Patents by Inventor Carmine F. Vara, Jr.

Carmine F. Vara, Jr. 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).

  • Variable aperture z-axis tracking collimator for a computed tomograph system
    Patent number: 6298117
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for dose reduction in a computed tomography (CT) system are described. In one embodiment, the CT system includes a pre-patient collimator and a configurable multislice detector array. The pre-patient collimator includes a plurality of eccentric cams and a filtration device for altering the x-ray beam radiated from a x-ray source. The eccentric cams are positioned to collimate the x-ray beam and may be independently positioned to provide z-axis correction of the x-ray beam. The filtration device includes a plurality of filters for altering the x-ray beam. In operation, an operator selects the type of test and the quantity and thickness of the slices. After altering the detector and collimator configuration, slice data for each slice is gathered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2001
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Willi W. Hampel, Russell W. Hum, Carmine F. Vara, Jr., Steven J. Woloschek
  • Variable aperture z-axis tracking collimator for computed tomograph system
    Patent number: 6173039
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for dose reduction in a computed tomography (CT) system are described. In one embodiment, the CT system includes a pre-patient collimator and a configurable multislice detector array. The pre-patient collimator includes a plurality of eccentric cams and a filtration device for altering the x-ray beam radiated from a x-ray source. The eccentric cams are positioned to collimate the x-ray beam and may be independently positioned to provide z-axis correction of the x-ray beam. The filtration device includes a plurality of filters for altering the x-ray beam. In operation, an operator selects the type of test and the quantity and thickness of the slices. After altering the detector and collimator configuration, slice data for each slice is gathered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Willi W. Hampel, Russell W. Hum, Carmine F. Vara, Jr., Steven J. Woloschek