Patents by Inventor Christina Inscoe

Christina Inscoe 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: 11950944
    Abstract: Compact x-ray devices, systems, and methods for capturing in tomosynthesis, two-dimensional radiography, fluoroscopy, and stereotactic imaging modes. In some embodiments, the compact x-ray imaging system includes an x-ray source array including spatially distributed x-ray focal spots and a digital area x-ray detector. In some embodiments, the imaging system includes an electronic switching device configured to alternate the imaging mode of the system. In some embodiments, the imaging system includes a mechanical support configured to enable a position and orientation of the x-ray source array and the digital area x-ray detector to be adjusted such that both upper and lower extremities of a patient can be imaged using various imaging modes while a position of the plurality of spatially distributed x-ray focal spots with respect to the digital area x-ray detector remains unchanged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL
    Inventors: Otto Z. Zhou, Jianping Lu, Yueh Zenas Lee, Christina Inscoe, Alex Billingsley
  • Publication number: 20230375484
    Abstract: A multisource volumetric spectral computed tomography imaging device includes an x-ray source array with multiple spatially distributed x-ray focal spots, an x-ray beam collimator with an array of apertures, each confining the radiation from a corresponding x-ray focal spot to illuminate a corresponding segment of an object, a digital area x-ray detector, and a gantry to rotate the x-ray source array and the detector around the object. An electronic control unit activates the radiations from the x-ray focal spots to scan the object multiple times as the gantry rotates around the object. The images are used to reconstruct a volumetric CT image of the object with reduced scattered radiation. For dual energy and multi energy imaging, radiation from each focal spot is filtered by a corresponding spectral filter to optimize its energy spectrum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2021
    Publication date: November 23, 2023
    Inventors: Christina Inscoe, Yueh Zenas Lee, Boyuan LI
  • Publication number: 20220148252
    Abstract: Systems and methods for generating multi-view synthetic dental radiographs for intraoral tomosynthesis. In some embodiments, the method includes generating or receiving two-dimensional (2D) projection images, manipulating pixel values contained in each of the plurality of 2D projection images, reconstructing a three-dimensional (3D) image space from information available in the plurality of 2D projection images, the 3D image space comprising voxel values, manipulating the voxel values in the 3D image space using one or more tunable weighting algorithms that can be adjusted to emphasize one or more features of interest of each image in the 3D image space, generating a plurality of synthetic dental radiographs from multiple views using information available in the 3D image space, and displaying one or more of the synthetic dental radiographs. In some embodiments, the system includes a display in communication with an image processing system comprising one or more processors for performing the method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2021
    Publication date: May 12, 2022
    Inventors: Connor Puett, Otto Z. Zhou, Jianping Lu, Christina Inscoe
  • Publication number: 20210353238
    Abstract: Compact x-ray devices, systems, and methods for capturing in tomosynthesis, two-dimensional radiography, fluoroscopy, and stereotactic imaging modes. In some embodiments, the compact x-ray imaging system includes an x-ray source array including spatially distributed x-ray focal spots and a digital area x-ray detector. In some embodiments, the imaging system includes an electronic switching device configured to alternate the imaging mode of the system. In some embodiments, the imaging system includes a mechanical support configured to enable a position and orientation of the x-ray source array and the digital area x-ray detector to be adjusted such that both upper and lower extremities of a patient can be imaged using various imaging modes while a position of the plurality of spatially distributed x-ray focal spots with respect to the digital area x-ray detector remains unchanged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2021
    Publication date: November 18, 2021
    Inventors: Otto Z. ZHOU, Jianping LU, Yueh Zenas LEE, Christina INSCOE, Alex BILLINGSLEY
  • Publication number: 20210236067
    Abstract: Systems and related methods for stationary digital chest tomosynthesis (s-DCT) imaging are disclosed. In some aspects, systems include a stationary x-ray source array with an array of x-ray pixels configured to generate x-ray beams at different viewing angles relative to a subject to be imaged that is stationary, a stationary area x-ray detector configured to record x-ray projection images of the subject, a physiological gating apparatus for monitoring at least one physiological signal of the subject and defining a physiological phase and a time window based on the at least one physiological signal, and a computing platform configured to activate the x-ray pixels based on the physiological phase and the time window and upon receipt of the at least one physiological signal from the physiological gating apparatus in order to synchronize x-ray exposure with the at least one physiological signal of the subject.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2021
    Publication date: August 5, 2021
    Inventors: Jianping Lu, Jing Shan, Yueh Lee, Otto Z. Zhou, Jabari Calliste, Christina Inscoe, Pavel Chtcheprov, Andrew Tucker
  • Patent number: 10980494
    Abstract: Systems and related methods for stationary digital chest tomosynthesis (s-DCT) imaging are disclosed. In some aspects, systems include a stationary x-ray source array with an array of x-ray pixels configured to generate x-ray beams at different viewing angles relative to a subject to be imaged that is stationary, a stationary area x-ray detector configured to record x-ray projection images of the subject, a physiological gating apparatus for monitoring at least one physiological signal of the subject and defining a physiological phase and a time window based on the at least one physiological signal, and a computing platform configured to activate the x-ray pixels based on the physiological phase and the time window and upon receipt of the at least one physiological signal from the physiological gating apparatus in order to synchronize x-ray exposure with the at least one physiological signal of the subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
    Inventors: Jianping Lu, Jing Shan, Yueh Lee, Otto Z. Zhou, Jabari Calliste, Christina Inscoe, Pavel Chtcheprov, Andrew Tucker
  • Publication number: 20160106382
    Abstract: Systems and related methods for stationary digital chest tomosynthesis (s-DCT) imaging are disclosed. In some aspects, systems include a stationary x-ray source array with an array of x-ray pixels configured to generate x-ray beams at different viewing angles relative to a subject to be imaged that is stationary, a stationary area x-ray detector configured to record x-ray projection images of the subject, a physiological gating apparatus for monitoring at least one physiological signal of the subject and defining a physiological phase and a time window based on the at least one physiological signal, and a computing platform configured to activate the x-ray pixels based on the physiological phase and the time window and upon receipt of the at least one physiological signal from the physiological gating apparatus in order to synchronize x-ray exposure with the at least one physiological signal of the subject.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2015
    Publication date: April 21, 2016
    Inventors: Jianping Lu, Jing Shan, Yueh Lee, Otto Z. Zhou, Jabari Calliste, Christina Inscoe, Pavel Chtcheprov, Andrew Tucker