Patents Examined by David J Makiya
  • Patent number: 9204850
    Abstract: A gantry of a tomography apparatus has a rotary member that is rotatable around an axis. The rotary member carries at least one component attached thereto. The component is attached by primary and secondary attachment mechanisms, with only the primary attachment mechanism engaged during normal operation. The secondary attachment mechanism, a T-slot interface in one embodiment, engages for safety and other reasons when the primary attachment mechanism is not functioning properly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Brandon Smith, Chad Smith
  • Patent number: 9201149
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for radiation detection is herein described. The apparatus consists of two radiation-detection arrays: A primary radiation-detection array, based on scintillator-CMOS design, and a secondary radiation-detection array, mounted on the back of said primary array. A method of controlling the detection operation is described, where output of the secondary array is exploited for controlling the acquisition-start and acquisition-stop of the primary array. Further, the apparatus is equipped with fast memory for storage of correction tables, and with a processor for fast computation of the correction. A method of calibration is also describes with tables for: offset correction, gain correction, and for defect-pixel correction. These tables are evaluated by the fast processor and stored on the fast memory. A method of real-time evaluation of the signal corrections is described, which depends on the acquisition-start and acquisition-stop timings and which results a clean, artifact-free image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: CMT MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES LTD.
    Inventors: Ami Ben Hayun, Alex Shtengel, Guy Hevel
  • Patent number: 9201052
    Abstract: A method of performing dissolution analysis on a tablet, the method comprising: irradiating a tablet with radiation having at least one frequency in the range from 40 GHz to 100 THz; detecting radiation which has been transmitted through or reflected by the tablet; determining a parameter from the detected radiation indicative of the density of a coating layer of the tablet; and determining information about the dissolution characteristics of the tablet from said parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: TeraView Limited
    Inventors: Louise Ho, Yaochun Shen, Phillip F. Taday, Thomas Rades
  • Patent number: 9198628
    Abstract: A chest diagnostic support information generation system includes: a radiography section which radiographs a chest portion of a subject; an image analysis section which generates a diagnostic support information based on an image data generated by the radiography section; and a display which displays the diagnostic support information, wherein the radiography section obtains a plurality of frame images which show a motion state of the chest of the subject, and the image analysis section includes: a breathing information generation section which generates the diagnostic support information relating to breathing of the subject based on a difference value of the pixel or the block corresponded with each other between image frames temporally adjacent among the plurality of frame images; and a blood flow information generation section which generates the diagnostic support information relating to blood flow of the subject based on a generated output signal wave form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Tetsuo Shimada, Shintaro Muraoka, Sho Noji
  • Patent number: 9200947
    Abstract: Systems and methods which use penetrating radiation to obtain novel type of information about objects of interest. This information may be represented as novel type of image. In the present embodiments, penetrating radiation is directed through the object of interest. The attenuated radiation emerging from the object of interest is detected by at least one detector. A plurality of measurements is collected. At least one statistical parameter describing variations of the measurements may be calculated and used for reconstructing an image representing fluctuations of the attenuation of the penetrating radiation in the object of study. At least one other statistical parameter representing the mean attenuation image, the error of the fluctuation image, or the error of the mean attenuation image may also be calculated and used to reconstruct images of the object of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Inventors: Szabolcs Osvath, KrisztiƔn Szigeti
  • Patent number: 9194751
    Abstract: Systems and methods for dual-mode optical sensing are provided. One system includes a focal-plane array (FPA) imaging detector configured to detect light of a first wavelength range and an illuminated-spot locating detector (ISLD) including an array of light-detecting elements configured to detect light of a second wavelength range, wherein the ISLD has a transparency to light of the first wavelength range. The system further includes a wavelength-selective optical diffuser configured to diffuse light of the second wavelength range, wherein the shortest wavelength of the first range is larger than the longest wavelength of the second range, the ISLD is positioned such that the light to be detected by the FPA imaging detector first passes through the ISLD, and the FPA imaging detector, the ISLD and the wavelength-selective diffuser share a common optical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Daniel Yap, Oleg M. Efimov
