Patents by Inventor Bruce M. Dunham

Bruce M. Dunham 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).

  • Patent number: 7197116
    Abstract: An imaging tube (12) includes a cathode (30) that emits an electron beam (32) and an anode (38). The anode (38) includes multiple target surfaces (36). Each of the target surfaces (36) has a focal spot that receives the electron beam (32). The target surfaces (36) generate multiple x-ray beams (42) in response to the electron beam (32). Each x-ray beam (42) is associated with one of the target surfaces (36). An x-ray imaging system (10) includes the cathode (30) and the anode (38). A controller (28) is electrically coupled to the cathode (30) and adjusts emission of the electron beam (32) on the anode (38).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2007
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Bruce M. Dunham, John Scott Price
  • Patent number: 7192031
    Abstract: An field emitter array system (10) includes a housing (50). An emitter array (80) generates an electron beam and has multiple emitter elements (81) that are disposed within the housing (50). Each of the emitter elements has multiple activation connections (92).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Bruce M. Dunham, Colin R. Wilson, John Scott Price
  • Patent number: 7145988
    Abstract: A sealed electron beam source (12) for an imaging tube (16) is provided. The beam source (12) includes a source housing (50) with a source window (54) having a first voltage potential and a source electrode (52) having a second voltage potential. The source electrode (52) generates electrons and emits the electrons through the source window (54) to a target (32) that is external to the source housing (50). A method of supplying and directing electrons on the target (32) within the imaging tube (16) is also provided. The method includes forming the source housing (50) over the source electrode (52) and sealing the source housing (50). The electrons are generated and emitted from the source electrode (52) and directed through the source window (54) to the target (32).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: J. Scott Price, Bruce M. Dunham
  • Patent number: 7114850
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method to detect tube spits and to reduce spit related artifacts in a computed tomography imaging system. A way of detecting tube spit is to monitor the generator kilovolt or milliamp waveforms. Changes in kV waveform follow closely with those in offset-corrected projection data. If a tube-spit event is not detected, processing proceeds without tube spit correction. If a tube-spit event is detected, a tube spit correction is performed. The objective of tube-spit correction is to remove image artifacts due to the occurrence of a tube-spit event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Fang F. Dong, Jiang Hsieh, Bruce M. Dunham, Clarence L. Gordon, III
  • Patent number: 6912268
    Abstract: An X-ray source comprises a cold cathode and an anode. The cold cathode has a curved emission surface capable of emitting electrons. The anode is spaced apart from the cathode. The anode is capable of emitting X-rays in response to being bombarded with electrons emitted from the curved emission surface of the cathode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2005
    Assignee: GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company, LLC
    Inventors: J. Scott Price, Bruce M. Dunham, Colin R. Wilson
  • Publication number: 20040146143
    Abstract: An X-ray source comprises a cold cathode and an anode. The cold cathode has a curved emission surface capable of emitting electrons. The anode is spaced apart from the cathode. The anode is capable of emitting X-rays in response to being bombarded with electrons emitted from the curved emission surface of the cathode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2004
    Publication date: July 29, 2004
    Applicant: GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company, LLC
    Inventors: J. Scott Price, Bruce M. Dunham, Colin R. Wilson
  • Patent number: 6760407
    Abstract: An X-ray source comprises a cold cathode and an anode. The cold cathode has a curved emission surface capable of emitting electrons. The anode is spaced apart from the cathode. The anode is capable of emitting X-rays in response to being bombarded with electrons emitted from the curved emission surface of the cathode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2004
    Assignee: GE Medical Global Technology Company, LLC
    Inventors: J. Scott Price, Bruce M. Dunham, Colin R. Wilson
  • Publication number: 20030199757
    Abstract: The present invention includes a filtering apparatus for a CT imaging system or equivalently for an x-ray imaging system. The filtering apparatus is designed such that its attenuation profile may be changed prior to or during an imaging session. The attenuation profile can be modulated to mirror an attenuation pattern of a subject thereby optimizing radiation dose exposure to the subject. Furthermore, by implementing two opposing filters that are orthogonally oriented with respect to one another, the x-ray attenuation may be controlled along the x as well as z axis to shape the x-ray intensity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2002
    Publication date: October 23, 2003
    Inventors: Thomas L. Toth, Tsur Bernstein, Bruce M. Dunham
  • Publication number: 20030198318
    Abstract: An X-ray source comprises a cold cathode and an anode. The cold cathode has a curved emission surface capable of emitting electrons. The anode is spaced apart from the cathode. The anode is capable of emitting X-rays in response to being bombarded with electrons emitted from the curved emission surface of the cathode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2002
    Publication date: October 23, 2003
    Applicant: GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company, LLC
    Inventors: J. Scott Price, Bruce M. Dunham, Colin R. Wilson
  • Publication number: 20030053591
    Abstract: A process for producing a poly(arylene ether) resins includes oxidatively coupling a monohydric phenol in the presence of a solvent and a catalyst to form a soluble poly (arylene ether) and an insoluble poly(arylene ether), separating the soluble poly (arylene ether) and the insoluble poly(arylene ether), and recycling the soluble poly (arylene ether). The process is particularly useful for synthesizing poly(arylene ether) copolymers in which the monomer compositions of soluble and insoluble copolymers may vary.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2001
    Publication date: March 20, 2003
    Inventors: Bruce M. Dunham, John Scott Price, Stephen W. Gravelle
  • Publication number: 20030002628
    Abstract: A field emission array electron source (12) is used to generate an electron beam in a x-ray generating device (10). The field emission array operates at room temperature and has a life expectancy in excess of 12,000 hours and provides a robust, efficient emitter for generating an electron beam in a x-ray generating device cathode (10).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2001
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Inventors: Colin R. Wilson, Bruce M. Dunham, John Scott Price
  • Publication number: 20020085674
    Abstract: A radiography system (10) has a solid state x-ray source that includes a substrate with a cathode (58) disposed thereon within a vacuum chamber (52). An anode (68) is spaced apart from cathode within vacuum chamber (52). The system may include a computer (36) that controls an x-ray controller (28) and a plurality of detectors elements (20) which provide data acquisition system (32) with predetermined data in response to x-ray submitted at x-ray source (14). Data acquisition system (32) is used in image reconstructor (34) to provide the desired image. An interface (48) may be used to transmit the image to a remote diagnostic facility. The wireless interface (48) is particularly suitable for communication with a remote diagnostic facility.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2000
    Publication date: July 4, 2002
    Inventors: John Scott Price, Bruce M. Dunham, Colin R. Wilson
  • Patent number: 6385292
    Abstract: A solid state x-ray source (14) for a computed tomograph (CT) imaging system (10) is presented. X-ray source (14) has a cathode (58) which is preferably formed of a plurality of addressable elements. The cathode is positioned within a vacuum chamber (74) so that electrodes emitted thereby impinge upon anode (68) spaced apart from cathode (58). An electron beam (82) is formed and moved along the length of cathode (58). The anode (68) is disposed within a cooling block portion (58) and operatively adjacent to an x-ray transmissive window (66). The anode (68) and x-ray transmissive window (66) are disposed within an elongated channel (64) of the cooling block portion (56).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company, LLC
    Inventors: Bruce M. Dunham, John Scott Price, Colin R. Wilson, Douglas Snyder