Patents Examined by Danielle Fox
  • Patent number: 9750466
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for tomosynthesis imaging, the device comprising: a mask generator module (101) configured to generate a binary mask based on a geometric three-dimensional model of a scanned object; an image capturing module (102) configured to scan a series of two-dimensional projection images of the object; and an image processing module (103) configured to apply the generated binary mask during a reconstruction of a three-dimensional image volume from the scanned series of two-dimensional projection images and to restrict an extent of the reconstructed image volume to the extent of the geometric model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Hanno Heyke Homann, Frank Bergner, Klaus Erhard, Henning Per Johan Berglund
  • Patent number: 9648710
    Abstract: An x-ray housing can include: a finned housing member having a tubular body with an external fin array on a finned external surface and an internal fin array on a finned internal surface, the finned internal surface defining a finned housing lumen, the internal fin array and external fin array cooperatively forming a heat exchanger; and an apertured housing member having a tubular body with an x-ray window aperture extending therethrough from an external surface to an internal surface, the internal surface defining an apertured housing lumen, the finned housing member having an annular end integrally coupled with an annular end of the apertured housing member to form a tubular x-ray housing having an x-ray housing lumen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: VAREX IMAGING CORPORATION
    Inventors: David Craig Smith, Gregory Andrews, Owen D. Brimhall, Anson Cole Chamberlain
  • Patent number: 9526466
    Abstract: There is provided a multi-layer flat panel detector comprising a first conversion layer, a second conversion layer, at least one printed circuit board for receiving signals generated by the first or second direct conversion layers, and a processor for processing the signals to produce an image being generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF WATERLOO
    Inventors: Karim S. Karim, Nicholas Allec
  • Patent number: 9186118
    Abstract: Disclosed is a radiographic imaging system which is provided with: a plurality of radiographing chambers equipped with a registration device; a console; and a management device for associating and managing the identification information of a portable radiographic imaging device with the identification information of the radiographing chambers. When the identification information of the portable radiographic imaging device is notified by the registration device of a radiographing chamber, the console displays an icon corresponding to the imaging device on a selection screen. When the identification information of the portable radiographic imaging device, as notified by the registration device, is associated with the identification information of another radiographing chamber, the management device discards the association and deletes the icon corresponding to the portable radiographic imaging device from the selection screen of the console, which is associated with said other radiographing chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventor: Hisashi Yonekawa
  • Patent number: 9084528
    Abstract: X-ray devices for Phase Contrast Imaging (PCI) are often built up with the help of gratings. For large field-of-views (FOV), production cost and complexity of these gratings could increase significantly as they need to have a focused geometry. Instead of a pure PCI with a large FOV, this invention suggests to combine a traditional absorption X-ray-imaging system with large-FOV with an insertable low-cost PCI system with small-FOV, The invention supports the user to direct the PCI system with reduced FOV to a region that he regards as most interesting for performing a PCI scan thus eliminating X-ray dose exposure for scanning regions not interesting for a radiologist. The PCI scan may be generated on the basis of local tomography.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Dieter Geller, Klaus Juergen Engel, Gereon Vogtmeier, Thomas Koehler, Ewald Roessl
  • Patent number: 9078623
    Abstract: A multiple-energy X-ray imaging apparatus and a method obtain a plurality of X-ray images when the heart of a patient is in the same phase by measuring the electrocardiogram of the patient. A sensor is installed on a handle or a foot stool to measure the electrocardiogram when the patient grips the handle or makes contact with the foot stool without having to attach an electrode to the body of the patient, which removes the inconvenience in measuring the electrocardiogram.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Min Kook Cho
  • Patent number: 9076627
    Abstract: A radiation generating apparatus 30 according to the present invention including: a radiation generating tube 10 having a target 14, a tubular shielding member 18 that shields a part of a radiation generated from the target 14 and also has an aperture 21 through which the radiation generated from the target 14 passes, and an envelope 1 that has the target 14 so as to be brought into contact with the internal space thereof and also has the tubular shielding member 18 so as to protrude toward an external space thereof; a storage container 1 for storing the radiation generating tube 3 therein; and an insulating liquid 8 that comes in contact with the tubular shielding member 18 and the storage container 1, wherein the tubular shielding member 18 has a protruding portion P, and the protruding portion P is covered with a solid insulating member 9.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Yanagisawa, Kazuyuki Ueda, Miki Tamura, Shuji Aoki
  • Patent number: 9046609
