module configured to process output from the imager panel to construct an image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Imatrex Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas P. Boyd, Samuel M. Song, Roy E. Rand, Larry Partain, Junghyun Kwon
  • Patent number: 9805903
    Abstract: A well-logging tool may include a sonde housing and a radiation generator carried by the sonde housing. The radiation generator may include a generator housing, a target carried by the generator housing, a charged particle source carried by the generator housing to direct charged particles at the target, and at least one voltage source coupled to the charged particle source. The at least one voltage source may include a voltage ladder comprising a plurality of voltage multiplication stages coupled in a uni-polar configuration, and at least one loading coil coupled at at least one intermediate position along the voltage ladder. The well-logging tool may further include at least one radiation detector carried by the sonde housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Matthieu Simon, Anthony Durkowski, Christian Stoller
  • Patent number: 9805834
    Abstract: The invention relates to gratings for X-ray differential phase-contrast imaging, a focus detector arrangement and X-ray system for generating phase-contrast images of an object and a method of phase-contrast imaging for examining an object of interest. In order to provide gratings with a high aspect ratio but low costs, a grating for X-ray differential phase-contrast imaging is proposed, comprising a first sub-grating (112), and at least a second sub-grating (114; 116; 118), wherein the sub-gratings each comprise a body structure (120) with bars (122) and gaps (124) being arranged periodically with a pitch (a), wherein the sub-gratings (112; 114; 116; 118) are arranged consecutively in the direction of the X-ray beam, and wherein the sub-gratings (112; 114; 116; 118) are positioned displaced to each other perpendicularly to the X-ray beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Thomas Koehler, Ewald Roessl
  • Patent number: 9805902
    Abstract: A well-logging tool may include a sonde housing, and a radiation generator carried by the sonde housing. The radiation generator may include a generator housing, a target carried by the generator housing, a charged particle source carried by the generator housing to direct charged particles at the target, and at least one voltage source coupled to the charged particle source. The at least one voltage source may include a voltage ladder comprising a plurality of voltage multiplication stages coupled in a bi-polar configuration, and at least one loading coil coupled at at least one intermediate position along the voltage ladder. The well-logging tool may further include at least one radiation detector carried by the sonde housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Matthieu Simon, Anthony Durkowski, Christian Stoller
  • Patent number: 9801605
    Abstract: The invention relates to a detection apparatus (12) for detecting photons. The detection apparatus comprises a pile-up determining unit (15) for determining whether detection signal pulses being indicative of detected photons are caused by a pile-up event or by a non-pile-up event, wherein a detection values generating unit (16) generates detection values depending on the detection signal pulses and depending on the determination whether the respective detection signal pulse is caused by a pile-up event or by a non-pile-up event. In particular, the detection values generating unit can be adapted to reject the detection signal pulses caused by pile-up events while generating the detection values. This allows for an improved quality of the generated detection values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Roland Proksa, Ewald Roessl
  • Patent number: 9799479
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method, a system, and a light source for penetrating radiation imaging, and more particularly, to a method, a system, and a light source for X-ray imaging. The system for X-ray phase contrast and high resolution imaging of the present invention comprises an X-ray source comprising a plurality of X-ray micro-light sources, an X-ray sensor configured to receive X-rays penetrating an object, and a computer configured to receive and compute raw image data from the X-ray sensor so as to obtain a clear image of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: ACADEMIA SINICA
    Inventors: Yeu-Kuang Hwu, Tsung-Tse Li, Yu-Tai Ching
  • Patent number: 9793305
    Abstract: In capturing an image of a grid by an image detector, a measurement pixel that is not in the position of a specific point having a maximum or minimum value of an output signal is referred to as a first measurement pixel, and a measurement pixel that is in the position of the specific point is referred to as a second measurement pixel. The disposition of the first and second measurement pixels are determined so as to satisfy the following condition: fG/fN?odd number, wherein fG is a grid frequency and fN is a Nyquist frequency of pixels; and in shifting the grid C times by one pixel, the number of the first measurement pixels is larger than that of the second measurement pixels at any time in the range of a cycle C of a repetition pattern appearing in the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Tajima, Takeshi Kuwabara, Yusuke Kitagawa
