Patents Examined by Anastasia Midkiff
  • Patent number: 10335098
    Abstract: In a panoramic imaging apparatus, a panoramic image is displayed on a monitor. The panoramic image is an image in which an overall dentition is in optimal focus, or an image in which a region of interest that is a portion of the image of the overall dentition is in optimal focus. Both images are reconstructed from frame data that has been collected by an initial first scan. Feature points of one or more teeth and a supporting portion that supports the tooth in the dentition in the panoramic image displayed on the monitor are designated. A length based on the positions of the designated feature points is measured in the panoramic image. The degree of loss in alveolar bone that supports the tooth is analyzed based on the measured length. The analysis information is provided to a dentist as check information regarding periodontal disease.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: AXION JAPAN CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuki Shibasaki, Hideo Sakurai, Motoyuki Kawamura, Kazuo Harai, Masato Minabe, Takashi Sue
  • Patent number: 10335104
    Abstract: A multi energy, such as dual-energy (“DE”), x-ray imaging system data acquisition and image reconstruction system and method enables optimizing the image contrast of a sample. Using the DE x-ray imaging system and its associated user interface applications, an operator performs a low energy (“LE”) and high energy (“HE”) x-ray scan of the same volume of interest of the sample. The system creates a low-energy reconstructed tomographic volume data set from the set of low-energy projections and a high-energy tomographic volume data set from the set of high-energy projections. This enables the operator to control the image contrast of selected slices, and apply the information associated with optimizing the contrast of the selected slice to all slices in the low-energy and high-energy tomographic data sets. This creates a combined volume data set from the LE and HE volume data sets with optimized image contrast throughout.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss X-ray Microscopy, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas A. Case, Susan Candell, Srivatsan Seshadri, Paul McGuinness
  • Patent number: 10335103
    Abstract: An image display system, radiation imaging system, image display control program and image display control method, which make the position of an object of interest easier to perceive, are provided. A tomographic image generation section generates a tomographic image DG. A nipple height specification section specifies the height of a nipple P as measured from an imaging plane on the basis of the generated tomographic image DG. An image display control section controls displays at a display, via an interface section, such that an information image IG is displayed together with the generated tomographic image DG. The information image IG indicates the height of the nipple P and the slice height of the tomographic image DG that is being displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: FUJIFILM CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masataka Sugahara
  • Patent number: 10327722
    Abstract: According to various aspects, exemplary embodiments are disclosed of systems that may be used for cooling objects, such as X-ray tubes and detectors, etc. Also disclosed are exemplary embodiments of methods for cooling objects, such as X-ray tubes and detectors, etc. For example, an exemplary embodiment includes a system that can be used to cool an X-ray tube and detector with one chiller. As another example, an exemplary embodiment of a method includes using one chiller to cool an X-ray tube and detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: Laird Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Dan Martin Gustav Karlstedt
  • Patent number: 10326948
    Abstract: A radiation imaging apparatus includes a plurality of pixels, each of which includes a conversion element and a transistor, a plurality of drive lines connected to gates of the transistors, a drive circuit unit configured to supply a voltage to the plurality of drive lines, and a control unit configured to control the drive circuit unit. The control unit performs control of causing the drive circuit unit to apply a different voltage that is between the OFF voltage and the ON voltage and is different from the OFF voltage and the ON voltage to the plurality of drive lines in a different period different from a period in which storage control is performed and a period in which read control is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroshi Wayama, Minoru Watanabe, Keigo Yokoyama, Masato Ofuji, Jun Kawanabe, Kentaro Fujiyoshi, Kazuya Furumoto
  • Patent number: 10325691
    Abstract: The present invention provides a bright, focused visible light source that is part of a visible light alignment assembly that is coupled to an X-ray generator. The visible light source projects a bright, focused visible light beam from the X-ray generator through a collimator and object or part to be radiographed and to a detector or film, just as a subsequent X-ray beam eventually is. This allows the operator to quickly and easily visually assess the eventual position and coverage or spread of the X-ray beam and align the X-ray generator, collimator, object or part to be radiographed, and/or detector or film, with a minimum of test radiographs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: Consolidated Nuclear Security, LLC
