Patents Examined by Thomas R Artman
  • Patent number: 10638984
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an X-ray collimator capable of adjusting a field of view during X-ray imaging and an X-ray imaging apparatus using the same, the apparatus including an X-ray light source configured to emit X-rays, an X-ray detector configured to detect the X-rays, and a collimator configured to provide an opening to determine an FOV of the X-rays between the X-ray light source and the X-ray detector, wherein the opening is configured such that at least one of a first edge at an entrance side facing the X-ray light source, and a second edge at an exit side facing the X-ray detector is formed in a curved shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignees: VATECH Co., Ltd., VATECH EWOO Holdings Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sung Il Choi
  • Patent number: 10641717
    Abstract: This invention relates to a movable article inspection system and inspection method, wherein the inspection system comprises: a first automated guided vehicle, a radiation source and a detection mechanism; said radiation source and said detection mechanism are both mounted on said first automated guided vehicle, said first automated guided vehicle is able to move to a preset scanning inspection position, such that scanning inspection of said article to be scanned is effectuated by means of relative movement between an article to be scanned and the first automated guided vehicle. Such movable inspection system based on an automated guided vehicle is capable of making full use of an existing automated guided vehicle and its control system to make a movement path of the inspection system more flexible, and capable of effectuating centralized control and management of the inspection system, so that it can improve inspection efficiency, and save labor cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: Nuctech Company Limited
    Inventors: Zhiqiang Chen, Yuanjing Li, Shangmin Sun, Yu Hu, Xuejing Yang, Qiangqiang Wang, Long Du, Wei Li
  • Patent number: 10638059
    Abstract: A radiation detection apparatus comprises a planar radiation detecting panel in which a plurality of detecting units are arranged in a two-dimensional array; an output circuit that drives driving signal lines for driving the detecting units; a readout circuit that reads, via image signal lines, a signal from the detecting units; a conductive layer arranged close to the radiation detecting panel; a first connecting member that connects the ground of the readout circuit and the conductive layer; and a second connecting member that connects the conductive layer and wiring for providing a drive-off bias to the driving signal lines. The first connecting member is connected to the radiation detecting panel in a position between ¼ and ¾ of a length of a side of the radiation detecting panel to which the readout circuit is connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yasuhiko Sano
  • Patent number: 10637461
    Abstract: A gate drive circuit device includes positive and negative pulse circuit portions each including a pulse diode and a pulse assembly connected in parallel with each other. The pulse assemblies each include another pulse diode and a resistor-capacitor assembly connected in series. The resistor-capacitor assembly includes a pulse resistor and a pulse capacitor connected in parallel. Each pulse circuit portion is connected with a different switch. Each pulse circuit portion is a passive device that is configured to activate a different switch responsive to receiving one or more voltage pulses from a power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: General Elelctric Company
    Inventors: Antonio Caiafa, Dominique Poincloux, Marcos Garcia Arregui
  • Patent number: 10617375
    Abstract: A hybrid imaging system is disclosed including an arcuate arm defining a first and a second end the arcuate arm including a first detector assembly for 2D x-ray imaging of a patient and a second detector assembly for CT imaging of the patient, wherein the imaging system includes an internal drive mechanism for rotating the arcuate arm (e.g. translating the arcuate arm along an arcuate path) around the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: Dedicated2Imaging, LLC
    Inventors: Eric M. Bailey, Andrew Tybinkowski
  • Patent number: 10610174
    Abstract: A wheel alignment guide that provides a visual indication of the desired placement of an apparatus. The wheel alignment guide includes one or more body members defining an opening to surround a portion of the apparatus, such as a wheel. The wheel of the apparatus is disposed within the opening of the wheel alignment guide after a desired position of the apparatus is selected, and the wheel may be pivoted via concave edges of the one or more body members. If the apparatus is moved during operation, the apparatus may be repositioned due to the placement of the wheel alignment guide. Accordingly, the wheel alignment guide eliminates the need for inefficient markers and potentially-dangerous adhesives, particularly in an operating room.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: The Parking Space, LLC
    Inventors: Graig Thomas O'Brien, Jon Kimball
  • Patent number: 10603003
    Abstract: In example embodiments, a CT imaging system is provided comprising opposing x-ray generation and x-ray detector assemblies and a motion mechanism configured for simultaneously rotationally orbiting the x-ray generation and x-ray detector assemblies around a patient's anatomy along a main axis of rotation of the imaging system while rotationally oscillating the x-ray generation and x-ray detector assemblies about a spinning oscillation axis which is perpendicular to both the main axis of rotation and to a transmission axis extending between the x ray generation and detector assemblies. Further improvements related to a patient support platform and a biopsy attachment are also described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Dedicating2Imaging, LLC
