Patents Examined by Glen Kao
  • Patent number: 9398888
    Abstract: In a radiation imaging system performing a difference process using a stored mask image based on a radiation image obtained before a contrast agent is injected and a radiation image obtained after the contrast agent is injected, a controller displays a first graphic representing a first timing when irradiation of a radial ray is started, a second graphic representing a second timing when the mask image is stored, and a third graphic representing a third timing when the contrast agent is injected in this order along a time axis and controls the second and third timings by the second and third graphics. The controller moves, when one of the second and third graphics is moved along the time axis, the other of the second and third graphics such that an interval between the first and third graphics becomes larger than an interval between the first and second graphics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hironori Yamashita
  • Patent number: 9392990
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for estimating object information is provided. The object information estimating apparatus includes a database which stores phantom information obtained by projecting a first energy X-ray on a phantom, an input unit which receives first object information obtained by projecting the first energy X-ray on an analysis object, and which receives information on a thickness of the analysis object, and an estimating unit which estimates second object information based on the phantom information, the first object information, and the information on the thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Seok Min Han, Dong Goo Kang, Sung Su Kim, Young Hun Sung
  • Patent number: 9386958
    Abstract: Provided is an intraoral X-ray imaging apparatus having a camera, including: a frame; an X-ray irradiator which is installed to be supported by the frame and of which the one end portion is inserted into the oral cavity and which irradiates X-ray through an X-ray irradiation hole formed on the one end portion inserted into the oral cavity; a camera unit which is installed at the one end portion of the X-ray irradiator to image an interior of the oral cavity; a monitor unit which is connected to a camera unit to output the image captured by the camera unit; and an X-ray detector which is arranged to be separated from the X-ray irradiator in the frame so as to detect the X-ray irradiated from the X-ray irradiator outside the oral cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: EWHA UNIVERSITY-INDUSTRY COLLABORATION FOUNDATION
    Inventor: Rena Lee
  • Patent number: 9380690
    Abstract: A technique for indirectly measuring the degree of alignment of a beam in an electron-optical system including aligning means, focusing means and deflection means. To carry out the measurements, a simple sensor may be used, even a single-element sensor, provided it has a well-defined spatial extent. When practiced in connection with an X-ray source which is operable to produce an X-ray target, further, a technique for determining and controlling a width of an electron-beam at its intersection point with the target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: EXCILLUM AB
    Inventors: Oscar Hemberg, Tomi Tuohimaa, Björn Sundman
  • Patent number: 9370330
    Abstract: A system and method includes a matrix of elements, each of the elements comprising a respective radiation-attenuating material providing a respective radiation attenuation profile over a respective area of the matrix, and wherein at least one of the elements is independently-controllable to change its respective radiation attenuation profile over its respective area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Steve D Quam, Mikhail Uvarov, Hongxuan Zhang
  • Patent number: 9370331
    Abstract: A radiation protection device attaches to the C-arm of a fluoroscope and shields and collimates the X-ray beam between the X-ray source and the patient and between the patient and the image intensifier. One embodiment has a radiation shield of X-ray opaque material that surrounds the C-arm of the fluoroscopy system, the X-ray source and the image intensifier. A padded slot fits around the patient's body. Another embodiment has conical or cylindrical radiation shields that extend between the X-ray source and the patient and between the patient and the image intensifier. The radiation shields have length adjustments and padded ends to fit the device to the patient. The radiation protection device may be motorized to advance and withdraw the radiation shields. A blanket-like radiation shield covers the patient in the area surrounding where the X-ray beam enters the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: RADIACTION LTD.
