Patents Examined by Chih-Cheng G Kao
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Patent number: 7346144Abstract: A system and method for delivering radiation to an object. A computer tomography machine generates CT data of the object. A radiation source with an output beam is directed to a predetermined irradiation field of the object. A detector above the object controls the output beam to the predetermined irradiation field of the object. A processor calculates the dose to the predetermined irradiation field of the object. Another detector below the object which measures the radiation delivered to the object.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2002Date of Patent: March 18, 2008Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.Inventors: John H. Hughes, Juan Carlos Celi, Francisco Miguel Hernandez-Guerra
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Patent number: 7346147Abstract: A linear source of x-rays is disclosed wherein an elongated filament, mounted within a cylindrically formed anode, provides electrons around the filament, and along the length of said filament. The anode that comprises a high Z material such as gold, receives the electrons and emits X-rays in a 360 degree arc and along a substantial length of the anode. In one embodiment the tube is used for irradiation purposes.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2005Date of Patent: March 18, 2008Inventors: Randol E. Kirk, Daniel F. Gorzen
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Patent number: 7343001Abstract: Methods of using an X-ray system having a central computer system, an X-ray source and a bank of wireless detectors. The methods include an automated X-ray system that requires the input of a type of X-ray to be performed on a patient, and the systems determine and identify which detector from the detector bank is appropriate for the ordered test.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 2006Date of Patent: March 11, 2008Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventor: Emad Abu Tabanjeh
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Patent number: 7340028Abstract: The reconstruction of computer tomography data is very often based on a parallel rebinning step of the projection data prior to the filtered back projection. In case of cardiac reconstruction, a gating technique is applied to select appropriate projections for a time-dependent image reconstruction. Usually, the gating window is a function of the fan-beam/cone-beam projection only. According to the present invention, a function corresponding to the location on the detector surface, where the respective projection was detected is used to further verify whether the respective projection is truly within the selected gating window or not.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2004Date of Patent: March 4, 2008Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.Inventors: Michael Grass, Robert Manzke, Thomas Köhler
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Patent number: 7333588Abstract: An x-ray computed tomography system uses a broad area x-ray emitter and detector to allow both in plane and out of plane x-ray projections not restrained to spiral or helical scans.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2002Date of Patent: February 19, 2008Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research FoundationInventors: Charles A. Mistretta, Thomas R. Mackie
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Patent number: 7333216Abstract: An apparatus for wavefront detection includes a wavefront source for the production of a wavefront, an optical system transforming the wavefront, a diffraction grating through which the transformed wavefront passes, and a spatially resolving detector following the diffraction grating. The wavefront source has a two-dimensional structure.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2001Date of Patent: February 19, 2008Assignee: Carl Zeiss SMT AGInventors: Ulrich Wegmann, Helmut Haidner, Martin Schriever
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Patent number: 7330530Abstract: A method for detecting an enhanced image of an object by independently analyzing, detecting, digitizing, and combining images acquired on a high and a low angle side of a rocking curve of a crystal analyzer. An x-ray beam generated by a line x-ray source is collimated by a crystal monochromator including two non-matching crystals to form an x-ray area beam. The x-ray area beam is transmitted through an object to be imaged and onto an image detector and the image is digitized. The digitized images are simultaneously solved, preferably on a pixel-by-pixel basis, to derive an enhanced image which has dramatically improved contrast and spatial resolution over an image acquired through conventional radiology methods.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 2004Date of Patent: February 12, 2008Assignee: Illinois Institute of TechnologyInventor: Leroy Dean Chapman
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Patent number: 7324626Abstract: Volumetric imaging on a radiotherapy apparatus, wherein a body, of which a volumetric image data set is to be produced, is positioned on a couch of the radiotherapy apparatus, and the couch or a bearing area of the couch or the body itself is rotated about a spatially fixed axis. During rotation, multiple x-ray images of the body or of a part of the body are produced and stored by at least one radiation source/image recorder system which is separate from the radiotherapy apparatus and whose radiation path is substantially not parallel to the spatially fixed axis. The rotational position of the couch or the bearing area of the couch or the body itself is detected while the images are produced, and the rotational position is assigned to the corresponding image, wherein a volumetric image data set of the body is reconstructed from the x-ray images by image processing and assignment by a computer system.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2005Date of Patent: January 29, 2008Assignee: BrainLAB AGInventors: Stefan Vilsmeier, Cornel Schlossbauer, Stephan Erbel, Ulf Labsik