    Inventors: Eric M. Bailey, Andrew Tybinkowski
  • Patent number: 10605747
    Abstract: A radiographic image capturing system includes: a radiation irradiating apparatus which emits radiation and provides notification of radiation emission while emitting the radiation; a radiographic image capturing apparatus which includes two-dimensional matrix radiation detecting elements and reads electric charges accumulated in the radiation detecting elements as image data; an exposure switch capable of two-step manipulations, the exposure switch transmitting an activation signal in response to a first-step manipulation and transmitting a radiation start signal in response to a second-step manipulation; a signal transceiver which receives the activation signal and transfers the received activation signal to the radiation irradiating apparatus; and a delay time calculating device which calculates, as a delay time, a difference between a time of reception of the activation signal at the signal transceiver and a time of start of the notification of radiation emission at the radiation irradiating apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventor: Kenroku Ubukata
  • Patent number: 10595810
    Abstract: According to one or more exemplary embodiments, a medical imaging apparatus includes a first control unit. The first control unit controls capturing of an image of an object based on a first software component when the first software component is in an active state, periodically monitors a state of the first software component included in a software application, and sets any one of at least one second software component, which is the same as the first software component, to be in an active state when the first software component is in a failure state so as to continue to capture images of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Geun-tae Bae
  • Patent number: 10598610
    Abstract: An X-ray system for analyzing materials includes an X-ray source, an X-ray detector and a sample platform, and a controller configured to generate a radiograph of material on the sample platform by selectively energizing the X-ray source to emit X-rays through the material to the X-ray detector along a scanned length of the material, calculate a plurality of measured density values along the scanned length of the material, calculate a plurality of model density values of the material from one or more of settings of the X-ray system, characteristics of the material along the scanned length of the material, and a longitudinal density variation for a particular application, compute a difference between the measured density values and the model density values and determine if the longitudinal density variation has been exceeded, and provide an alert as to whether the longitudinal density variation has been exceeded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: KUB Technologies, Inc
    Inventors: Vikram Butani, Yan Chen, Chester Lowe, Vignesh Mandalapa-Bhoopathy, Edwin Maria-Selvaraj, Roberto Velasco, Peter Yasutake
  • Patent number: 10571411
    Abstract: A radiographic image capturing system includes: a radiation irradiating apparatus which emits radiation and provides notification of radiation emission while emitting the radiation; a radiographic image capturing apparatus which includes two-dimensional matrix radiation detecting elements and reads electric charges accumulated in the radiation detecting elements as image data; an exposure switch capable of two-step manipulations, the exposure switch transmitting an activation signal in response to a first-step manipulation and transmitting a radiation start signal in response to a second-step manipulation; a signal transceiver which receives the activation signal and transfers the received activation signal to the radiation irradiating apparatus; and a delay time calculating device which calculates, as a delay time, a difference between a time of reception of the activation signal at the signal transceiver and a time of start of the notification of radiation emission at the radiation irradiating apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventor: Kenroku Ubukata
  • Patent number: 10564114
    Abstract: Alternatives described herein relate to methods for detecting, identifying, and/or diagnosing eating disorders, nutritional deficiencies, and/or malnutrition, including conditions such as bulimia nervosa and/or anorexia nervosa, by using X-ray diffraction on a sample of a tested subject's hair. In some alternatives, once an eating disorder, nutritional deficiency, or malnutrition is detected, identified, or diagnosed using the X-ray diffraction approaches set forth herein, a subject identified as having an eating disorder, nutritional deficiency, or malnutrition is provided counseling for the disorder and/or a medicament to treat, inhibit, or ameliorate said eating disorder or malnutrition, including Prozac, ami trip tyline, fluoxe tine, imipramine, Nardil, Tofranil, desipramine, Sarafem, Norpramin, and/or phenelzine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: STRUCTURE-ASE INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Steven Richard Herron, Kent Hatch, Savannah Marriott, Diane Spangler
  • Patent number: 10561378
    Abstract: The invention proposes to combine spectral image data with non-spectral image data in order to overcome limitations of the different data taking methods. Results from the methods are preferably combined as functions of spatial frequency so that spectral image data provide high accuracy at low frequencies, whereas the non-spectral image data helps reducing the noise at high frequencies. The invention enables a range of applications in different fields of X-ray imaging such as improved tissue contrast and tissue characterization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Jon Erik Fredenberg, Karl Erik Lenason Berggren
  • Patent number: 10555711
