Patents by Inventor David Mark Starfield

David Mark Starfield 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).

  • Method and apparatus for radiation imaging
    Patent number: 8357905
    Abstract: This invention relates to a method and an apparatus, primarily a radiation imaging apparatus and an array of coded aperture masks, for use in diagnostic nuclear medicine. The coded aperture masks are fitted with radiation attenuation tubes, each of which extends from each side of the mask in the direction of the mask apertures. The tubes are made from lead and have parallel sides. The masks are configured for gamma ray usage and are made from tungsten having a thickness of between 1 and 2 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: University of Witwaterstrand
    Inventors: David Mark Starfield, David Milton Rubin, Tshilidzi Marwala
  • Coded aperture masks for radiation-based medical imaging
    Patent number: 8237124
    Abstract: This invention relates to a coded aperture mask for use in diagnostic nuclear medicine imaging. The coded aperture mask consists of a sheet of radiation opaque mask material having a series of apertures extending therethrough. The thickness of mask material has an attenuation percentage of less than 75% and, in a preferred embodiment, about equal to 29%. The coded aperture mask also, in a preferred embodiment, has a lead attenuation tube and has a projection of the smallest hole occupying the same area as a single pixel of a detector. The invention extends to a diagnostic nuclear medicine imaging system which uses a 16 bit gamma camera as a radiation detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg
    Inventors: Tshilidzi Marwala, David Milton Rubin, David Mark Starfield
  • METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR RADIATION IMAGING
    Publication number: 20120106699
    Abstract: This invention relates to a method and an apparatus, primarily a radiation imaging apparatus and an array of coded aperture masks, for use in diagnostic nuclear medicine. The coded aperture masks are fitted with radiation attenuation tubes, each of which extends from each side of the mask in the direction of the mask apertures. The tubes are made from lead and have parallel sides. The masks are configured for gamma ray usage and are made from tungsten having a thickness of between 1 and 2 mm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2010
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF THE WITWATERSRAND, JOHANNESBURG
    Inventors: David Mark STARFIELD, David Milton RUBIN, Tshilidzi MARWALA
  • CODED APERTURE MASKS FOR RADIATION-BASED MEDICAL IMAGING
    Publication number: 20110190616
    Abstract: This invention relates to a coded aperture mask for use in diagnostic nuclear medicine imaging. The coded aperture mask consists of a sheet of radiation opaque mask material having a series of apertures extending therethrough. The thickness of mask material has an attenuation percentage of less than 75% and, in a preferred embodiment, about equal to 29%. The coded aperture mask also, in a preferred embodiment, has a lead attenuation tube and has a projection of the smallest hole occupying the same area as a single pixel of a detector. The invention extends to a diagnostic nuclear medicine imaging system which uses a 16 bit gamma camera as a radiation detector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2008
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF THE WITWATERSRAND, JOHANNESBURG
    Inventors: Tshilidizi Marwala, David Milton Rubin, David Mark Starfield
  • Method and apparatus for radiation imaging
    Patent number: 7915590
    Abstract: This invention relates to a method and an apparatus, primarily a radiation imaging apparatus and an array of coded aperture masks, for use in diagnostic nuclear medicine. The coded aperture masks are fitted with radiation attenuation tubes, each of which extends from each side of the mask in the direction of the mask apertures. The tubes are made from lead and have parallel sides. The masks are configured for gamma ray usage and are made from tungsten having a thickness of between 1 and 2 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg
    Inventors: David Mark Starfield, David Milton Rubin, Tshilidzi Marwala
  • Method and Apparatus for Radiation Imaging
    Publication number: 20080296504
    Abstract: This invention relates to a method and an apparatus, primarily a radiation imaging apparatus and an array of coded aperture masks, for use in diagnostic nuclear medicine. The coded aperture masks are fitted with radiation attenuation tubes, each of which extends from each side of the mask in the direction of the mask apertures. The tubes are made from lead and have parallel sides. The masks are configured for gamma ray usage and are made from tungsten having a thickness of between 1 and 2 mm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2006
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF THE WITWATERSRAND, JOHANNESBURG
    Inventors: David Mark Starfield, David Milton Rubin, Tshilidzi Marwala