Patents by Inventor Geoffrey A. Harding

Geoffrey A. Harding 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: 7324627
    Abstract: An apparatus for measuring the momentum transfer spectrum of elastically scattered X-ray quanta includes an anode having a focus extended in Y-direction which emits X-radiation in the X-direction, a primary collimator extending in the Y-direction which allows through only X-radiation aimed at a single isocenter, wherein the isocenter is the originating point of a Cartesian coordinates system, an examination area, a scatter collimator arranged between said examination area and the isocenter and configured to allow through only scattered radiation from an object introduced in said examination area, wherein the radiation is emitted at a fixed angle of scatter (?), and a detector. The X-component of a scatter voxel of the object is imaged onto the Z-component of the detector, and the detector is located in the Y-Z plane, distanced from the Z-axis, and developed as a two-dimensional pixellated detector having a plurality of energy-resolving detector elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: GE Homeland Protection, Inc.
    Inventor: Geoffrey Harding
  • Publication number: 20080013684
    Abstract: A system for generating an improved diffraction profile is described. The system includes at least one x-ray source configured to generate x-rays and a primary collimator outputting a first x-ray beam to a first focus point and a second x-ray beam to a second focus point. The primary collimator generates the first and second x-ray beams from the x-rays. The system further includes a container, and a first scatter detector configured to detect a first set of scattered radiation generated upon intersection of the first x-ray beam with the container and to detect a second set of scattered radiation generated upon intersection of the second x-ray beam with the container. An angle of scatter of the first set of scattered radiation detected by the first scatter detector is at most half of an angle of scatter of the second set of scattered radiation detected by the first scatter detector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2006
    Publication date: January 17, 2008
    Inventor: Geoffrey Harding
  • Publication number: 20080013688
    Abstract: A method for developing a primary collimator is described. The method includes placing a primary collimator element at an intersection of a first set of at least two beams.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2006
    Publication date: January 17, 2008
    Inventor: Geoffrey Harding
  • Publication number: 20070274451
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a magnetohydrodynamic pump 5 for a liquid-metal anode 1 of an X-ray source. It is provided according to the invention that it can be operated in at least two modes, wherein the first mode is a thawing mode in which the liquid metal 2 is melted in a line 3 of the liquid-metal anode 1, the second mode is an operating mode in which the liquid metal 2 is pumped through the line 3 and X-ray beams are produced. In addition, the invention relates to a liquid-metal anode 1 for an X-ray source with a liquid metal 2 which is located in a line 3, wherein an anode module 15 is inserted into the line 3 in the region of focus 4, with a pump 5 for circulating the liquid metal 2 in the line 3 and with a cooling system 6 for the liquid metal 2. According to the invention, such a liquid-metal anode 1 has a magnetohydrodynamic pump 5 as described above.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2005
    Publication date: November 29, 2007
    Inventor: Geoffrey Harding
  • Publication number: 20070269018
    Abstract: A method for aligning an x-ray tube is described. The method includes attaching a frame of the x-ray tube to a first outer side of a gantry of an imaging system by fitting a fastener to a hole formed within the gantry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2006
    Publication date: November 22, 2007
    Inventors: Geoffrey Harding, Johannes Delfs, Adrian Harding
  • Publication number: 20070263771
    Abstract: A method for determining a type of substance is described. The method includes determining an effective atomic number of the substance based on a measured ratio of numbers of detected x-ray scatter photons in a diffraction profile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2006
    Publication date: November 15, 2007
    Inventor: Geoffrey Harding
  • Publication number: 20070263772
    Abstract: A method for determining a type of a substance is described. The method includes determining a packing fraction of the substance from a molecular interference function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2006
    Publication date: November 15, 2007
    Inventor: Geoffrey Harding
  • Publication number: 20070263770
    Abstract: A method for iteratively identifying a substance is described. The method includes determining whether a function of a difference between an updated diffraction profile and an original diffraction profile of the substance exceeds a parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2006
    Publication date: November 15, 2007
    Inventor: Geoffrey Harding
  • Publication number: 20070258563
    Abstract: The invention relates to an anode module 1 for a liquid-metal anode X-ray source which has an electron entry window 3 in the region of focus 2. It is provided according to the invention that an X-ray beam exit window 4 lies opposite the electron entry window 3 of the anode module 1 and the exit angle ? of the X-ray beams 7 between an electron beam 6 entering through the electron entry window 3 along the direction of incidence 5 and the X-ray beams 7 exiting through the X-ray beam exit window 4 is between 5° and 50°, in particular 15°. The invention also relates to an X-radiator with an electron source for the emission of electrons and a liquid-metal anode emitting X-ray beams 7 when the electrons strike, which has an anode module 1 with the above-named features.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2005
    Publication date: November 8, 2007
    Inventor: Geoffrey Harding
  • Patent number: 7283613
    Abstract: A method of measuring a momentum transfer spectrum of elastically scattered X-ray quanta which emanate from a scatter voxel inside an object to be examined is described. A scatter voxel emits X-radiation in an X-direction and has a primary collimator which allows through only primary radiation aimed at a single isocentre at the origin of a Cartesian coordinates system. The X-ray quanta are emitted at an angle of scatter (?) with a constant Z-component (?z). The method includes simultaneous recording of the energy spectrum of scatter quanta from the scatter voxel at different angles of scatter (?) with a spatially-resolving and energy-resolving detector in the Y-Z plane, determining the momentum transfer from the geometric data of the radioscopy unit for different angles of scatter (?), and combining respective diffraction profiles belonging to different angles of scatter (?) to produce a total-diffraction profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignee: GE Homeland Protection, Inc.
