Patents Examined by Mona M Sanei
  • Patent number: 8270562
    Abstract: An imaging system includes a rotatable gantry having an opening therein to receive a subject to be scanned and configured to rotate about a central axis in a rotation direction. The imaging system also includes a first x-ray source coupled to the rotatable gantry at a first position, wherein the first position is offset from the central axis of the rotatable gantry by a first distance. Further, the imaging system includes a second x-ray source coupled to the rotatable gantry at a second position, wherein the second position is offset from the central axis of the rotatable gantry by a second distance, wherein the second position is offset from the first position in a direction coincident with the rotation direction, and wherein the second position is offset from the first position in a direction parallel to the central axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Paavana Sainath, Peter Crandall, Abdelaziz Ikhlef, Chad Smith, Ron Kent Hockersmith, Baojun Li
  • Patent number: 8243885
    Abstract: To provide an X-ray generator capable of preventing electric corrosion and exerting stable performance over long periods. The X-ray generator includes: a rotary anticathode having a rotary anticathode part and a shaft part; an anticathode accommodating case including an air-tight case part for keeping an area surrounding the rotary anticathode part in a vacuum atmosphere, and a journaling case part for rotatively supporting the shaft part via a bearing; and an electric motor to rotatably drive the anticathode (target). A water-cooled jacket, through which cooling water for cooling the rotary anticathode part and the shaft part flows, is provided in the rotary anticathode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Bruker AXS K.K.
    Inventors: Katsumi Kawasaki, Yutaka Inari, Hiroshi Chiba
  • Patent number: 8215837
    Abstract: High intensity x-ray radiation therapy is used in the medical industry to treat tumors. Patients typically receive radiation treatment over a period of time, in which a quality assurance test of the x-ray beam is performed before each treatment. These quality assurance tests are performed by a detection device that receives the x-ray beam and measures the intensity, shape and uniformity of the x-ray beam. The integrated patient positioning and radiation quality assurance system includes recess assemblies into which an x-ray detection device is inserted to fix the location of the x-ray detection device on the board. As a result, the accuracy of the quality assurance test is improved and the set up time is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Fluke Corporation
    Inventor: Kenneth D. Konopa
  • Patent number: 8213570
    Abstract: X-ray security inspection machine (10) comprising an X-ray tunnel (40); a conveyor means (50) for conveying an article through the tunnel; an X-ray source for irradiating the article; and an X-ray detection means for detecting X-rays transmitted through the article. In one aspect, the detection means comprises a photodetector array module (20) actuatable between a first stowed configuration and a second deployed configuration. In a second aspect, the detection means comprises a first unit having a first photodetector array (22); and a second unit, having a second photodetector array (24), offset with respect to the first unit. The units are moveable relative to one another between a first arrangement where the arrays overlap to a first degree and a second arrangement where they overlap to a second, lower degree; preferably zero. Also, a conveyor belt-tracking device (100) comprising a guide frame (104) to receive the conveyor belt (116) and substantially to restrict its motion to a predetermined direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Rapiscan Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Baljinder Singh Panesar, Douglas R. Gillard-Hickman
  • Patent number: 8208118
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to a method for determining exposure settings for a target field on a substrate in a lithographic exposure process, including providing calibration data by determining the position of a calibration field in a first direction at a plurality of calibration positions in a second and third direction relative to the position of the calibration field. The method also includes providing production data by establishing the position on the substrate of the target field in the second and third direction and by measuring the position of the exposure field in the first direction at least one measurement position relative to the position of the exposure field in the second and third direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: David Warren Burry, Ralph Brinkhof, Frank Staals, Robert Franken, Erik Johan Koop
  • Patent number: 8189740
    Abstract: An X-ray CT apparatus that transmits X-rays toward a subject on the basis of a set scan condition and reconstructs images from detected X-rays that passes through the subject, including a scan plan setting unit configured to set the scan condition, a reference dose storage unit configured to store reference dose information, including an relation between an attribute information about a plurality of kinds of subjects and reference doses to be referenced for an exposure dose, and an exposure dose calculation unit configured to calculate the exposure dose corresponding to the set scan condition in accordance with the timing of setting of the scan condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Shinsuke Tsukagoshi, Tetsuya Horiuchi, Masahiro Kazama
