Patents Examined by Don K. Wong
  • Patent number: 11684329
    Abstract: A breast imaging system for examining a breast on a chest of a patient comprises first one or more shielding devices configured for placement on a first side of the breast and a first collimator and a first detector configured for placement on the first side of the breast and at a position that is further away from the breast and from the chest than the first one or more shielding devices are.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: ARGOSPECT TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventor: Zhiping Mu
  • Patent number: 11678851
    Abstract: A device for attaching an x-ray image detector holder to a commercial structure such as a pipe so that the modern digital image detector can be used in analysis and inspection. The x-ray image detector holder attach device is constructed to be attached to a structure and can include a flat image detector holder part, the image detector holder part having at least one peripheral slot; a structure contact part constructed to be strapped to a structure to be x-rayed, the structure contact part having a key sized to mate with the peripheral slot, the key having a lock constructed to hold the key in the peripheral slot; the structure contact part can be a means to attach it to the structure to be x-rayed such as a strap or suction cups.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: X-Ray Cassette Repair Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Leo Reina, Steven A. Gdula, James Sorgani
  • Patent number: 11672495
    Abstract: A radiographic imaging system includes a radiographic imager, an optical imager and an optical imaging condition setter. The radiographic imager detects radiation emitted from a radiation source and passed through a subject to take a radiograph. The optical imager takes an optical image of a region including a region to which the radiation is emitted from the radiation source. The optical imaging condition setter sets an optical imaging condition of the optical imager based on a radiographic imaging condition for the radiograph.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Amai Shimizu, Takuya Yamamura, Tatsuya Takagi
  • Patent number: 11672500
    Abstract: The technology relates to a methods and systems for improving medical imaging procedures. An example method includes receiving a first set of quality metrics for a plurality of medical images acquired at a first imaging facility; receiving a second set of quality metrics for a second plurality of medical images acquired at a second imaging facility; comparing the first set of quality metrics to the second set of quality metrics; based on the comparison of the first set of quality metrics to the second set of quality metrics, generating a benchmark for at least one metric in the first set of quality metrics and the second set of quality metrics; generating facility data based on the generated benchmark and the first set of quality metrics; and sending the facility data to the first imaging facility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Hologic, Inc.
    Inventors: Calvin J. Wong, Venkateswarma Vaddineni, Akshay Mani, Nikolaos Gkanatsios, John Laviola
  • Patent number: 11672494
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system and method with which an imaged range in the past can be reproduced with high precision. In accordance with certain embodiments, an X-ray CT apparatus includes a camera-image producing section for producing a first camera image of a patient, a landmark fixing section for fixing a landmark with reference to a chest of the patient, and an imaged-range defining section for defining a first imaged range in a first scan based on landmark data representing the landmark. The camera-image producing section acquires a second camera image of the patient in a follow-up examination, the landmark fixing section fixes a second landmark with reference to the chest of the patient contained in the second image, and the imaged-range defining section defines second imaged range in a second scan based on landmark data representing the landmarks, and imaged-range data representing the first imaged range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Imai, Yoshihiro Oda, Ayako Matsumi
  • Patent number: 11666299
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for controlling a medical X-ray device. The method includes: acquiring at least one X-ray image of a region of examination of an object undergoing examination by the medical X-ray device, wherein a medical object is arranged in the region of examination; generating an object image based on the at least one X-ray image; and establishing a determinability parameter, for assessing the determinability of the medical object based on the object image. The method is carried out iteratively, beginning with the acquiring of an X-ray image, until a termination condition occurs based on the most recently established determinability parameter. The disclosure furthermore relates to a computer-implemented method for providing a trained function, a computer-implemented method for providing a further trained function, a medical X-ray device, a training unit, a computer program product, and a computer-readable storage medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Siemens Heatlhcare GmbH
    Inventors: Oliver Baruth, Philipp Bernhardt
  • Patent number: 11666297
    Abstract: A medical system according to an embodiment is a system in which at least one medical image diagnosis apparatus and a server are connected via a network and the medical system includes a storage circuit, a processing circuit, and a display circuit. The storage circuit stores information on examinations that are performed by the at least one medical image diagnosis apparatus. The processing circuit generates proposal information based on information on the examinations. The display circuit displays the proposal information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: CANON MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Keisuke Oishi