    Inventor: Geoffrey Harding
  • Publication number: 20070177715
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electron window 1 for a liquid-metal anode 2 in the form of a membrane 4. It is provided according to the invention that the electron window 1 has ridges 10 and depressions 11. In addition, the invention relates to a liquid-metal anode 2 into which such an electron window 1 according to the invention is inserted. The invention further relates to an X-radiator which has a liquid-metal anode 2 according to the invention. The invention also relates to a method for operating a liquid-metal anode 2 in which, during the production of X-radiation, stronger turbulence 5 is produced in the flow of the liquid metal below the electron window 1 at the ridges 10.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2005
    Publication date: August 2, 2007
    Inventor: Geoffrey Harding
  • Publication number: 20070172026
    Abstract: In CSCT, by using a fan-shaped primary beam, combined with a 2D detector, single-slice transmission tomography and scatter tomography can be measured simultaneously. In such a System blurred scatter functions are measured unless a monochromatic source of radiation is used. According to the present invention, an energy resolving 1D or 2D detector System is proposed, which, in combination with a tomographic reconstruction, provides a good spectral resolution, even with a polychromatic primary beam. Furthermore, according to an aspect of the present invention, only one energy resolving detector-line is required to achieve the fall spectrum. Advantageous applications of the system and method according to the present invention are in medical imaging and material analysis, such as baggage inspection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2004
    Publication date: July 26, 2007
    Inventors: Jens-Peter Schlomka, Geoffrey Harding
  • Publication number: 20070153970
    Abstract: The invention relates to an x-ray computer tomograph, having an x-ray source 1 that generates a fan beam of x radiation and having a two-dimensional energy-resolving detector array 5, both of which are situated on opposite sides of a gantry so that the x radiation passes completely through a test region; a row of detector elements 6 is situated in the plane of the fan beam 2 and is adjoined in at least one direction perpendicular to the fan beam 2 in at least one direction perpendicular to the fan beam 2 by several additional rows of detector etements 7; during the measurement, no secondary collimator is positioned between the test region and the detector array 5 and the following equation applies for the width (B) of the detector elements: B=Zp*arcsin (qmax*?), where qmax is the pulse transmission, ? is the wavelength of the x radiation. and Zp is the distance of the measurement point from the detector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2007
    Publication date: July 5, 2007
    Inventor: Geoffrey Harding
  • Publication number: 20070133741
    Abstract: Examination apparatus for baggage inspection are usually bulky and comprise mechanical components requiring precision movements. According to the present invention, examination of an object of interest is provided by moving a source of radiation (1) during scanning of the object of interest (11) and detecting a transmitted beam of radiation (4) and a scattered radiation (3), which is scattered by the object of interest (11) under a particular predetermined scatter angle, without moving the detector array (5,6). Advantageously, by detecting the scatter radiation scattered under the predetermined scatter angle, the vertical coordinate of the location of the scatter center in the object of interest and it's composition may easily be derived.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2004
    Publication date: June 14, 2007
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventor: Geoffrey Harding
  • Publication number: 20060239406
    Abstract: A method of measuring a momentum transfer spectrum of elastically scattered X-ray quanta which emanate from a scatter voxel inside an object to be examined is described. The scatter voxel is located in a radioscopy unit which has an anode extended in a Y-direction with a plurality of focus points. The scatter voxel emits X-radiation in an X-direction and has a primary collimator which allows through only primary radiation aimed at a single isocentre at the origin of a Cartesian coordinates system. A scatter collimator is arranged between the examination area and the isocentre and allows through only scatter quanta, from the object. The X-ray quanta are emitted at an angle of scatter (?) with a constant Z-component (?Z), wherein the scatter collimator includes a detector. The X-component of a scatter voxel of the object is imaged onto the Z-component of the detector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2005
    Publication date: October 26, 2006
    Inventor: Geoffrey Harding
  • Patent number: 7127036
    Abstract: A device for generating X-rays having a source for emitting electrons accommodated in a vacuum space, a liquid metal for emitting X-rays as a result of the incidence of electrons, and a pump for causing a flow of the liquid metal through a constriction where the electrons emitted by the source impinge upon the liquid metal, the constriction having a cross-sectional area which, seen in a flow direction, increases so that during operation in the flow direction, a decrease of a flow velocity takes place such that a decrease of a pressure of the liquid metal in the constriction, caused by viscous flow losses, substantially corresponds with an increase of the pressure caused by the decrease of the velocity so that a uniform and relatively low mechanical load is exerted on a window separating the constriction from the vacuum space during operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics, N.V.