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Patent number: 7324629Abstract: In a rotary anode type X-ray tube, a rotary anode and a rotary structure supporting the anode are arranged within the vacuum envelope. A stationary shaft has a middle section which is fitted into a cylindrical portion of the rotary structure, and a dynamic pressure type radial bearing is arranged between the cylindrical portion and the middle section. The stationary shaft also has a first section between one end of the middle section and one end of the stationary shaft, and a second section between the other end of the middle section and the other end of the stationary shaft, which are fixed to the vacuum envelope. A transverse stiffness of the second section is set to be larger than a transverse stiffness of the first section, and a center of gravity is positioned in the middle section.Type: GrantFiled: November 28, 2006Date of Patent: January 29, 2008Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventors: Harunobu Fukushima, Yasuo Yoshii, Hitoshi Hattori, Koichi Kitade, Mitsuo Iwase, Hironori Nakamuta
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Patent number: 7324623Abstract: A computed tomography scanner includes a rotating gantry (20) defining an examination region (16). A first radiation source (22) is disposed on the rotating gantry (20) and emits first radiation (32) into the examination region (16). A second radiation source (24) is disposed on the rotating gantry (20) and emits second radiation (36) into the examination region (16). The second radiation source (24) is angularly spaced around the gantry from the first radiation source (22). A first radiation detector (30, 30?) receives the first radiation (32). A center of the first radiation detector (30, 30?) is angularly spaced around the gantry from the first radiation source (22) by less than 180°. A second radiation detector (34) receives the second radiation (36). A center of the second radiation detector (34) is angularly spaced around the gantry from the second radiation source (24) by less than 180°.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2004Date of Patent: January 29, 2008Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N. V.Inventor: Dominic J. Heuscher
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Patent number: 7319738Abstract: A mobile radiographic device for use in inspecting pipelines and the like, comprising an articulating aerial boom coupled to a mobile carriage vehicle. A pivot mount is rotatably coupled to the distal end of the aerial boom. A platform having a sliding rail is operatively coupled to the pivot mount. A mounting fixture is rotatably mounted to a cradle, which in turn is coupled to the sliding rail of the platform. A radiation source and a radiation detector are mounted on diametrically opposing sides of the fixture in order to illuminate the outer surface of a pipeline or other object with radiation. A first positioning means is provided for coarsely positioning the scanning apparatus relative to the pipeline. A second positioning means is provided for finely positioning the scanning apparatus relative to the pipeline. The second positioning means is operable from a remote location when the radiation source is illuminating the pipeline with radiation.Type: GrantFiled: August 18, 2005Date of Patent: January 15, 2008Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Brian W. Lasiuk, Weston B. Griffin, Peter S. Allison
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Patent number: 7317781Abstract: To provide image processing device and method capable of achieving a high-speed reconstruction process to a cone beam CT image, an area necessary for reconstruction in a projection image is determined from a slice position to be reconstructed, a convolution process is executed by using the determined area. Moreover, the slice position to be reconstructed is divided into the plural blocks, the areas of the projection image corresponding thereto are cut out, and the processing unit is set for each block as local data of each block, and the set unit is allocated with respect to each operation, whereby parallel processes are executed.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 2005Date of Patent: January 8, 2008Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Hiroyuki Urushiya
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Patent number: 7317786Abstract: A gating device to delimit an x-ray beam, has a device housing, first and second absorber elements mounted in the device housing opposite each other, and an adjustment device for moving the absorber elements relative to each other to set a spacing therebetween forming a slit for passage of an x-ray beam therethrough. Each absorber element has an edge shaped to give the slit a slit width that varies in a longitudinal direction of the slit that increases outwardly from a central position toward respectively opposite ends of the slit. Each slit edge has a middle region producing a uniform width of the slit and further regions respectively disposed on opposite sides of the middle region that produce a linearly, longitudinally increasing slit width. The adjustment device produces a parallelogram-like relative movement between the absorber elements.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2003Date of Patent: January 8, 2008Assignee: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventors: Friedrich Distler, Karlheinz Pauli, Heinrich Wallschläger
