Patents Examined by Hugh Maupin
  • Patent number: 11090021
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus for processing a radiation image output from a radiation detection unit including a plurality of pixels, comprises: an imaging protocol obtaining unit configured to obtain an imaging protocol for imaging a subject; and a dose obtaining unit configured to obtain dose information of radiation based on a feature amount of the radiation image and information obtained from the imaging protocol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shinya Katsumata
  • Patent number: 11092698
    Abstract: A radiation imaging system comprises a plurality of imaging apparatuses configured to generate images based on radiation emitted from a radiation generator, and a control apparatus configured to communicate with the plurality of imaging apparatuses. Each of the plurality of imaging apparatuses generates imaging information with a smaller data size than an image obtained by an imaging operation based on the image. The control apparatus acquires the imaging information from each of the plurality of imaging apparatuses, and selects, from the plurality of imaging apparatuses based on the imaging information, an imaging apparatus from which an image obtained by an imaging operation is acquired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hikaru Tanaka, Yuichi Nishii, Kenta Endoh, Tomohiro Kawanishi
  • Patent number: 11092704
    Abstract: A system and method for making a neutron detector includes stacking anode frames and laminated frames to form a detector insert. The laminated frames are formed by laminating a foil of neutron-responsive material to an aluminum frame plated with a metal that does not react with the neutron-responsive material. The anode frames include an anode wire tensioned to a predetermined tension. The anode wires are electrically coupled to a top lid that includes an electrical connector and a gas feed through. The top lid is pressed into a tank with the detector insert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Radiation Detection Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Lawrence Bellinger, Douglas Scott McGregor, Benjamin William Montag, Logan Whitmore, Bryan Willis
  • Patent number: 11092697
    Abstract: A radiation detection device (300) is used in a nuclear medicine diagnosis apparatus, and includes a plurality of scintillators (44), a semiconductor light-receiving device (SiPM), a position detection circuit (214), and a timing detection circuit (216). Each of the scintillators converts a gamma ray emitted from a subject (15) into fluorescence. The semiconductor light-receiving device is provided corresponding to each of the scintillators and converts the fluorescence converted by a corresponding one of the scintillators into an electrical signal. The position detection circuit specifies a gamma ray detection position in the scintillators based on the electrical signal from the semiconductor light-receiving device. The timing detection circuit is connected to an anode of the semiconductor light-receiving device, and specifies time information corresponding to a time of occurrence of an event in which the gamma ray is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Shimadzu Corporation
    Inventors: Masayuki Nakazawa, Tetsuo Furumiya
  • Patent number: 11079341
    Abstract: A radiation imaging apparatus comprising: an imaging unit configured to capture a radiation image; a generation unit configured to generate each of thinned images of a plurality of radiation images captured by the imaging unit; and a transfer unit configured to wirelessly transfer a plurality of thinned images, wherein the transfer unit transfers each of remaining untransferred images obtained by excluding the thinned images from the radiation images after completion of the transfer of the plurality of thinned images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shimpei Tezuka
  • Patent number: 11069454
    Abstract: A storage phosphor panel can include an extruded inorganic storage phosphor layer including a thermoplastic polymer and an inorganic storage phosphor material, where the extruded inorganic storage phosphor panel has an image quality comparable to that of a traditional solvent coated inorganic storage phosphor screen. Further disclosed are certain exemplary method and/or apparatus embodiments that can provide inorganic storage phosphor panels including reduced noise. Further disclosed are certain exemplary method and/or apparatus embodiments that can include inorganic storage phosphor layer including at least one polymer, an inorganic storage phosphor material, and a copper phthalocyanine based blue dye.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Inventors: Seshadri Jagannathan, Charles M. Rankin, Lawrence D. Folts, Barbara Ulreich, Betsy J. Guffey, Jean-Marc Inglese
  • Patent number: 11061152
    Abstract: A method for two-dimensional imaging of a positron emitter distribution in objects to be examined, wherein the object to be examined includes a positron emitter, includes positioning the object to be examined in a magnetic field, wherein the positrons leaving the object to be examined follow the course of the magnetic field and strike a positron absorber which is likewise positioned in the magnetic field and which, upon interaction with the positrons, allows localization of the impact points of the positrons on the positron absorber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: FORSCHUNGSZENTRUM JUELICH GMBH
    Inventor: Juergen Scheins
  • Patent number: 11058370
