Patents Examined by Glen Kao
  • Patent number: 9173619
    Abstract: There is provided an X-ray CT apparatus including: an X-ray source; a wedge which is disposed between the X-ray source and a subject and in which a shield blocking a part of an X ray is formed; a wedge driving unit for moving position of the wedge; and a system control unit controlling the wedge driving unit during a scan execution period to control the position of the wedge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Oota, Sakae Kimishima
  • Patent number: 9173279
    Abstract: An x-ray transmitter, which may be compact, may be in the form of a housing with an x-ray transparent window sputtered with a metal on one wall, and tribocharging electron source on another wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: Tribogenics, Inc.
    Inventors: Carlos G. Camara, Benjamin A. Lucas, Zachary J. Gamlieli
  • Patent number: 9170215
    Abstract: An imaging method positions a heterogeneous object within a fixture having a chamber. The fixture also has a valve for receiving a gas and normally sealing the chamber. Thus, the object is within the chamber. Next the method positions the fixture within an active region of a CT machine, fluidly connects a gas line to the valve, and injects an inert gas into the chamber through the gas line and the valve. The inert gas may include one or more of the xenon, argon, and krypton. The method then increases the pressure within the sealed chamber to increase the density of the gas within the chamber, and directs x-ray energy toward the active region of the CT machine to produce a plurality of two-dimensional images of the object and the pressurized gas. Finally, the method generates a three-dimensional representation of the object from the plurality of images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: Hexagon Metrology, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan O'Hare, Stephen Darrouzet
  • Patent number: 9171878
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, detector and DAS includes an X-ray detector, a board, a DAS, and a plurality of X-ray shielding plates. The X-ray detector detects X-rays and generates an electrical signal corresponding to the detected X-rays. The board is coupled to the X-ray detector and includes a wiring pattern to extract the electrical signal from the X-ray detector. The DAS is coupled to the board and included an electronic part to perform signal processing for the electrical signal. The X-ray shielding plates are provided for the board to prevent the electronic part from being exposed to X-rays transmitted through the X-ray detector. A portion of the wiring pattern is placed between the X-ray shielding plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Yaoi, Takayuki Yamazaki, Michito Nakayama, Seiichiro Murai, Akihiko Taniguchi
  • Patent number: 9161725
    Abstract: An adjustable breast examination device enhances comfort for an individual by adjusting to accommodate variously sized breasts. The device includes a slot extending into a housing. Each of a plurality of plates is interchangeably positionable in the slot. Each plate has a respective cavity extending into a surface of the plate such that each plate may receive a human breast in the cavity. Each cavity is uniquely sized relative to each other the cavity wherein the plates correspond to a plurality of unique breast sizes. An examination mechanism is coupled to the housing and positioned such that the examination mechanism examines the human breast positioned in the cavity of a selected one of the plates positioned in the slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Inventor: Regine Millien-White
  • Patent number: 9160325
    Abstract: Various of the disclosed embodiments contemplate systems and methods in an X-ray imaging system, such as a CT system, facilitating more crisp switching between high and low voltages at an X-ray tube. Certain embodiments circuits which store and discharge energy to improve voltage rise and fall times. These circuits may mitigate the effects of losses, hysteresis cycles, and leakage currents. More controlled voltage rise and fall times may improve X-ray emission and detection synchronization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Antonio Caiafa
  • Patent number: 9144412
    Abstract: Among other things, a communication system and technique for transferring information between a stationary unit and a rotating unit of a computed tomography (CT) system is provided. A transmitter is configured to map digital data to an analog signal by selecting, from at least three signal configurations, a signal configuration associated with the digital data, and to generate an analog signal according to the selected signal configuration. A receiver of the communication system is configured to decode an analog signal by comparing characteristics of a signal sample to at least three possible signal configurations, and to identify a digital code word that corresponds to a signal configuration (of the at least three possible signal configurations) that matches characteristics of the signal sample. In this way, in a CT application, more than 1-bit of data may be communicated per analog signal, allowing more data to be communicated faster.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: Analogic Corporation
    Inventor: Louis R. Poulo
  • Patent number: 9144146