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Patent number: 7313219Abstract: To provide a radiation image pick-up device capable of obtaining a plurality of tomography images through single-time image pick-up, a radiation image pick-up method and a program. When a position controller moves an X-ray source to an optional tomography plane in an object to be detected in parallel and the X-ray source is present at geometric focuses set at equal interval, X rays are pulsatively generated by the X-ray source and detection of X rays by a radiation detector is performed by the total of n times. Moreover, a position controller moves the radiation detector in accordance with the movement of the X-ray source.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 2004Date of Patent: December 25, 2007Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Tadao Endo
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Patent number: 7313220Abstract: A device for realizing an online element analysis for a substance (S) that is conveyed past or flows past a measuring station is provided with a device for conveying the substance to be measured, a measuring station with an X-ray source (10), and an X-ray fluorescence detector (20) with radiation inlet. To improve the tolerance to calibration errors and a changing height of the sample surface, at least one first X-ray conductor (30) extends from the radiation inlet of the X-ray fluorescence detector in the direction of the conveying device (51).Type: GrantFiled: July 3, 2003Date of Patent: December 25, 2007Inventor: Elisabeth Katz
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Patent number: 7286643Abstract: An x-ray assembly is provided comprising a target shaft and an x-ray target element mounted to the target shaft. A circumferential feature is formed in the x-ray target element. At least one weight element is adapted to be securable in a plurality of positions within the circumferential feature such that the x-ray target element can be balanced around the target shaft.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2003Date of Patent: October 23, 2007Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Michael Scott Hebert, Gregory A. Steinlage, Ryan Paul August
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Patent number: 7283608Abstract: Systems and methods for X-ray imaging are provided. The X-ray imaging system includes an X-ray source for generating X-rays. The X-ray imaging system further includes an X-ray detector configured to provide X-ray intensity variation information relating to the X-rays and corresponding to each of a plurality of detector cells of the X-ray detector.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2004Date of Patent: October 16, 2007Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventor: David Michael Hoffman
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Patent number: 7283610Abstract: A micro-radiation therapy apparatus includes an isotope-based micro-radiotherapy brachytherapy small animal irradiator useful for radiating a biological system, the irradiator having an external radiation source proximate the biological system comprising a collimated radiation beam. A method of effectively irradiating at least one cell in a biological system includes applying micro-radiation from an isotope-based micro-radiation small animal irradiator, the irradiator having an external radiation source proximate the biological system including a collimated radiation beam to a target cell of the biological system.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 2004Date of Patent: October 16, 2007Assignee: Washington University in St. LouisInventors: Daniel A. Low, Perry W. Grigsby
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Patent number: 7278787Abstract: An X-ray apparatus, in particular a dental X-ray apparatus, includes an X-ray radiation source for generating X-ray radiation to be directed at an object to be investigated, for example, a patient's tooth or jaw. The apparatus has an optical device through which an aiming device, for example, an additional visible pilot radiation generated by a further light source, is directed substantially parallel to the X-ray radiation at the object to be investigated to facilitate the positioning of the X-ray head.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2005Date of Patent: October 9, 2007Assignee: Kaltenbach + Voigt GmbHInventors: Alexander Hack, Uwe Zeller, Klaus Weber, Martin Rickert
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Patent number: 7260182Abstract: A method and apparatus for tailoring the profile of an x-ray beam for radiographic imaging for a specific subject is disclosed. The invention includes a filter assembly having a pair of filters, each of which may be dynamically controlled by a motor assembly during data acquisition. The filters are positionable in the x-ray beam so as to shape the intensity profile of the x-ray beam. In one exemplary embodiment, the filters are dynamically positioned during CT data acquisition based on the shape of the subject. A method of determining the shape of the subject prior to CT data acquisition is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2006Date of Patent: August 21, 2007Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Thomas L. Toth, John Eric Tkaczyk, Jiang Hsieh