    Abstract: An X-ray imaging method is for generating image data of a field of view of an object to be examined. In the method, firstly an individual imaging protocol is determined for imaging of the object to be examined. Furthermore, first X-ray projection measurement data with a first X-ray energy spectrum and at least one set of second contrast medium-influenced X-ray projection measurement data with a second X-ray energy spectrum, are acquired from the field of view. A third X-ray energy spectrum with a third mean energy is then determined on the basis of the determined individual imaging protocol. Subsequently, preferably pseudo-monoenergetic image data, associated with the third X-ray energy spectrum, is reconstructed on the basis of the acquired first and at least second X-ray projection measurement data as well as the determined imaging protocol. An image data-generating device is also described. A computerized tomography system is described, moreover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Flohr, Bernhard Schmidt
  • Patent number: 11061147
    Abstract: A method for calibrating a nuclear medicine tomography detector module using principal component analysis is based on the idea that calibration beam data lies on a one-dimensional path within the higher dimensional dataspace of output data. The module includes a weighted multiplexing circuit that generates a small number of multiplexed signals for each photon event. Calibration data for the module is generated and analyzed using several iterations of principal component analyses, to filter scattering events, noise, and other spurious signals. The direction of depth-of-interaction information has been found in the high-dimensional dataspace to be indicated by the primary principal component of the calibration data. The primary principal components, principal components from filtered datasets, intermediate thresholds, and DOI or inner product values are recorded for calibrating the module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: University of Washington
    Inventors: Larry A. Pierce, II, Robert S. Miyaoka
  • Patent number: 11051783
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an X-ray radiograph apparatus (10). It is described to placing (110) an X-ray source (20) relative to an X-ray detector (30) to form an examination region for the accommodation of an object, wherein, a reference spatial coordinate system is defined on the basis of geometry parameters of the X-ray radiography apparatus. A camera (40) is located (120) at a position and orientation to view the examination region. A depth image of the object is acquired (130) with the camera within a camera spatial coordinate system, wherein within the depth image pixel values represent distances for corresponding pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Julien Senegas, Sascha Andreas Jockel, Hanns-Ingo Maack, Martin Bergtholdt
  • Patent number: 11056333
    Abstract: Disclosed is a spectrometry method including: for at least one ionizing-radiation energy Ei, obtaining, for each energy Ei, a curve of the number of photons detected, during a measurement interval, as a function of time, by spectrometer; b) for each curve, computing a ratio of the number of photons detected defined and separate time periods to obtain, for each ionizing-radiation energy Ei, a number ai, or for each curve, acquiring one or more fitting parameters PAJi by making a fit to the corresponding curve with a fitting function; and comparing each number ai or each fitting parameter or set of fitting parameters PAJi with reference constants ai or, respectively, with reference fitting parameters PAJi associated with reference energies Ei to determine, for each number ai or each fitting parameter or set of fitting parameters PAJi, reference energy Ei of the ionizing radiation for which the corresponding curve was measured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: ICOHUP
    Inventor: Gaƫl Patton
  • Patent number: 11054371
    Abstract: The disclosed method enables estimating an initial point of interaction of an x-ray photon in a photon-counting x-ray detector, based on a number of x-ray detector sub-modules or wafers, each including detector elements. The x-ray detector sub-modules are oriented in edge-on geometry with the edge directed towards the x-ray source, assuming the x-rays enter through the edge. Each detector sub-module or wafer has a thickness with two opposite sides of different potentials to enable charge drift towards the side, where the detector elements, also referred to as pixels, are arranged. Basically, the method includes: determining an estimate of charge diffusion originating from a Compton interaction or an interaction through photoeffect related to the x-ray photon in a detector sub-module or wafer of the x-ray detector; and estimating the initial point of interaction along the thickness of the detector sub-module based on the determined estimate of charge diffusion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: PRISMATIC SENSORS AB
    Inventor: Mats Danielsson
  • Patent number: 11041756
    Abstract: A system for filtering light using a spectrometer enhanced with spectral filters using an array of independent photodetectors to measure the fluorescent or scattered light signal. A system comprising a light source, an illuminated sample, a light spectrum device, a collimator lens, a plurality of spectral filters each having a varying and selected light transmission spectrum and a plurality of photodetectors wherein each photodetector is oriented to a spectral filter. A scanning cytometer for measuring fluorescence and light scattering from an illuminated portion of the sample comprising a first light source, a scanner scanning in two axes, a fluorescence detector, an objective lens, an optically translucent medium through which a sample may be illuminated and a confocal apparatus positioned distally from the light source and sample and through which light signals from the sample are transmitted to a fluorescence detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: Charted Scientific Inc.