    Abstract: A portable radiation imaging system (10) includes a radiation source (11), a radiation detector (7), a remote trigger unit (17) that activates the radiation source (11) and the radiation detector (7) to initiate an imaging operation, a computing device (13) that receives and processes image data generated by the radiation detector (7), and a universal power box (UPB) (1) operatively connected to the radiation source, the radiation detector, the trigger unit and the computing device. A first wireless link (50) is established between the UPB (1) and the computing device (13), and a second wireless link (60) is established between the trigger unit (17) and the UPB (1). Under the control of the UPB (1), the trigger unit uses the second wireless link (50) to send a control signal to the radiation source (11) to initiate the radiation operation, and the computing device (13) uses the first wireless link (50) to receive image data from the radiation detector (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: Virtual Imaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter M Chicchetti, Michael L Rocha, Christopher Duca
  • Patent number: 9036779
    Abstract: A variable mode X-ray transmission system is provided that can be operated in low or high dose rate modes depending upon the area or portion of the vehicle to be screened. In one embodiment, variable dose rate is achieved by use of a novel collimator. The systems disclosed in this application enable the scanning of a vehicle cab portion (occupied by people, such as a driver) at low dose rate, which is safe for human beings, while allowing the scanning of the cargo portion (unoccupied by people) at a high dose rate. Rapid switching from low dose rate to high dose rate operating mode is provided, while striking a balance between high material penetration for cargo portion and low intensity exposure that is safe for occupants in the cab portion of the inspected vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Rapiscan Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Edward James Morton
  • Patent number: 9036782
    Abstract: Dual-energy backscatter x-ray shoe scanning including: pre-processing input image information received from a shoe scanning device and image calibration data received from a database to output an atomic number image; detecting at least one suspect region based off the atomic number image; identifying the at least one detected suspect region as an object class using a changeable list of attributes; and classifying the object class according to a changeable list of categories.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Telesecurity Sciences, Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel M. Song, Brian Kauke, Yoohwan Kim, Douglas P. Boyd
  • Patent number: 9016940
    Abstract: A mobile patient positioning stand has a vertical rail allowing a shield structure to be moved up and down to different heights based on the height of anatomy of the patient desired to be imaged. The structure may be moved to position a shield of the structure at a height so that anatomy of a patient to be imaged is located within multiple image areas identified by markers on the shield. Then, an image detector holder and detector may be moved up and down to different heights behind the shield, based on the height of the markers. A source of radiation provides images at the multiple image areas. The multiple image areas may be connected by aligning stitching markers that may be on the shield, and are in the images. The aligning may be done by an automated computer software process that recognized patient anatomy and/or the stitching markers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Fujifilm Medical Systems U.S.A., Inc.
    Inventor: Robert A. Fabrizio
  • Patent number: 9020097
    Abstract: There is provided a radiographic imaging system that has: a radiographic imaging device at which fluoroscopic imaging, that carries out capturing of radiographic images continuously, is possible; a radiation irradiating device that irradiates radiation in a pulse form with respect to the radiographic imaging device at a time of fluoroscopic imaging; and a controller that controls the radiation irradiating device such that radiation is pulse-irradiated at the radiographic imaging device with a proportion of an irradiation time period of radiation being set within a range of 12.5% to 80% with respect to each frame time period for capturing respective frame images according to a frame rate of fluoroscopic imaging, while capturing of radiographic images is carried out at the radiographic imaging device synchronously with the pulse irradiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Naoto Iwakiri, Naoyuki Nishino, Haruyasu Nakatsugawa, Yutaka Yoshida, Yasunori Ohta
  • Patent number: 9014329
    Abstract: An X-ray CT apparatus includes an X-ray source configured to generate an X-ray; a scintillator configured to convert the X-ray into a fluorescent; a substrate including a plurality of photosensitive elements configured to convert the fluorescent into an electric charge; a temperature sensor formed on the surface of the substrate; a heat element formed on the surface of the substrate; and a controller configured to control a temperature of the photodiode by adjusting an electric current of the heat element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Tomoe Sagoh, Takayuki Yamazaki, Michito Nakayama, Atsushi Hashimoto, Takeshi Miyagi
  • Patent number: 9008277
    Abstract: An x-ray device utilizes a band of material to exchange charge through tribocharging within a chamber maintained at low fluid pressure. The charge is utilized to generate x-rays within the housing, which may pass through a window of the housing. Various contact rods may be used as part of the tribocharging process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Tribogenics, Inc.