    Inventors: Amir Belson, James J. Leary
  • Patent number: 9373478
    Abstract: There is provided a radiation generating apparatus having a simple structure and capable of shielding unnecessary radiation, cooling a target, reducing the size and weight of the apparatus, and achieving higher reliability, and a radiation imaging apparatus having the same. A transmission type radiation tube is held inside a holding container filled with a cooling medium. The transmission type radiation tube includes an envelope having an aperture, an electron source arranged inside the envelope so as to face the aperture of the envelope, a target unit for generating a radiation responsive to an irradiation with an electron emitted from the electron source, and a shield member for shielding a part of the radiation emitted from the target unit. The cooling medium contacts at least a part of the shield member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Miki Tamura, Kazuyuki Ueda, Takao Ogura, Yasue Sato, Ichiro Nomura, Shuji Aoki
  • Patent number: 9370084
    Abstract: The present invention relates to determining changes in the X-ray emission yield of an X-ray tube, in particular determining dose degradation. In order to provide determination of such changes, an X-ray source is provided comprising a cathode, an anode; and at least one X-ray sensor (16). The cathode emits electrons towards the anode and the anode comprises a target area on which the electrons impinge, generating X-ray radiation. An X-ray barrier (24) is provided with an aperture (26) for forming an emitting X-ray beam from the X-ray radiation, wherein the emitting X-ray beam has a beam formation (30) with a central axis. The at least one X-ray sensor is arranged within the beam formation and measures the X-ray intensity for a specific direction of X-ray emission with an angle with respect to the central axis. The at least one X-ray sensor can be positioned inside the beam formation (30), but outside the “actual field of view” (40) as determined by a diaphragm (36).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Hans Peter Sprong, Martin Kimutai Duerr, Rainer Kiewitt
  • Patent number: 9370085
    Abstract: A method for generating coherent, polarized, and tunable X-rays using a single laser pulse is provided. An ultrashort laser pulse is fired into a plasma. As the laser beam travels through the plasma, some of its photons are backscattered, e.g., through Raman backscattering, to generate a counter-propagating photon beam that is co-linear with the original laser beam. When the backscattered photons interact with high-energy accelerated periodic electron bunches, coherent X-rays are generated through Compton backscattering of the photons off of the electrons. The energy of the backscattered X-rays can be tuned by tuning one or more characteristics of the laser pulse and/or the plasma.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Dmitri Kaganovich, Antonio C. Ting, Michael H. Helle, Daniel F. Gordon, Bahman Hafizi, John Palastro
  • Patent number: 9366642
    Abstract: A human body back-scattering inspection system is disclosed. The system comprises a flying-spot forming unit configured to output beams of X-rays, a plurality of discrete detectors which are arranged vertically along a human body to be inspected, and a controlling unit coupled to the flying-spot forming unit and the plurality of detectors, and configured to generate a control signal to control the flying-spot forming unit and the plurality of detectors to perform a partition synchronous scan on the human body to be inspected vertically. The present disclosure utilizes the geometry property of the human body back-scattering inspection system, and proposes a multiple-point synchronous scan mechanism which largely accelerates the inspection of human body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignees: Nuctech Company Limited, Tsinghua University
    Inventors: Ziran Zhao, Zhiqiang Chen, Yuanjing Li, Wanlong Wu, Ming Ruan, Yinong Liu, Yingkang Jin, Le Tang, Yanjie Wen, Xiuwei Chen, Fuhua Ding, Bin Sang, Zongjun Shen
  • Patent number: 9364188
    Abstract: With an X-ray apparatus for round visit of this invention, when a brake operation is carried out, a CPU performs deceleration control (braking current control at c and short brake control at e) of a movable carriage instead of immediately driving electromagnetic brakes, and drives the electromagnetic brakes at time f. Therefore, a great shock does not occur to the apparatus, and there is no possibility of the operator colliding with the apparatus. Since the deceleration control of the movable carriage is carried out in advance, the apparatus does not stop suddenly and does not impair the floor. As a result, the X-ray apparatus for round visit is realized, in which no great shock occurs to the apparatus at times of deceleration, and which is also safe for the operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tomoharu Okuno
  • Patent number: 9355810
    Abstract: Disclosed is an integrated flying-spot X-ray apparatus comprising a ray generator configured to generate the X-ray, a revolving collimator device provided thereon with at least one aperture and arranged to be rotatable about the ray generator, a frameless torque motor configured to drive the revolving collimator device to rotate about the ray generator, and a cooling device configured to cool the ray generator, wherein the ray generator, the revolving collimator device, the frameless torque motor and the cooling device are mounted on an integrated mounting frame. Compared with the prior art, the integrated flying-spot X-ray apparatus according to the present disclosure has a simple and compact structure and is used as a kernel apparatus for fields of safety inspection and medical treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Nuctech Company Limited
    Inventors: Zhiqiang Chen, Ziran Zhao, Wanlong Wu, Xilei Luo, Guangwei Ding, Yingkang Jin, Le Tang, Fuhua Ding, Bin Sang, Shuo Cao, Zhimin Zheng
  • Patent number: 9339243
    Abstract: A radiation treatment and imaging system for emitting a radiation treatment beam and X-ray imaging beams towards an object. The system includes an x-ray source and a collimator, first and second detectors, and a linear accelerator that delivers radiation beams to an object. The linear accelerator includes a radiation source positioned between the first and second detectors and emitting a therapy radiation beam in-line with the x-ray beams received by the first and second detectors. The system also includes a data processing device in communication with the first and second detectors. The data processing device receives imaging signals from the first and second detectors and reconstructs a three-dimensional tetrahedron beam computed tomography (TBCT) image from the received imaging signals. The system also includes a display in communication with the data processing device and for displaying the TBCT image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: WILLIAM BEAUMONT HOSPITAL