  • Patent number: 11666289
    Abstract: A radiation monitoring system includes a patient support apparatus. A radiation sensor assembly is operably coupled to the patient support apparatus. The radiation sensor assembly includes a radiation sensor and a first controller. The radiation sensor senses radiation data corresponding to a radiation dose received by a patient. A management system includes a second controller that stores a patient profile database. The second controller is communicatively coupled with the first controller. The first controller communicates the radiation data to the second controller for storage in the patient profile database to monitor the radiation dose received by the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Baxter Medical Systems GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventors: Christoph Schmotz, Mattes Papendieck, Dieter Ceglarz
  • Patent number: 11666295
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method, comprising: for i=1, . . . , M, sending a pencil radiation beam (i) toward an image sensor, wherein the pencil radiation beam (i) is incident on an incident region (i) on the image sensor, wherein the pencil radiation beam (i) is aimed at a target region (i) on the image sensor, wherein M is a positive integer, wherein the image sensor comprises active areas spatially discontinuous from each other, and wherein the incident regions (i), i=1, . . . , M and the target regions (i), i=1, . . . , M are on the active areas; and for i=1, . . . , M, determining an offset (i) between the incident region (i) and the target region (i).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: SHENZHEN XPECTVISION TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Peiyan Cao, Yurun Liu
  • Patent number: 11656190
    Abstract: An X-ray fluorescence spectrometer of the present invention includes: a determination module (21) configured to determine, with respect to every one of measurement lines that correspond to secondary X-rays having intensities to be measured, whether or not a ratio of a theoretical intensity in thin film calculated on the basis of an assumed thickness and known contents of respective components to a theoretical intensity in bulk calculated on the basis of the known contents of the respective components exceeds a predetermined threshold; and a saturation thickness quantification module (23) configured to, according to a positive determination by the determination module (21), calculate a saturation thickness with respect to each of the measurement lines, at which the theoretical intensity saturates, on the basis of the known contents of the respective components and to adopt a largest saturation thickness as a quantitative value of a thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Rigaku Corporation
    Inventors: Shinya Hara, Yasujiro Yamada, Hisashi Homma
  • Patent number: 11653886
    Abstract: Disclosed is a linear array ultra-fast scanning x-ray imaging device. The linear array x-ray imaging device is single photon sensitive, operating in frame output mode and including a pixel array Application Specific Integrated Circuit including the readout pixel array. The ASIC includes digital control logic and sufficient memory to accumulate digital output frames in various modes of operation prior to output from the ASIC, permitting advanced imaging functionalities directly on the ASIC, while maintaining a dynamic range of 16 bits and single photon sensitivity. The effective or secondary frames output from the pixel array ASIC can be tagged with user provided external triggers synchronizing the effective frames to the x-ray beam energy and/or to the movement of the x-ray source or imaged object. This enables dual energy imaging and ultra-fast scanning, without complex and costly conventional photon counting x-ray imaging sensors. The system architecture is simpler and higher performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: ATHLOS OY
    Inventors: Konstantinos Spartiotis, Dimitrios Chatzistratis
  • Patent number: 11647972
    Abstract: Disclosed is a linear array ultra-fast scanning x-ray imaging device. The linear array x-ray imaging device is single photon sensitive, operating in frame output mode and including a pixel array Application Specific Integrated Circuit including the readout pixel array. The ASIC includes digital control logic and sufficient memory to accumulate digital output frames in various modes of operation prior to output from the ASIC, permitting advanced imaging functionalities directly on the ASIC, while maintaining a dynamic range of 16 bits and single photon sensitivity. The effective or secondary frames output from the pixel array ASIC can be tagged with user provided external triggers synchronizing the effective frames to the x-ray beam energy and/or to the movement of the x-ray source or imaged object. This enables dual energy imaging and ultra-fast scanning, without complex and costly conventional photon counting x-ray imaging sensors. The system architecture is simpler and higher performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: ATHLOS OY
    Inventors: Konstantinos Spartiotis, Dimitrios Chatzistratis
  • Patent number: 11638565
    Abstract: A radiographic imaging apparatus includes: an effective pixel area including a plurality of detection areas, in each of which a first pixel including a photoelectric conversion element and a second pixel including a light-blocking element are provided; a plurality of signal processing units that are provided so as to correspond to the plurality of detection areas and each process, for a corresponding one of the detection areas, an output signal from the first pixel and an output signal from the second pixel provided in the corresponding one of the detection areas; and a correction unit that makes, for each signal processing unit among the plurality of signal processing units, a correction to the output signal from the first pixel processed by the signal processing unit, by using the output signal from the second pixel processed by the signal processing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takashi Takasaki
