Patents by Inventor Brian D. Johnston

Brian D. Johnston has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Cable for computed tomography system
    Patent number: 6235993
    Abstract: A cable for a computed tomography system is described. In one embodiment, the cable electrically connects a detector module to a data acquisition system. The cable includes a conductor layer, an insulating layer and a shield layer having a thermal barrier. The thermal barrier reduces the amount of heat which is transferred from the data acquisition system to the detector module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2001
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Brian D. Johnston, Thomas R. Murray, Paul C. Schanen, Thaddeus R. Ulijasz
  • Detector modules for computed tomograph system
    Patent number: 6173031
    Abstract: A multislice detector module producing an alterable quantity of slices and slice resolutions. In one embodiment, the detector module includes a plurality of photodiodes arranged in an array of rows and columns, a switch apparatus electrically coupled to photodiode output signals, and a decoder. The decoder is configured to enable or prevent each photodiode from being transmitted through the switch apparatus. The configuration of the decoder determines how many slices of data are transmitted and the resolution of each slice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: David M. Hoffman, Brian D. Johnston, Francois Kotian, Hui David He
  • Elastomeric connection for computed tomography system
    Patent number: 6139337
    Abstract: An elastomeric connector apparatus for a computed tomography system is described. In one embodiment, the elastomeric connector apparatus electrically connects a detector module flexible cable to a data acquisition backplane. Flexible cable and backplane connector pads are electrically connected with an elastomeric connector. The elastomeric connector apparatus allows the low level analog outputs from the detector module photodiodes to be transmitted to the backplane without a large pin connector array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2000
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: August O. Englert, Paul C. Schanen, Thomas R. Murray, Brian D. Johnston, Darrell J. Miller
  • Gamma ray detector for pet scanner
    Patent number: 5300782
    Abstract: A PET scanner includes a ring of detector units which receive gamma rays produced by annihilation events. Each detector unit includes a 6.times.6 array of BGO scintillation crystals mounted in front of a 2.times.2 array of photomultiplier tubes. The position of a scintillation event within the crystal array is determined more accurately by selectively painting the side surfaces of the array crystals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 5, 1994
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Brian D. Johnston, David L. McDaniel, James G. Colsher