  • Patent number: 8177430
    Abstract: A system and method to perform image acquisition of a subject is provided. The system includes a mobile device to move an imaging system across a floor, and a brake system that restrains movement of the mobile device. A controller includes a memory having program instructions to instruct a processor to perform the steps of: instructing movement of the mobile device in support of the imaging system to a first position for image acquisition of the subject; receiving feedback that the mobile device is located at the first position; and applying a brake force to restrain movement of the mobile device. The step of applying the brake force includes generating a vacuum in restraint of movement of the mobile device with respect to the floor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Bernard Bouvier
  • Patent number: 8162543
    Abstract: An image intensifier system has an image converter tube to convert incident x-ray radiation into visible light and a digital camera system optically downstream of the image converter tube. The camera system has an image sensor to convert the incident, visible light into digital images, and an electronic image processing unit is provided for post-processing of the digital images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Ralf Behrens, Thilo Hannemann
  • Patent number: 8142074
    Abstract: A system for holding and aligning a radiation sensing device is described. The system includes a radiation sensing device having a sensor engagement member. The system also includes a holder having a retention member including first and second retention guides connected with opposing ends of a back plate. The first retention guide also includes a complementary holder engagement member configured to mate with the sensor engagement member at a preset position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Inventors: Harold K. Schmulenson, Tom Gillen
  • Patent number: 8130902
    Abstract: Active optics apparatus and method for aligning active optics are provided for a high-resolution, active optic fluorescence analyzer combining a large acceptance solid angle with wide energy tunability. A plurality of rows of correctors selectively controlled to bend an elongated strip of single crystal material like Si (400) into substantially any precisely defined shape. A pair of pushers engages opposite ends of the silicon crystal strip exert only a force along the long axis of the crystal strip, and does not induce additional bending moments which would result in a torsion of the crystal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: UChicago Argonne, LLC
    Inventors: Bernhard W. Adams, Klaus Attenkofer, Oliver A. Schmidt
  • Patent number: 8126109
    Abstract: An index-value detecting unit detects an index value that indicates a contrast medium density in a Region Of Interest (ROI) set on an image reconstructed during a scan. A switch-timing detecting unit detects an inflection point appearing on a curve that indicates temporal variations in the contrast medium density in the ROI, based on an index value detected by the index-value detecting unit. An imaging control unit then performs control so as to skip the rest of a scanning plan in execution and to start the next scanning plan when the switch-timing detecting unit detects an inflection point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventor: Shinsuke Tsukagoshi
  • Patent number: 8121248
    Abstract: A method includes performing an x-ray focal spot deflection to generate two complete projections from two different channels of an x-ray detector, wherein the channels are purposefully different from each other in some respect other than being different channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Abdelaziz Ikhlef, Charles Hugh Shaughnessy
  • Patent number: 8111377
    Abstract: A lithographic apparatus includes a position measuring system configured to measure a position of a moveable object with respect to a reference frame of the lithographic apparatus, in at least one direction of an orthogonal x-y-z coordinate system of the moveable object. The position measuring system includes an optical x-z-encoder configured to measure a displacement of a radiation source, a first grating, and a detector with respect to a second grating of the encoder. The first grating includes an alignment marker. A controller is configured to define a zero level of the moveable object with respect to the reference frame in at least one of the x- and z-direction by performing the scanning along the first grating, the alignment marker during the scanning step causing changes in the phase of the response of both the first positive and negative orders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Suzanne Johanna Antonetta Geertruda Cosijns, Andre Schreuder
  • Patent number: 8107589
    Abstract: A detector having a collimator in a position at a specific angle with respect to a therapeutic X-ray beam is mounted to selectively detect only scattering radiation in the direction. To three-dimensionally obtain a distribution of places where scattering occurs in a patient body, a detector is rotated during irradiation and scattering radiation is measured from all of directions. After that, a reconstructing process is performed, and a distribution of occurrence of scattering radiation in the subject is three-dimensionally imaged. Since angles and amounts of X-rays scattered by Compton scattering are known theoretically, if scattering radiation at a certain angle can be detected, the number of scattering radiation at other angles can be also estimated. On the basis of the theory, images of distribution of scattering radiation sources are converted to images of distribution of absorption of radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuo Sakurai, Shigeharu Ohyu, Kyojiro Nambu, Motoji Haragashira, Masahiro Kumakura, Mariko Shibata, Katsuhiko Fujimoto, Yoichi Takada