    Inventor: Nathaniel Frederick Henry
  • Patent number: 10324223
    Abstract: A method, an apparatus, and a system for x-ray scanning inspection of motorized vehicles are described. The apparatus or system comprises a concrete facility that has a concrete housing, multiple x-ray beam sources, multiple x-ray beam detectors on respective opposite sides of the multiple x-ray beam sources, and a conveyor belt. The apparatus or system is automated to deliver alerts if any of the scanned motorized vehicles contain prohibited materials. The method, apparatus, and system are able to detect organic versus inorganic matter. Specific beam strength and a distance between the motorized vehicles make this technology automated and more accurate for security screening of a large number of motorized vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Inventor: Mohammed Al-Hoshani
  • Patent number: 10319555
    Abstract: Example embodiments presented herein are directed towards an x-ray generating device. The device comprises at least one electron emitter(s) that has an electrically conductive substrate. The electrically conductive substrate comprises a coating of nanostructures. The device further comprises a heating element attached to each electrically conductive substrate. The device further comprises an electron receiving component configured to receive electrons emitted from the at least one electron emitter(s). The device also comprises an evacuated enclosure configured to house the at least one electron emitter(s), the heating element and the electron receiving component. The at least one electron emitter(s) is configured for Schottky emission when the heating element is in an on-state and the at least one electron emitter(s) is negatively biased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Luxbright AB
    Inventor: Qiu-Hong Hu
  • Patent number: 10278660
    Abstract: When at least one of a two-dimensional radiological image and a plurality of tomographic images of the same subject is displayed on a monitor, a depth map creation unit creates a depth map in which each position on the pseudo two-dimensional image is associated with depth information indicating the position of a tomographic plane corresponding to each position in a depth direction. A display control unit specifies the depth information of a predetermined position in the two-dimensional radiological image, with reference to the depth map, and displays the tomographic image of the tomographic plane indicated by the specified depth information on the monitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Wataru Fukuda, Junya Morita
  • Patent number: 10251619
    Abstract: A method of setting operating conditions of a detector in an imaging system includes searching for a detector that is not registered in the imaging system; acquiring detector profile information from the searched detector; registering the detector based on the detector profile information; allocating a predetermined marker to the registered detector to represent activation or non-activation thereof; transmitting control information including the allocated predetermined marker to the detector; receiving detector correction information from the detector; and setting operating conditions of the detector based on the received detector correction information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jong-seo Park, Woo-sup Han
  • Patent number: 10234407
    Abstract: The present invention improves the precision in observing cracks in rocks during a hydraulic fracturing test, improving a scientific understanding of the regular pattern of development cracks in of hydraulically fractured rocks. The technical solution includes: hydraulically fracturing the rock with aqueous solutions containing an interventional contrast-enhanced agent, forming hydraulically fractured cracks, wherein the difference in a mass attenuation coefficient ?/? of x-rays between the cracks and the rock is improved by the interventional contrast-enhanced agent in the cracks, moreover, the difference in mass energy absorption coefficient ?en/? of x-rays between the cracks and the rock is improved, then the linear attenuation coefficient of the reception of the detector is changed, improving the imaging resolution for hydraulically fractured cracks in the rock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Inventors: Shouding Li, Zhongming Zhou, Xiao Li, Jianming He, Yanhui Liu
  • Patent number: 10219363
    Abstract: An XRF analyzer can include an x-ray source and an x-ray detector; an x-ray source heat-sink adjacent a side of the x-ray source; and an x-ray detector heat-sink adjacent a side of the x-ray detector. In one embodiment, the x-ray source heat-sink can be separated from the x-ray detector heat sink by a material having a thermal conductivity of less than 20 W/(m*K). In another embodiment, the x-ray source heat-sink can be separated from the x-ray detector heat sink by at least 3 millimeters of a thermally insulating material. In one embodiment, the x-ray source heat-sink can be separated from the x-ray detector heat sink by a segment of the engine component casing. Separation of the heat sinks can help avoid heat from the x-ray source adversely affecting resolution of the x-ray detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: Moxtek, Inc.