  • Patent number: 9195052
    Abstract: Optical devices that include one or more structures fabricated from polar-dielectric materials that exhibit surface phonon polaritons (SPhPs), where the SPhPs alter the optical properties of the structure. The optical properties lent to these structures by the SPhPs are altered by introducing charge carriers directly into the structures. The carriers can be introduced into these structures, and the carrier concentration thereby controlled, through optical pumping or the application of an appropriate electrical bias.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: James Peter Long, Joshua D. Caldwell, Jeffrey C. Owrutsky, Orest J. Glembocki
  • Patent number: 9188487
    Abstract: A motion detector system including first and second pairs of pyro-electric elements, electrical interconnections between the pyro-electric elements in the first pair providing a first signal output and local temperature compensation for the elements in the first pair, electrical interconnections between the elements in the second pair providing a second signal output and local temperature compensation for the pyro-electric elements in the second pair, wherein the compensation for the first pair is independent of the compensation for the second pair, a housing enclosing the two pairs of pyro-electric elements and defining a window, only one of the pyro-electric elements in each pair viewing a motion detection field of view through the window, and a signal processor receiving the first and second signal outputs and providing an output indication of crossing the field of view by an object having a temperature different from the ambient in the field of view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: Tyco Fire & Security GmbH
    Inventors: Boris Zhevelev, Yaacov Kotlicki, Michael Lahat
  • Patent number: 9186115
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for compensating for the presence of a magnetic field during medical imaging are disclosed. Gamma photons are acquired at a detector. An orientation of the detector (e.g., relative to the surface of the earth) corresponding to the acquisition is determined. Based on the determined detector orientation, one or more compensation value(s) are determined from a memory of a computer, e.g., based on interpolation, parametric computation, or a look-up table. Energy signal variation of a detected signal due to the detector orientation is compensated for by applying the determined compensation value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.
    Inventor: James Frank Caruba
  • 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: 9182420
    Abstract: A system and method for visualization of fluid flow, includes a light emitting arrangement configured to emit a focused light, a fluid channel configured to hold a fluid including a carrier liquid and a stimuli responsive polymer, wherein the fluid flows though the fluid channel, and an image recording arrangement. The light emitting arrangement is positioned to emit the focused light into a selected area of the fluid channel to interact with the flowing stimuli responsive polymer within the selected area. This results in a phase change to a portion of the stimuli responsive polymer. The image recording arrangement is positioned to record an image the portion of the phase changed stimuli responsive polymer made visible by the phase change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated
    Inventors: Kai Melde, Philipp H. Schmaelzle
  • Patent number: 9173627
    Abstract: An imaging system (100) includes a stationary gantry (102), a rotating gantry (104), a radiation source (110), and a detector array (112). The detector array detects radiation for a plurality of integration periods during a rotating gantry revolution, the plurality of integration periods corresponds to different angular position ranges, and the detector array generates a signal indicative of the detected radiation respectively for the plurality of integration periods. The system further includes an integration period controller (118) that generates an integration period timing signal that includes timing for a start of each of the integration periods for a revolution of the rotating gantry based at least on a time duration of a previous revolution of the rotating gantry around the examination region, wherein the integration timing signal is used trigger the plurality of integration periods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventor: Ronald B. Sharpless
  • Patent number: 9170219
    Abstract: A method for quantitatively testing a radiation shielding garment to determine its radiation shielding integrity, utilizing a fluoroscopic system, the method comprising measuring the amount of radiation passing through the garment at a particular location believed to be possibly damaged; measuring the amount of radiation at one or more locations of the garment believed to be intact; determining the average undamaged transmission if more than one location is tested; and comparing the two values of transmitted radiation to determine whether the first location was damaged beyond an acceptable degree.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: Bar-Ray Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas J. Beck