  • Patent number: 9782139
    Abstract: An X-ray device has a detector which is arranged on a mobile unit and is assigned to a first positioning unit. An X-ray source is arranged on an arcuate second positioning unit. The positioning of the first and second positioning units can be matched to one another in the course of their movements. The first positioning unit has at least one articulated arm and the second positioning unit has a first and a second arc-shaped positioning element. The first and second positioning units are arranged separately from one another on a movable unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Karl Barth, Rainer Graumann
  • Patent number: 9784700
    Abstract: A fluorescent X-ray analyzer includes a sample stage, an X-ray source that irradiates a sample with primary X-rays, a detector that detects secondary X-rays generated from the sample, a position adjustment mechanism that adjusts relative positions of the sample stage and the primary X-rays, an observation mechanism that obtains an observation image of the sample, and a computer having a display unit and an input unit. The computer has a function of, in response to a pointer being moved from a central region of the observation screen to a certain position by dragging the input unit while maintaining a state in which an input element of the input unit is held, moving the sample stage in a movement direction and at a movement speed corresponding to a direction and a distance of the certain position relative to the central region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Tech Science Corporation
    Inventor: Masahiro Sakuta
  • Patent number: 9780128
    Abstract: An image detector is disposed behind a grid. The image detector has normal pixels and measurement pixels. Out of a group of measurement pixels based on which an average value of dose measurement signals is calculated, a [C/D] number of measurement pixels are disposed or chosen in a cycle Z=(R×C)±D. Wherein, C represents a cycle of a repetition pattern appearing in an arrangement direction of X-ray transparent layers and X-ray absorbing layers in an X-ray image of the grid, and is represented in units of the number of pixels. R represents a natural number of 0 or more. D represents an integer less than the cycle C. [C/D] represents a maximum integer equal to or less than C/D. Provided that at least the [C/D] number of measurement pixels are shifted C occasions by one pixel, if D=1, the average value of the dose measurement signals is invariable without any variations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Tajima, Takeshi Kuwabara, Yusuke Kitagawa
  • Patent number: 9775574
    Abstract: A portable XRF analyzer includes a hand shield to substantially block x-rays from impinging on a hand of a user. The portable XRF analyzer includes a heat sink over an x-ray source and a heat sink over an x-ray detector. The heat sinks are separated from each other by a thermally insulative material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Moxtek, Inc.
    Inventors: Vincent Floyd Jones, Daniel N. Paas
  • Patent number: 9771680
    Abstract: A characterization method for characterizing an article made of composite material having woven, braided, or sewn fiber reinforcement, the method including a determination step of using X-ray tomography to determine gray levels of at least a portion of the article, followed by an exploitation step of exploiting the gray levels to obtain information concerning the weaving by distinguishing between at least the free matrix and the threads of fibers mixed with the matrix, the threads being considered as being a material that is homogeneous.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventor: Julien Schneider
  • Patent number: 9764162
    Abstract: Systems and methods can include obtaining computerized physician intent data representing an initial patient care plan; creating a computerized workflow to include a course of multiple radiation therapy sessions; performing instructions on the oncology computer system to generate control parameters for a radiation therapy apparatus to provide the radiation treatment in accordance with the workflow during the course of sessions; obtaining computerized treatment data after initiating the course of sessions; processing the computerized treatment data, using the processor circuit, to determine an indication of delivery or effect of the radiation treatment during the course of sessions based on the initial patient care plan relative to the workflow; using the indication of delivery or effect of the radiation treatment to adapt the patient care plan; and managing the workflow for the patient using the adapted patient care plan as the patient proceeds through a course of sessions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Elekta, Inc.
    Inventors: Virgil Matthew Willcut, Richard Henry Stark