  • Patent number: 11627921
    Abstract: A system for imaging a breast includes a gantry and a tube head rotatably coupled thereto. An x-ray source is disposed within the tube head. A support arm is movably coupled to the gantry and includes a breast support platform. An x-ray detector is disposed within the breast support platform and a compression arm is movably coupled to the support arm. An opaque breast compression paddle is coupled to the compression arm. The breast support platform and the opaque compression paddle at least partially define a compression volume for compressing a breast and a camera is arranged to capture images of the compression volume. An image display is at least partially disposed on the system and is configured to display the images of the compression volume captured by the camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Hologic, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey Harold Paige
  • Patent number: 11627925
    Abstract: The application relates to an X-ray imaging system (100) for dental X-ray imaging. The system comprises a controller, a rotating gantry (120), an X-ray source (124) for emitting X-rays, and an X-ray imaging detector (126) for receiving the X-rays from the source. The gantry comprises the source and detector (124, 126). The controller is configured to control the source to emit X-ray radiation and the detector for receiving the emitted radiation in order to acquire an X-ray image data. The system further comprises a depth information-producing camera (177), which is configured to produce a depth information, and a position information-producing component (183), which is configured to produce a position information, for acquiring at least a location data of the depth information-producing camera and detector during the irradiation, synchronously with the image data to be reconstructed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: PaloDEx Group OY
    Inventor: Tuomas Alhonnoro
  • Patent number: 11622736
    Abstract: A breast compression paddle includes a bracket, a rigid substrate, and a foam compressive element. The bracket removably secures the breast compression paddle to an imaging system. The rigid substrate is secured to the bracket and includes a first edge and a second edge disposed opposite the first edge. The foam compressive element is slidably secured to the rigid substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Hologic, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth Defreitas, Jay A. Stein, Alan Rego, Christian Dunne, Christine Janssen
  • Patent number: 11617552
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for medical imaging are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a method for imaging an anatomic region includes receiving, from a detector carried by an imaging arm of an x-ray imaging apparatus, a plurality of images of the anatomic region. The images can be obtained during manual rotation of the imaging arm. The imaging arm can be stabilized by a shim structure during the manual rotation. The method can also include receiving, from at least one sensor coupled to the imaging arm, pose data of the imaging arm during the manual rotation. The method can further include generating, based on the images and the pose data, a 3D representation of the anatomic region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Pulmera, Inc.
    Inventors: Bryan I. Hartley, Rene Vargas-Voracek, Ke Li
  • Patent number: 11617553
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to locally enhancing medical images. In accordance with certain embodiments, a method includes determining a boundary of a region of interest in a displayed medical image, overlaying the boundary on the displayed medical image, adjusting a position of a collimator of a medical imaging system based on the determined boundary, enhancing image quality of the region of interest, and displaying the enhanced region of interest within the boundary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: GE Precision Healthcare LLC
    Inventors: James Zhengshe Liu, Xiaosong Liu, Longjiang Yu, HongChang Ma, Jan D. Bruening, Todd W. Brown
  • Patent number: 11612373
    Abstract: Provided is an image processing apparatus for a C-arm, including: a movement control unit which moves a C-arm which irradiates a radiation onto a bone of a subject located on a table and detects the radiation which penetrates the bone to generate a projection image for the bone, along a predetermined route; an image acquiring unit which acquires a plurality of projection images generated by the moving C-arm at every predetermined interval; and an image processing unit which generates a combined projection image in which the plurality of acquired projection images is combined, and the predetermined interval may be an interval at which a continuous panoramic image may be generated by connecting the plurality of acquired projection images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Inventor: Sang Ho Park
  • Patent number: 11612367
    Abstract: A digital radiographic detector system includes a number of DR detectors enclosed by a housing. A base section with wheels has attached thereto a vertical column with a height adjustable horizontal arm extending therefrom. The housing with DR detectors therein is attached to a distal end of the horizontal arm. The housing comprises a major surface made from a radiolucent material to allow the detectors to capture radiographic images via x-rays transmitted through the major surface of the housing. The housing is configured to support the plurality of DR detectors therewithin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: Carestream Health, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy J. Wojcik, Jacob M. Fornof, Craig F. Hofmann, Martin S. Pesce, Mark E. Shafer, Jeffery R. Hawver, Steven R. Lippold, Todd D. Bogumil