    Inventors: Vincent Floyd Jones, Daniel N. Paas
  • Patent number: 10206638
    Abstract: An X-ray CT apparatus according to an embodiment includes a detector, counted result collecting circuitry, count rate calculating circuitry, control circuitry, and image reconstruction circuitry. The detector includes a plurality of detection elements including a plurality of types of detection elements with different response characteristics to an X-ray dose, and outputs a detection signal according to an incidence of an X-ray photon to each of the detection elements. The counted result collecting circuitry collects counted results obtained by counting X-ray photons from detection signals output by the detection elements. The count rate calculating circuitry calculates a count rate from the detection signals output by the detection elements. The control circuitry selects a detection element based on the count rate and respective response characteristics of the detection elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroaki Nakai
  • Patent number: 10206649
    Abstract: A receiving antenna for wirelessly receiving data between a stator of a computed tomography (CT) imaging modality and a rotor of the CT imaging modality is provided. The rotor rotates about a rotational axis. The receiving antenna includes a dielectric portion and a conductive portion coupled to the dielectric portion. A second surface of the conductive portion extends between a first end and a second end along a conductive axis that is substantially perpendicular to the rotational axis. The second surface of the conductive portion has a first length at a first length location along a first length axis that is substantially parallel to the conductive axis. The second surface of the conductive portion has a second length at a second length location along a second length axis that is substantially parallel to the conductive axis. The first length is different than the second length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: Analogic Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas Abraham, Peter Daniel Shippen, Carl DeVincent
  • Patent number: 10209372
    Abstract: Methods for discriminating among x-ray beams of distinct energy content. A first volume of scintillation medium converts energy of incident penetrating radiation into scintillation light which is extracted from a scintillation light extraction region by a plurality of optical waveguides that convert the scintillation light to light of a longer wavelength. An x-ray beam initially incident upon the first volume of scintillation medium and traversing the first volume is then incident on a second volume of scintillation medium. The first and second scintillation media may be separated by an absorber or one or more further volumes of scintillation medium, and may also have differential spectral sensitivities. Scintillation light from the first and second scintillation volumes is detected in respective detectors and processed to yield a measure of respective low energy and high-energy components of the incident x-ray beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: American Science and Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Anatoli Arodzero, Joseph Callerame, Dan-Cristian Dinca, Rajen Sud, Lee Grodzins, Martin Rommel, Peter Rothschild, Jeffrey Schubert, Aaron Couture, Jeffrey M. Denker, Jonathan Edward Everett
  • Patent number: 10201317
    Abstract: A system for detecting lymphedema comprising a dual energy x-ray absorptiometry system and one or more spacer pads disposed within a field of view of the dual energy x-ray absorptiometry system. The dual energy x-ray absorptiometry system comprises an x-ray source and a patient support platform, wherein the patient support platform is configured to receive a patient in a supine position with the x-ray source disposed above the patient support platform. The one or more spacer pads are configured to be positioned between body parts of the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: HOLOGIC, INC.
    Inventors: Kevin Wilson, Thomas L. Kelly
  • Patent number: 10197513
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for estimating a heating value of a biological material. The method includes irradiating of the biological material with X-ray radiation of at least two different energy levels, measuring of an amount of radiation transmitted through the biological material at these energy levels, and measuring fluorescent radiation emitted by the biological material when irradiated at these energy levels. A final estimate of the heating value is then determined based on a preliminary estimate of the heating value of the biological material based on the measured transmitted radiation and a correction value based on the fluorescent radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: MANTEX IP AB
    Inventors: Ragnar Kullenberg, Ralf Torgrip
  • Patent number: 10194875
    Abstract: A system for multi-mode breast x-ray imaging which comprises a compression arm assembly for compressing and immobilizing a breast for x-ray imaging, an x-ray tube assembly, an x-ray image receptor, and a patient shield is provided. The system is configured for a plurality of imaging protocols and modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Hologic, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth DeFreitas, Thomas Farbizio, Baorui Ren, Christopher Ruth, Ian Shaw, Andrew P. Smith, Jay Stein
  • Patent number: 10185044
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a photon-counting apparatus includes an X-ray tube, an X-ray detector, a support mechanism, setting circuitry and data acquisition circuitry. The X-ray detector is configured to repetitively detect an X-ray photon generated by the X-ray tube, and repetitively generate an electrical signal corresponding to the repetitively detected X-ray photon. The support mechanism is configured to support the X-ray tube to be rotatable about a rotation axis. Setting circuitry configured to set one of a time length of a readout period and a readout cycle per unit time for the electrical signal. Data acquisition circuitry is configured to count a count number of electrical signals from the X-ray detector in accordance with the set one of the time length and readout cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Noshi, Shuya Nambu
  • Patent number: 10181390
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an X-ray tube includes a cathode including a filament, an anode target, and an envelope. The cathode includes a metal lead wire supporter which is exposed outside the envelope, which is configured as a part of the envelope, and to which a lead wire as a power supplier to the filament is attached such that the lead wire passes both inside and outside of the envelope, and a metal filament supporter fixed on the lead wire supporter, being in contact with the lead wire supporter, and supporting the filament.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Toshiba Electron Tubes & Devices Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoki Takahashi, Takashi Shimono, Hidero Anno