    Inventor: Edward Calvin
  • Patent number: 11041808
    Abstract: Imaging systems and methods, referred to herein as surface ablation lathe tomography (SALT), may be capable of providing whole organ tomography to provide 3D imaging. The system may provide a UV source that excites a sample, and a camera may capture imaging of fluorescent emission cause by the excitation. The tissue sample may be treated or stained with an imaging agent, such as fluorescent markers with fluorescently-tagged antibodies. The sample may also be infused with and/or embedded in paraffin wax. The tissue sample embedded in paraffin may be placed on a rotating mechanism that rotates, while the UV source excites a desired region and the camera captures imaging of a thin surface layer or shell of the sample. The system may also provide an ablation mechanism, such as a microtome blade or lathe, to ablate surface of the sample during rotation to allow imaging of subsequent layers of the sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON SYSTEM
    Inventors: David Mayerich, Jason Eriksen
  • Patent number: 11043351
    Abstract: An X-ray source (10) for generating X-rays (11) is provided. The X-ray source (10) comprises an emitter arrangement (12) for generating electrons or for generating X-rays, at least one feedthrough (38) for supplying electrical power to the emitter arrangement (12), and an insulator (20) configured for isolating an electrical potential of the at least one feedthrough (38) from a ground potential. Therein, the at least one feedthrough (38) extends at least partly through the insulator (20), and at least a part of the insulator (20) is in thermal contact with at least a part of the emitter arrangement (12). Further, the insulator (20) comprises at least one cooling channel (28) formed completely in an interior volume (25) of the insulator (20) and configured to dissipate heat from the emitter arrangement (12), wherein a distance (29) between an outer surface (26) of the insulator (20) and the cooling channel (28) is at least as large as half of a thickness (27) of the cooling channel (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Rolf Karl Otto Behling, Tobias Schlenk, Thorben Repenning
  • Patent number: 11039526
    Abstract: An X-ray generation device includes an X-ray tube including an electron gun that generates an electron beam and a target that generates an X-ray by incidence of the electron beam; a power supply portion including a booster that boosts an input voltage from outside to generate a high voltage and an insulating block that seals the booster with an insulating material; and a control unit that performs control to generate the X-ray. The control unit includes a first information processing element that performs at least part of the control using a digital signal at a high potential based on the high voltage. The first information processing element is sealed with the insulating material in the insulating block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: HAMAMATSU PHOTONICS K.K.
    Inventors: Kazutaka Suzuki, Yuji Shirayanagi, Motofumi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 11035964
    Abstract: A radiation detection system using time of flight (TOF) information within multiple optical fiber complexes coupled with a scintillating material at intersections of repeatedly crossing over shape. Light detectors are placed at the ends of each fiber to detect scintillation events. A timing processor is collecting light detector signal to compute TOF difference and estimate the location and strength of radioactivity. The system is scalable in one dimension, capable of being shaped or curved, and customizable in terms of special resolution and sensitivity. The system is suitable for long range and coarse radiation detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: JEFFERSON SCIENCE ASSOCIATES, LLC
    Inventor: Seung Joon Lee
  • Patent number: 11029428
    Abstract: Compositions including additive manufacturing materials incorporating radiological detection materials therein are provided. Also provided are apparatus and methods, which may be utilized to monitor and measure nuclear criticality events, and determine if personnel have been exposed to ionizing radiation. The compositions, apparatus, and methods beneficially improve accuracy in assessing radiation exposure, particularly neutron exposure, and reduce degradation of the radiological detection materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: The Government of the United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Luis A. Benevides, Alan L. Huston, Brian L. Justus, Barbara A. Marcheschi
  • Patent number: 11029418
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for calibrating radioactive sources are described. An array of scintillation detectors forms a receptacle within which a sample or sample container can be retained by a holder. The scintillation detectors are coupled via light transducers such as photomultiplier tubes (PMTs) to independent electronic counters. Coincidence processing of time-tagged events yields a correlated event rate. One or more corrections can be applied as needed, for background counts, deadtime, or random coincidences. Voltage tuning of PMTs yields improved reproducibility. Accuracy of 1% has been demonstrated over a range of 10 kBq-3 MBq.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AS REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
    Inventor: Stephen S. Adler
  • Patent number: 11029426
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a detector, comprising: a plurality of pixels, each pixel configured to count numbers of X-ray photons incident thereon whose energy falls in a plurality of bins, within a period of time; an X-ray absorption layer; wherein the X-ray absorption layer comprises an electrical contact within each of the pixels, and a focusing electrode surrounding the electrical contact and configured to direct to the electrical contact charge carriers generated by an X-ray photon incident within confines of the focusing electrodes; and wherein the detector is configured to add the numbers of X-ray photons for the bins of the same energy range counted by all the pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: SHENZHEN XPECTVISION TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Peiyan Cao, Yurun Liu