    Abstract: The present invention relate to an X-ray photographing apparatus, and more particularly, to a high voltage driving circuit for X-ray tube, in which a first voltage multiplying rectifier unit and a second voltage multiplying rectifier unit are in series connected to each other based on a high voltage generation unit to stably convert a high voltage power generated from the high voltage generation unit into a drive power for an X-ray tube with high energy efficiency, and in which a plurality of isolation transformers or high voltage transformers is in series connected to each other in the high voltage generation unit to divide a voltage of the second voltage multiplying rectifier unit into a withstanding voltage of the isolation transformers or the high voltage transformers, thereby ensuring excellent insulation properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: POSKOM CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jong Lae Park, Ki Bong Sung
  • Patent number: 9138598
    Abstract: Determine first information regarding physical-movement limitations pertaining to at least one multi-leaf collimator and also determine second information regarding movement of the treatment target with respect to the given patient. Then, while optimizing a radiation-treatment leaf-sequence plan, constrain individually-planned leaf positions as a function, at least in part, of the first information, the second information, and planned positions of adjacent leaves. By one approach, the first information can comprise information regarding a speed (such as a maximum speed) at which individual leaves of the multi-leaf collimator are able to move during a treatment session. By one approach, the second information can comprise information regarding a distance (such as a maximum distance) that one or more parts of the treatment target may possibly move as compared to a presumed position used during the optimizing of the radiation-treatment leaf-sequence plan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: Varian Medical Systems International AG
    Inventors: Janne Nord, Jarkko Peltola
  • Patent number: 9131911
    Abstract: A CT scanner comprising a dynamic collimator disposed near an x-ray source and a controller configured to rotate the x-ray source about a subject, wherein imaging data is acquired from a single rotation of the x-ray source, the single rotation being divided into a first half-scan and a second half-scan. The controller is further configured to position the dynamic collimator after acquiring image data from one of the first half-scan and the second half-scan and simultaneous to commencement of acquiring image data from the other of the first half-scan and the second half-scan to obstruct a central portion of an x-ray beam emitted by the x-ray source during one of the first half-scan and the second half-scan. The CT scanner is further configured to reconstruct a CT image using the first set of imaging data and the second set of imaging data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jiahua Fan, Roy-Arnulf Helge Nilsen
  • Patent number: 9134258
    Abstract: A method for imaging an object is provided. The method includes acquiring image data of the object, wherein the image data includes a plurality of original voxels, and identifying, using a processing device, a first subset of voxels from the acquired image data. The method also includes performing a principal component analysis (PCA) on the first subset of voxels and determining whether sheet-like material is present in the object based on the results of the performed PCA on the first subset of voxels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: Morpho Detection, LLC
    Inventors: Samit Basu, Todd Jason Gable
  • Patent number: 9125611
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a mobile fluoroscopic imaging system, and methods of use. A table top imaging system can include a support, an x-ray source carried by the support, an x-ray detector carried by the support and positionable at a distance from the source; a primary x-ray propagation axis extending between the source and the detector. The distance between the source and the detector can be adjustable along the axis, and the axis can be angularly adjustable throughout an angular range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: OrthoScan, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher B. Eaves
  • Patent number: 9125572
    Abstract: A collimator for a computed tomography imaging device can include first and second leaves positioned on opposing sides of a primary radiation delivery window. The first and second leaves can include first and second gratings having a plurality of attenuating members with a plurality of secondary radiation delivery windows extending between adjacent attenuating members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: University of Utah Research Foundation
    Inventors: Frederic Noo, Dominic Heuscher
  • Patent number: 9125619
    Abstract: A radiographic examination apparatus improves response to fluoroscopy or continuous shooting by changing promptly the power-output of an X-ray tube. The apparatus and method, when an absolute value of variation C per fixed time interval between the filament electric current of current pulse-output calculated by the filament electric current variation calculation element is more than a setup value, a flash control between pulse conducts increases or decreases temporarily the filament electric current between pulses to become the filament electric current on flash control between pulses calculated by a filament electric current calculation element based on a radiation condition of a current pulse-output and the radiation condition of following pulse-output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Katsuhiro Yabugami