  • Patent number: 9170214
    Abstract: A motion-based interlock apparatus, system, and method prevent an x-ray source in an x-ray machine from activating if the current relative motion between the x-ray source and an image receptor would compromise the quality of the resulting plain radiograph. The system activates the interlock based on either or both of the velocity and acceleration of the tubehead, as measured by instrumentation corresponding to any of the tubehead, the extension arm, or off board the x-ray machine. The system may preferably compare the measured motion against one or more acceptable motion thresholds. If the measured motion exceeds one or more of the acceptable motion thresholds, exposure may preferably be delayed until the motion of the tubehead subsides. By ensuring that the image is not exposed while the tubehead is moving substantially, the quality of the resultant radiograph is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: APPLIED MINDS, LLC
    Inventor: Bran Ferren
  • Patent number: 9170191
    Abstract: The present invention is thus directed to an automated system and method of varying the optical path length in a sample that a light from a spectrophotometer must travel through. Such arrangements allow a user to easily vary the optical path length while also providing the user with an easy way to clean and prepare a transmission cell for optical interrogation. Such path length control can be automatically controlled by a programmable control system to quickly collect and stores data from different path lengths as needed for different spectrographic analysis. Such a methodology and system, as presented herein, is able to return best-match spectra with far fewer computational steps and greater speed than if all possible combinations of reference spectra are considered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: Thermo Electron Scientific Instruments LLC
    Inventors: John Magie Coffin, Damian W. Ashmead, Todd C. Strother
  • Patent number: 9171692
    Abstract: An x-ray arrangement includes a vacuum container in, which a rotary anode and a rotor of an electrical machine are disposed. The rotary anode and the rotor have a torque-proof connection to one another and are rotatably supported in the vacuum container, so that the rotary anode and the rotor are rotatable around an axis of rotation. Viewed in a direction of the axis of rotation, a laminated stator core is disposed in an area of the rotor. The area of the rotor, in relation to the axis of rotation, surrounds the vacuum container radially outwards. A stator winding system is disposed in the laminated stator core. The stator winding system has windings embodied as a yoke winding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Andreas Baral, Andreas Rohrmoser, Carsten Voss, Thomas Weidinger
  • Patent number: 9168008
    Abstract: A CT system includes a rotatable gantry having an opening to receive an object to be scanned, the rotatable gantry having a detector mounting surface, an x-ray source attached to the gantry and configured to project an x-ray beam toward the object, a plurality of detector modules each mounted within one field-of-view (FOV) and mounted directly to the detector mounting surface of the rotatable gantry, a data acquisition system (DAS) configured to receive outputs from at least one of the plurality of detector modules, and a computer programmed to acquire projections of imaging data of the object from the DAS, and generate an image of the object using the imaging data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Abdelaziz Ikhlef, Jeffrey Alan Kautzer
  • Patent number: 9163933
    Abstract: The present invention includes a system for removing drift from a head-worn gyro, which utilizes forward and rearward looking IR sensors, which are used to determine if gyro output signals, which indicate downward or upward rotation of the head, are correct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventor: Vadim Olen
  • Patent number: 9167240
    Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided and include the construction of a simple solid phantom and a measurement approach for the quantification of excitation light leakage and measurement sensitivity of fluorescence imaging devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: Board of Regents of The University of Texas System
    Inventors: Eva M. Sevick-Muraca, Banghe Zhu, I-Chih Tan
  • Patent number: 9159525
    Abstract: The present invention provides a radiation generating tube which suppresses electrical charging of an inner wall of an insulating tube attributable to electron emission from a junction between the insulating tube and a cathode and which has improved voltage withstand capability. The radiation generating tube comprising: a hollow insulating tube; a cathode and an anode respectively bonded to both ends of the insulating tube; and an electron emission source provided on the cathode, the radiation generating tube having a vacuum interior space. The electron emission source includes an electron emitting portion in the interior space, and the insulating tube includes a protrusion that protrudes into the interior space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koji Yamazaki, Kazuyuki Ueda