    Inventors: Carlos G. Camara, Mark G. Valentine, Zachary J. Gamlieli, Benjamin A. Lucas, David M. Kamkar, Pedro Cortes, Jr., Vashish Narayan M, Gilberto Jimenez, Daniel E. Cuadra
  • Patent number: 9008270
    Abstract: The sample cooling apparatus is used in an X-ray diffractometer for rotating a sample supported by a sample rod about an ? axis, directing X-rays thereto, and detecting X-rays deflected from the sample using an X-ray detector. The apparatus has a nozzle for blowing a cooling gas on the sample; and a gas-suctioning device for suctioning, via an aperture, gas that has passed over the sample. The sample rod moves when rotated about the ? axis forming a conical surface having the sample as a vertex. The nozzle is provided so that the extension direction of the sample rod and the direction of the blown gas form an acute angle of 90° or less. The gas-suctioning device suctions the gas so the path of gas having contacted the sample rod bends when the extension direction of the sample rod and the blown direction of the gas form an acute angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Rigaku Corporation
    Inventors: Tomokazu Hasegawa, Kazuaki Aburaya
  • Patent number: 9001968
    Abstract: A method is provided for characterizing spectrometric properties (e.g., peak reflectivity, reflection curve width, and Bragg angle offset) of the K? emission line reflected narrowly off angle of the direct reflection of a bent crystal and in particular of a spherically bent quartz 200 crystal by analyzing the off-angle x-ray emission from a stronger emission line reflected at angles far from normal incidence. The bent quartz crystal can therefore accurately image argon K? x-rays at near-normal incidence (Bragg angle of approximately 81 degrees). The method is useful for in-situ calibration of instruments employing the crystal as a grating by first operating the crystal as a high throughput focusing monochromator on the Rowland circle at angles far from normal incidence (Bragg angle approximately 68 degrees) to make a reflection curve with the He-like x-rays such as the He-? emission line observed from a laser-excited plasma.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignees: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC, University of California, GSI
    Inventors: Nathan Kugland, Tilo Doeppner, Siegfried Glenzer, Carmen Constantin, Chris Niemann, Paul Neumayer
  • Patent number: 8998488
    Abstract: A radiographic projector (10) for housing and projecting a radioisotope for use in radiography is described. The front end of the projector has a chamfered surface (12) for receiving an ancillary shielding component. The material used for the front end surface of the projector is tungsten powder in a less dense material matrix. A locking mechanism (30) for a projector is described, including a locking bar for locking a source holder in the projector. The locking mechanism includes an interlock section for retaining the locking bar in an unlocked position while a source holder is not in its storage position, and a latch section for latching the locking bar in the unlocked position prior to engagement of the interlock section. A holster for mounting a radiographic projector and a retraction cage for a remote windout mechanism are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: SPEC Intellectual Property, LLC
    Inventor: Christopher John Cole
  • Patent number: 8983037
    Abstract: An X-ray tube with a rotatable anode for generating X-rays and an X-ray apparatus and a method for balancing the rotary anode of an X-ray tube include balancing of the rotary anode applicable to an anode mounted inside an X-ray tube. The rotatable anode includes an anode disc fixedly mounted to a rotatably driven support body, which is rotatably supported by a bearing arrangement. The anode includes at least one balancing cavity to adjust the center of gravity of the anode. The balancing cavity is partly filled with a balancing material being solid at operating temperature of the X-ray tube and liquid at a higher temperature. The balancing method includes determining an imbalance of the anode; heating liquefy balancing material; dislocating the balancing material inside the balancing cavity to compensate the imbalance; and cooling to solidify the balancing material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Rolf Karl Otto Behling, Christoph Bathe
  • Patent number: 8971485
    Abstract: A drive-through scanning system comprises a radiation generating system arranged to generate radiation at two different energy levels and direct the radiation towards a scanning volume, detectors arranged to detect the radiation after it has passed through the scanning volume, and a controller arranged to identify a part of a vehicle within the scanning volume, to allocate the part of the vehicle to one of several categories, and to control the radiation generating system and to select one or more of the energy levels depending on the category to which the part of the vehicle is allocated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Rapiscan Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Edward James Morton
  • Patent number: 8958527
    Abstract: An imaging method performed by a device comprising an X-ray emitting source, a receiver positioned facing the source, and a support on which a subject or organ to be imaged is positioned, the method comprises defining a first set of orientations of the source and a second set of orientations of the source, and acquiring images at the defined orientations of the source, wherein if the first set of orientations comprises an orientation that the second set of orientations does not comprise, only one image is acquired at the orientation, and if both the first set of orientations and the second set of orientations comprise the same orientation, at least two images are acquired at distinct acquisition parameters at the orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Serge Muller, Sylvie Puong, Ann-Katherine Carton, Razvan Iordache