  • Patent number: 9119589
    Abstract: Photon counting detectors are sparsely placed at predetermined positions in the fourth-generation geometry around an object to be scanned in spectral Computer Tomography (CT). Optionally, integrating detectors are placed between the two adjacent ones of the sparsely placed photon counting detectors in the fourth-generation geometry. Furthermore, the integrating detectors are placed in the third-generation in combination to the sparsely placed photon counting detectors at predetermined positions in the fourth-generation geometry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yu Zou
  • Patent number: 9121957
    Abstract: Radiation flux can be adjusted “on the fly” as an object (204) is being scanned in a security examination apparatus. Adjustments are made to the radiation flux based upon radiation incident on a first radiation detector (226) in an upstream portion (233) of an examination region. The object under examination is thus exposed to different radiation flux in coordination with a downstream motion (235) of the object relative to a second radiation detector (228). The radiation flux is adjusted so that a sufficient number of x-rays (that traverse the object) are incident on the second radiation detector. Images of the object can then be generated based upon data from the second radiation detector, where these images are thus of a desired/higher quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: Analogic Corporation
    Inventors: Ram C. Naidu, Chitra Subramanian, Sergey B. Simanovsky, Zhengrong Ying, Dong-Yueh Liang, Douglas Q. Abraham
  • Patent number: 9123156
    Abstract: In order to provide an X-ray CT apparatus and the like that reconstruct an image using an iterative approximation method which ensures stable convergence and can be executed at high speed, a computation device 5 of an X-ray CT apparatus 1 calculates matrices A, B, D, R, and R? on the basis of the scanning conditions input through an input device 6 (step 1). Then, the computation device 5 calculates each element of a matrix I??(SBTDA+?SR) (step 2). Then, the computation device 5 calculates the operator norm ?I??(SBTDA+?SR)? of the matrix I??(SBTDA+?SR) (step 3). Then, the computation device 5 determines a relaxation coefficient ? such that a predetermined conditional expression is satisfied (step 4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: HITACHI MEDICAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hisashi Takahashi, Taiga Goto, Koichi Hirokawa
  • Patent number: 9119575
    Abstract: A panoramic tomography X-ray apparatus including an image information processing part, a display part, and a position setting part. The image information processing part retrieves a frame image information from a storage part and superimposes overlapped portions of images along a tomographic plane corresponding to a dental arch to generate a panoramic tomographic image. The display part displays the panoramic tomographic image generated by the image information processing part. The position setting part sets, in a median portion including a median line of an object, the position of the tomographic plane regarding depth direction of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: J. MORITA MANUFACTURING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Sadakane, Hodaka Ishii
  • Patent number: 9107643
    Abstract: An X-ray detection system includes an X-ray generation device and an X-ray detector. The X-ray generation device includes an X-ray emission unit and a first sensor unit. The X-ray detector includes an X-ray reception unit for receiving X-rays from the X-ray emission unit, a data detection unit for detecting data from the X-ray reception unit, a second sensor unit, a computation unit for computing correction data using a distance between the first sensor unit and the second sensor unit, and a data correction unit for receiving a data signal from the data detection unit, receiving the correction data from the computation unit, and then generating corrected data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Sung ho Chang
  • Patent number: 9112366
    Abstract: Inductive rotary joint system with stationary and rotating sides has a one-phase rectifier for receiving one-phase AC-input to generate low-level DC-voltage, and a three-phase rectifier for receiving three-phase input to generate higher-level DC-voltage. An AC-power generator receives DC-voltage and generates AC-power, which is coupled by an inductive rotary joint to a load at the rotating side. Voltage coupled to the load is comparably higher when the one-phase rectifier is connected and comparably lower when the three-phase rectified is connected. A control unit at the secondary side for controlling at least the load is connected to measure the voltage produced for the secondary side, and to distinguish between a comparatively lower voltage and a comparatively higher voltage. When a presence of a comparatively higher voltage is indicated, an x-ray tube is enabled within the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: Schleifring Und Apparatebau GmbH
    Inventor: Nils Krumme