Patents Examined by Anastasia Midkiff
  • Patent number: 10499874
    Abstract: The management system of the X-ray detectors according to the embodiments detects X-rays irradiated from the X-ray generator when X-ray imaging is carried out, and includes an inspection unit and a validity period setting unit. The inspection unit inspects at least one of performance, function, and operation of an actual operation state of the X-ray detector. The validity period setting unit sets a validity period which is a criterion for determining whether the inspection results inspected are valid or not. The system is configured that the X-ray imaging is not performed on a subject when the inspection results are determined to be invalid based on the validity period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventor: Seiichirou Nagai
  • Patent number: 10478142
    Abstract: DPC (differential phase contrast) images are acquired for each photon energy channel, which are called spectral DPC images. The final DPC image can be computed by summing up these spectral DPC images or just computed using certain ‘color’ representation algorithms to enhance desired features. In addition, with quasi-monochromatic x-ray source, the required radiation dose is substantially reduced, while the image quality of DPC images remains acceptable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: University of Rochester
    Inventors: Ruola Ning, Weixing Cai
  • Patent number: 10478139
    Abstract: A cooling system of a computed tomography (CT) system provides for a more efficient operation than known heretofore. The cooling system of the CT system includes a gantry and a table that moves an object into a bore of the gantry. The gantry includes part boxes mounted therein, and blade elements are formed in regions of the part boxes. The cooling system of the CT system includes a cooling method that includes a multiple cooling method including a stand-by mode and an operating mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Alexander Yun, Sung-ki Kim, Jeong-min Na, Il Seong, Chang-yeon Won, Tae-sik Cho
  • Patent number: 10483079
    Abstract: For manufacturing a radiation window for an X-ray measurement apparatus, an etch stop layer is first produced on a polished surface of a carrier. A thin film deposition technique is used to produce a boron carbide layer on an opposite side of the etch stop layer than the carrier. The combined structure including the carrier, the etch stop layer, and the boron carbide layer is attached to a region around an opening in a support structure with the boron carbide layer facing the support structure. The middle area of carrier is etched away, leaving an additional support structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: HS FOILS OY
    Inventors: Pekka Torma, Heikki Johannes Sipila
  • Patent number: 10466372
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an X-ray beam intensity monitoring device and an X-ray inspection system. The X-ray beam intensity monitoring device comprises an intensity detecting module and a data processing module, wherein the intensity detecting module is adopted to be irradiated by the X-ray beam and send a detecting signal, the data processing module is coupled with the intensity detecting module to receive the detecting signal and output an X-ray beam intensity monitoring signal, wherein the X-ray beam intensity monitoring signal includes a dose monitoring signal for the X-ray beam and a brightness correction signal for correcting signal values of the X-ray beam. The X-ray beam intensity monitoring device can simultaneously perform dose monitoring and brightness monitoring, thereby improving the service efficiency of the X-ray beam intensity monitoring device. Moreover, the monitoring result of the X-ray beam intensity can be more accurate and reliable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignees: TSINGHUA UNIVERSITY, NUCTECH COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Kejun Kang, Shuwei Li, Qingjun Zhang, Yuanjing Li, Yulan Li, Ziran Zhao, Yinong Liu, Yaohong Liu, Weibin Zhu, Xiaolin Zhao, Huishao He
  • Patent number: 10448905
    Abstract: The presently described method is directed to determining a way of positioning a patient before execution of a medical procedure involving irradiating the patient with ionizing treatment radiation based on comparing medical images of the patient with a pre-acquired medical image. The planning computed tomography is searched for an image of the reference structure in order to determine the position of the patient relative to a patient support device. A retroreflective marker device, having a known and advantageously fixed position relative to the base plate, is detected by a navigation system operatively coupled to a motor of the support device. Based on the detected position of the marker device, the motor of the support device is activated to drive the patient into a desired position relative to beam direction along which the treatment radiation is to be issued towards the patient to execute the medical procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: BRAINLAB AG
    Inventors: Kajetan Berlinger, Stephan Froehlich, Eva Maria Gronbach
  • Patent number: 10453643
    Abstract: A transmission-target x-ray tube can include an x-ray window mounted on a window-housing. The window-housing can be made of a high density material (e.g. ?12 g/cm3) with a high atomic number (e.g. ?45), and can include an aperture with an increasing-inner-diameter region, with a smaller diameter closer to the electron-emitter and a larger diameter closer to the window-mount, for blocking x-rays and electrons. An example angle in the increasing-inner-diameter region is between 15 degrees and 35 degrees. The x-ray tube can further comprise a window-cap. The x-ray window can be sandwiched between the window-housing and the window-cap. The window-cap can be made of a high density material (e.g. ?12 g/cm3) with a high atomic number (e.g. ?45) for blocking x-rays in undesirable directions, and can include an aperture for allowing x-rays to transmit in desirable directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Moxtek, Inc.