  • Patent number: 8102965
    Abstract: In order to set up digital image acquisition in classic panoramic X-ray machines, the invention proposes providing a row of detectors in the cartridge unit of the machines, said row of detectors being arranged or being able to be arranged behind the recording slit. The output signals from the row of detectors and the output signals from a rotary encoder are wirelessly transferred to an evaluation unit. Retrofitting the digital image acquisition thus does not require any intervention in safety-related parts of the panoramic X-ray machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Inventor: Michael Thoms
  • Patent number: 8085903
    Abstract: A shutter mechanism for collimating x-rays has two parallel drive shafts and two parallel guide shafts orthogonal to the drive shafts to define a rectangular aperture. Two flexible bands moving around a generally rectangular path about the aperture independently control the positions of each set of shutters. Two cams on the drive shafts control the positions of the flexible bands and shutters. A pair of transverse shutters made of an x-ray opaque material are held in sliding engagement between the drive shafts. One end of each transverse shutter is attached to the first flexible band adjacent to the drive shafts. Similarly, a pair of longitudinal shutters are held in sliding engagement between the drive shafts. One end of each longitudinal shutter is attached to the second flexible band adjacent to the guide shafts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Inventor: Howard C. Thomas
  • Patent number: 8085900
    Abstract: A Method for X-ray wavelength measurement and an X-ray wavelength measurement apparatus capable of determining absolute wavelength easily and carrying out wavelength measurement having high precision with a simple structure are provided. The present invention is a Method for X-ray wavelength measurement carried out by using a channel-cut crystal for wavelength measurement (20) in which two opposing cut planes are formed and the lattice constant of which is known, and the method diffracts X-ray in respective arrangements (?, +) and (+, ?) of the channel-cut crystal for wavelength measurement (20), to determine the absolute wavelength of the X-ray from the difference between crystal rotation angles in respective arrangements. This makes the alignment simpler, and, when only a channel-cut crystal suitable for measurement can be prepared, X-ray wavelength measurement can be carried out easily and with high precision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Rigaku Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuhiko Omote
  • Patent number: 8064570
    Abstract: A hand-held XRF analyzer including an x-ray source for emitting x-rays through a window to a sample. A detector behind the window is responsive to x-rays irradiated by the sample. A controlled volume about the x-ray source and the detector is maintained in a vacuum or a predetermined purge condition for a predetermined amount of time for increasing the sensitivity of the analyzer. A processor is responsive to the detector for analyzing the spectrum of irradiated x-rays and responsive to a pressure sensor for detecting a pressure change inside the controlled volume. The processor is configured to detect if the vacuum or the predetermined purge condition has been compromised.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Innov-X-Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Bridget Tannian, Brad Hubbard-Nelson, Alfred Oleru
  • Patent number: 8054944
    Abstract: An x-ray tube has a number of emitters that generate respective electron beams, and has a common anode at which the electron beams strike on a surface to generate x-rays. A high x-ray dose power with a long lifespan are achieved while being able to quickly vary the x-ray dose power by using a superimposed intensity distribution from the x-ray beams, which is measured by a detector, to optimize the x-ray beams on the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Joerg Freudenberger, Ernst Neumeier
  • Patent number: 8045678
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes applying an output of a substantially monochromatic x-ray beam source to a target tissue along a first path, tuning the output of the substantially monochromatic x-ray beam source, and applying an output of a substantially monochromatic x-ray beam source to a target tissue along a second path different from the first path. The energy of the output of the substantially monochromatic x-ray beam source at the target tissue substantially corresponds to a binding energy level of an electron shell in an atom within the target tissue along the first path. The tuning tunes the substantially monochromatic x-ray beam source such that an energy of the output of the substantially monochromatic x-ray beam source at the target tissue along the second path substantially corresponds to a binding energy level of an electron shell in an atom within the target tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Mxisystems, Inc.
    Inventor: Frank E. Carroll