    Abstract: An apparatus for low dose mammography including: (1) a monochromatic X-ray beam generator that emits a first beam of monochromatic line emission X-ray photons having an energy at or nearly above an absorption edge of a first element to induce emission of Auger electrons when the first element is irradiated with the X-ray photons; and (2) an X-ray detector including (a) a pixel or plurality of pixels including an array of pixel sensors each of which has (i) a direct conversion layer configured for receiving the X-ray photons and for converting the X-ray photons into a transient electric charge, the direct conversion layer comprising the first element such that the line emission X-ray photons causes a cascade of Auger electrons that form the transient electric charge, and (ii) a semiconductor collection layer configured for receiving Auger electrons of said electric charge from the conversion layer; and (b) processing electronics for converting the electric charge received in the collection layer into a rad
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: NANOX-MEDICAL CORP
    Inventors: Chia Gee Wang, Zhao Cheng
  • Patent number: 10556128
    Abstract: With a screen-filter-mirror unit installed in a sandwich architecture, an x-ray window on a patient or an object can also be visualized during an x-ray recording with a light window. It is advantageous that a screen, a filter and a light window unit are combined in just one unit and with a changing x-ray window only the unit is replaced and/or the attack angle of the unit and the alignment of a light source directed hereto can be attuned to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Tom Weidner, Ulf Zimmermann, Stefan Veitenhansl
  • Patent number: 10546712
    Abstract: A device for generating a source current of charge carriers by a field emission and a method stabilizing a source current of charge carriers emitted by a field emission element are disclosed. In an embodiment the device includes at least one field emission element from which the charge carriers emerge during operation, which lead to an emission current in the field emission element, at least one extraction electrode in order to extract the charge carriers from the field emission element, wherein a first part of the extracted charge carriers contributes to the source current, and a second part of the extracted charge carriers impinges on the extraction electrode and leads to an extraction current in the extraction electrode, an additional electrode on which the source current of charge carriers impinges at least in part and which contributes to an electrode current in the additional electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: KETEK GmbH
    Inventors: Felix Düsberg, Michael Bachmann
  • Patent number: 10541061
    Abstract: The invention relates to a system (100) for generating and collimating an X-ray beam (104), comprising an X-ray tube insert for generating the X-ray beam, the X-ray tube inert being a vacuum tube; a tube housing (102) for containing the X-ray tube insert (101), the tube housing being made of X-ray absorbing material; a collimator (103) for collimating the X-ray beam (104); wherein the collimator (103) is arranged in between the X-ray tube insert (101) and the tube housing (102). The invention also relates to a corresponding apparatus for scanning an object of interest with an X-ray beam (104) comprising the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventor: Chin Wang
  • Patent number: 10531854
    Abstract: An X-ray CT apparatus includes processing circuitry. The circuitry controls a voltage generator during non-helical scan to switch tube voltage, thereby causing an imaging to be performed separately with X-rays of a first energy and X-rays of a second energy. The circuitry generates first and second projection data sets, respectively. The circuitry performs image reconstruction based on the first and second projection data sets respectively, thereby generating first and second images respectively. The circuitry performs alignment processing to align the second image with the first image. The circuitry generates a third projection data set based on a processing result of the alignment processing. The circuitry performs transformation processing to transform the second and third projection data sets into projection data sets corresponding to reference materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: CANON MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takahiro Yoda
  • Patent number: 10532224
    Abstract: A processing device determines a plurality of angles from which tracking images can be generated by an imaging device. The processing device generates a plurality of projections of a treatment planning image of a patient, the treatment planning image comprising a delineated target, wherein each projection of the plurality of projections has an angle that corresponds to one of the plurality of angles from which the tracking images can be taken. The processing device determines, for each angle of the plurality of angles, a value of a tracking quality metric for tracking the target based on an analysis of a projection generated at that angle. The processing device selects a subset of the plurality of angles that have a tracking quality metric value that satisfies a tracking quality metric criterion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: ACCURAY INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Petr Jordan, Andriy Myronenko, Calvin Maurer, Eric Schnarr, Rob O'Connell
  • Patent number: 10524740
    Abstract: New and improved CT imaging systems are presented which are low cost, fully self-contained and easily installed/used. Example improvements include implementation of an integrated and self-contained drive system for moving a scanner component relative to a fixed or static platform/base which also acts as an imaging table. The CT imaging system is also greatly simplified to improve ease of use and to reduce cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: Dedicated2Imaging, LLC.
    Inventors: Eric M. Bailey, Andrew Tybinkowski