    Inventors: Dustin Peterson, Richard Zimmerman, Rick Steck, Vince Jones, Eric Miller
  • Patent number: 10436723
    Abstract: Only X-rays having a specific wavelength, selected from a group of focusing X-rays diffracted from a sample, are reflected from a monochromator based on a Bragg's condition, passed through a receiving slit and detected by an X-ray detector. The monochromator is configured to be freely removable, and arranged between the sample and a focal point at which the wavelength-selected focusing X-rays diffracted from the sample are directly focused. At this time, the monochromator is moved so as to position the monochromator as close to the focal point as possible. The monochromator comprises a multilayer mirror having an internal interplanar spacing, wherein said internal interplanar spacing varies continuously from one end of the monochromator to the other end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: RIGAKU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takeshi Osakabe, Tetsuya Ozawa, Kazuhiko Omote, Licai Jiang, Boris Verman, Yuriy Platonov
  • Patent number: 10433809
    Abstract: A mobile device, a host device, and an X-ray detector are provided. The mobile device includes a first communicator configured to receive identification information of the X-ray detector from the X-ray detector, and a second communicator configured to send the received identification information of the X-ray detector to the host device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jong Seo Park, Woong Lee
  • Patent number: 10433803
    Abstract: An X-ray CT apparatus and an image reconstruction method are configured (i) to determine a movement phase to be used for generating diagnostic images with a small number of operations and (ii) to acquire diagnostic images in a short time while reducing a burden on an operator, such as when the target in scanning is a moving site. For example, an image processing device of an X-ray CT apparatus obtains movement information of a diagnostic site (such as the heart), determines phase selection positions, permits the operator to select an arbitrary movement phase based on the acquired movement information, and reconstructs selection images in a plurality of movement phases for each of the determined phase selection positions using scan data before presentation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: HITACHI, LTD.
    Inventor: Hiroto Kokubun
  • Patent number: 10420526
    Abstract: A method for optimizing CT scanning parameter is disclosed. A target group may be generated from a plurality of reference information samples. Each of the reference information samples may include subject information, information indicating a scanning protocol, one or more scanning parameter values and information indicating reconstructed image quality; the target group can consist of one or more reference information samples with the same subject information and the same scanning protocol. A scanning parameter optimization may be performed according to reconstructed image qualities and scanning parameter values of reference information samples in the target group, so as to acquire a target scanning parameter value of the target group. And according to the target scanning parameter value, a reference X-ray irradiation dose corresponding to the scanning protocol and the subject information of the target group may be determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: SHENYANG NEUSOFT MEDICAL SYSTEMS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shanshan Lou, Dan Lv, Ling Pang, Changkun Liu
  • Patent number: 10413255
    Abstract: A breast imaging system leverages the combined strengths of two-dimensional and three-dimensional imaging to provide a breast cancer screening with improved sensitivity, specificity and patient dosing. A tomosynthesis system supports the acquisition of three-dimensional images at a dosage lower than that used to acquire a two-dimensional image. The low-dose three-dimensional image may be used for mass detection, while the two-dimensional image may be used for calcification detection. Obtaining tomosynthesis data at low dose provides a number of advantages in addition to mass detection including the reduction in scan time and wear and tear on the x-ray tube. Such an arrangement provides a breast cancer screening system with high sensitivity and specificity and reduced patient dosing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: HOLOGIC, INC.