    Inventors: Tiezhi Zhang, Joshua Kim
  • Patent number: 9332946
    Abstract: A method of contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) imaging can include repeatedly scanning a target region at a frequency during a session, the frequency initially being a first rate. After detecting an increase of the attenuation of radiation by a contrast-enhanced first structure within a target region, the frequency can be increased to a second rate. After detecting a subsequent decrease in the attenuation, the frequency can be decreased to a third rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: University of Utah Research Foundation
    Inventors: Dominic Heuscher, Frederic Noo
  • Patent number: 9332951
    Abstract: An apparatus for obtaining an intraoral x-ray image from a patient has an x-ray source and an intraoral image detector comprising one or more detectable elements. One or more sensors are positionally coupled near the x-ray source and are energizable to sense the location of the one or more detectable elements when the intraoral image detector is within the patient's mouth. A control logic processor is in signal communication with the one or more sensors and is responsive to stored instructions for calculating a detector position of the intraoral image detector. A projector is positionally coupled to the x-ray source and is in signal communication with the control logic processor and is energizable to project an image toward the calculated intraoral image detector position in response to signals from the control logic processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: TROPHY
    Inventors: Jean-Marc Inglese, Sylvie Bothorel
  • Patent number: 9335282
    Abstract: Provided is an X-ray topography apparatus capable of separating a desired characteristic X-ray which enters a sample from an X-ray which is radiated from an X-ray source, and increasing an irradiation region of the desired characteristic X-ray. The X-ray topography apparatus includes: the X-ray source for radiating the X-ray from a fine focal point, the X-ray containing a predetermined characteristic X-ray; an optical system including a multilayer mirror with a graded multilayer spacing which corresponds to the predetermined characteristic X-ray, the optical system being configured to cause the X-ray reflected on the multilayer mirror to enter the sample; and an X-ray detector for detecting a diffracted X-ray. The multilayer mirror includes a curved reflective surface having a parabolic cross section, and the fine focal point of the X-ray source is provided onto a focal point of the curved reflective surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: RIGAKU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Omote, Yoshinori Ueji, Ryuji Matsuo, Tetsuo Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 9330493
    Abstract: There is described a method for generating a 3D representation of an object, the method comprising retrieving a 3D structure representative of the object and comprising a plurality of voxels each having a respective position therein, each one of the voxels being shaped to mimic a shape of at least a portion of a potential internal feature for the respective position; receiving a densitometry measurement comprising densitometry data of the object; assigning a density value to each one of the voxels using the received densitometry data, thereby generating a 3D model of the object; and outputting the 3D model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: FPINNOVATIONS
    Inventor: Gary Stephen Schajer
  • Patent number: 9322928
    Abstract: A determination section of an FPD checks external information against a determination table and determines whether detection of a rise of X-ray pulses is allowed based on an output voltage from a short-circuited pixel. The FPD detects X-ray images. The external information is transmitted from an imaging control device. The X-ray pulses are sequentially generated by an X-ray generating apparatus. A controller selects a pulse irradiation mode in a case where the detection of the rise of the X-ray pulse is allowed. If not, a successive irradiation mode is selected. In the pulse irradiation mode, the rise and the fall of the X-ray pulse are detected and timing of storage operation is synchronized with the detected timing of the rise. In the successive irradiation mode, the storage operation is performed at predetermined time intervals without the detection of the rise and the fall of the X-ray pulse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Naoto Iwakiri, Naoyuki Nishino, Yasunori Ohta, Kouichi Kitano, Haruyasu Nakatsugawa
  • Patent number: 9318229
    Abstract: A method is provided for assembling a collimator module including a plurality of first collimator plates arrayed in a first direction, each first collimator plate having a plurality of slots formed on a plate surface, and a plurality of second collimator plates arrayed in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, wherein each second collimator plate penetrates respective slots along the first direction so as to form a lattice-shape. The method includes positioning the plurality of first collimator plates by moving a first collimator plate in one direction along the second direction, so that a side wall of a first cutout formed on an edge of a radiation incident side or a radiation output side of the first collimator plate contacts a member extending in the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Haruo Kurochi, Katsumasa Nose, Richard P. VanDeWeghe
  • Patent number: 9307946
    Abstract: A medical imaging device mountable on a support structure having a horizontal surface and at least one substantially vertical surface. The imaging device includes a frame and a gantry having a radiation source and a radiation detector. The gantry is rotatable with respect to the frame. The imaging device includes a first vertical adjustment element and a second vertical adjustment element. The first vertical adjustment element has a first end couplable to the horizontal surface and a second end coupled to the frame, the first end is located a first distance from the second end, and adjustable over a first range. The second vertical adjustment element has a third end coupled to the frame and a fourth end coupled to the gantry. The third end is located a second distance from the fourth end, and is adjustable over a second range, and the fourth end is rotatable with respect to the third end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: DENTAL IMAGING TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Frederick W. Cowdery, Frank Speranza, Carl Anthony Yacono, Tyler Betteridge