    Inventors: Jay Stein, Andrew P. Smith, Zhenxue Jing, Loren Niklason
  • Patent number: 10405813
    Abstract: Systems and methods for obtaining a panoramic image are provided. One system includes a gantry, an x-ray source, a receptor, and at least one controller. The x-ray source is mounted on the gantry and is configured to alternatively output x-ray radiation at a first energy level and x-ray radiation at a second energy level. The receptor is mounted on the gantry so that x-ray radiation from the x-ray source impinges on the receptor. The receptor is configured to output a plurality of frames of data including a first frame and a second frame sequential to the first frame. The controller is configured to control the x-ray source so that data in the first frame is generated based on x-ray radiation of the first energy level and data in the second frame is based on x-ray radiation of the second energy level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignees: Dental Imaging Technologies Corporation, PaloDEx Group OY
    Inventors: Petri Jouhikainen, David Albert Sebok, Bradley S. Carlson, Hongjian Shi, Mike Parma, Edward Marandola, Robert Keating, Esa Suuronen, Scott Kravis
  • Patent number: 10401310
    Abstract: A stress analysis apparatus capable of improving the accuracy of a stress value, a method, and a program are provided. A stress analysis apparatus 100 that calculates a residual stress of a sample S includes an analysis unit configured to calculate an error as one of solutions by using an equation including an error term and prescribing a relationship between stress and strain with using measured values of diffracted X-rays with respect to a plurality of scattering vectors and a provisional value when the stress in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the sample S is constant, and a provisional value correction unit configured to correct the provisional value using the calculated error, and the analysis unit and the provisional value correction unit repeat the calculation of the error and the correction of the provisional value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: RIGAKU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shoichi Yasukawa
  • Patent number: 10393681
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an X-ray Talbot interferometer including a source grating including a plurality of X-ray transmitting portions, configured to allow some of X-rays from an X-ray source to pass therethrough; a beam splitter grating having a periodic structure, configured to diffract X-rays from the X-ray transmitting portions by using the periodic structure to form an interference pattern; and an X-ray detector configured to detect X-rays from the beam splitter grating. The beam splitter grating diffracts an X-ray from each of the plurality of X-ray transmitting portions to form interference patterns each corresponding to one of the plurality of X-ray transmitting portions. The plurality of X-ray transmitting portions are arranged so that the interference patterns, each corresponding to one of the plurality of X-ray transmitting portions, are superimposed on one another to enhance a specific spatial frequency component in a sideband generated by modulation of the interference patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Soichiro Handa
  • Patent number: 10391336
    Abstract: An apparatus comprises a radiotherapy delivery apparatus having a radiation source for emitting a beam of radiation and wherein the source is rotatable around an axis intersecting the beam through a range of at least x degrees, an imaging device, and a control unit controlling the source and imaging device. The apparatus further comprises a treatment planning computer receiving a first image of a patient, and parameters defining the operations of the radiotherapy delivery apparatus. Parameters include an available range of rotation for the source, x-e, where e>0. The treatment planning computer generates a treatment plan for the patient based on the received image and parameters. The control unit determines a patient position using the imaging device, determines a rotation r of the patient around the axis relative to the first image, and compensates for the rotation by offsetting the source by a rotation, r, when r<e.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: ELEKTA AB (PUBL)
    Inventor: Per Carlsson
  • Patent number: 10396109
    Abstract: A detector element circuit for a CT imaging system may include a plurality of sensors for detecting photons passing through an object and a first electronic component configured to determine an energy of photons detected by the plurality of sensors and generate photon count data, which may be a count of detected photons in one or more energy bins. The detector element circuit may further include a second electronic component configured to receive the photon count data from the first electronic component and is clocked at a first clock rate; a local memory storage configured to receive the photon count data from the second electronic component at the first clock rate and to output the photon count data at a second clock rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Redlen Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kris Iniewski, Glenn Bindley, Robert Crestani
  • Patent number: 10363437
    Abstract: A method of determining a treatment parameter, includes determining an accumulated dose at a target region that undergoes motion, determining an accumulated dose at a critical region, and determining the treatment parameter based on the determined accumulated dose at the target region and the determined accumulated dose at the critical region, wherein the act of determining the treatment parameter is performed during a treatment session. A method of determining a treatment parameter, includes tracking a position of a target, delivering radiation to the target based on the tracked position, and compensating for an inaccuracy of the tracked position by using information regarding a delivered dose to determine a treatment parameter for a next beam delivery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: Varian Medical Systems International AG
    Inventors: Janne Nord, Sami Siljamaki
  • Patent number: 10363004
    Abstract: A method is disclosed of making a customized intraoral positioning device to be positioned within a patient's mouth for radiation therapy planning and treatment of a head and/or neck of the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: Radtec Medical Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Ross Holman, Brian Knott
  • Patent number: 10342501
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an X-ray imaging apparatus includes an X-ray image acquisition unit, a control system and a display processing part. The X-ray image acquisition unit acquires X-ray image data of an object by using at least one imaging system. The control system controls the imaging system to acquire X-ray image data corresponding to different directions by reciprocating the imaging system repeatedly. The display processing part acquires X-ray image data for stereoscopic viewing out of the X-ray image data corresponding to the different directions to generate and display stereoscopically visible image data on a display unit based on the X-ray image data for the stereoscopic viewing. The X-ray image data for the stereoscopic viewing are acquired in a period without a motion or a possibility of the motion in an imaging part of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: TOSHIBA MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takuya Sakaguchi