    Inventors: Geoffrey Harding, Volker Doormann, Bernd David
  • Publication number: 20060182217
    Abstract: The invention describes a method of generating metabolic images of an investigation region (3) of a body (1) by irradiating an X-ray fluorescence marker in that region and detecting the resulting X-ray fluorescence with a fluorescence detector (30). A fan beam (12) is used as a source of primary X-radiation, thus allowing the scanning of a whole body slice (3) in one step. The fluorescence image may be directly measured, e.g. by mapping voxels (104) of the investigation region onto pixels (134) of the detector (130) with the help of a pinhole collimator (132), or it may be reconstructed by procedures of computed tomography. Moreover, a morphological image may be generated by simultaneously recording X-ray transmission through the body (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2004
    Publication date: August 17, 2006
    Applicant: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Geoffrey Harding, Jens-Peter Schlomka, Gerhard Martens
  • Publication number: 20060171502
    Abstract: The invention relates to a computed tomography apparatus (CT apparatus) for imaging by means of radiation having traversed an object to be examined (that is, directly transmitted radiation), as well as by means of radiation scattered by the object to be examined, which apparatus includes a radiation source (S), a detector arrangement (16) and a device whereby the radiation (41a) having traversed the object to be examined can be blocked at least to an extent that the intensity incident on the detector arrangement (16) does not substantially exceed the intensity of radiation (41b) scattered by the object (13) to be examined and incident on the detector arrangement (16). The invention enables the detection of scattered radiation (CSCT mode) which is not affected by crosstalk from the transmitted radiation, even when the detector arrangement does not satisfy severe requirements as regards crosstalk properties and/or is configured as a single-row detector arrangement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2003
    Publication date: August 3, 2006
    Inventors: Jens-Peter Schlomka, Geoffrey Harding
  • Publication number: 20060159227
    Abstract: An apparatus for measuring the momentum transfer spectrum of elastically scattered X-ray quanta includes an anode having a focus extended in Y-direction which emits X-radiation in the X-direction, a primary collimator extending in the Y-direction which allows through only X-radiation aimed at a single isocentre, wherein the isocentre is the originating point of a Cartesian coordinates system, an examination area, a scatter collimator arranged between said examination area and the isocentre and configured to allow through only scattered radiation from an object introduced in said examination area, wherein the radiation is emitted at a fixed angle of scatter (?), and a detector. The X-component of a scatter voxel of the object is imaged onto the Z-component of the detector, and the detector is located in the Y-Z plane, distanced from the Z-axis, and developed as a two-dimensional pixellated detector having a plurality of energy-resolving detector elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2005
    Publication date: July 20, 2006
    Inventor: Geoffrey Harding
  • Publication number: 20060140342
    Abstract: Apparatus for measuring momentum transfer spectrum of elastically scattered X-ray quanta includes an anode having a focus extended in the Y-direction which emits X-radiation in the X-direction. The apparatus also includes a primary collimator extending in the Y-direction and allowing X-ray quanta to pass through which are aimed at an individual isocentre, wherein the isocentre is the originating point of a cartesian coordinates system, an examination area, a scatter collimator system extending annularly about the Z-direction and arranged between said examination area and the isocentre. Said collimator system passes through scattered radiation from an object to be examined wherein the radiation is emitted at a fixed scatter angle ?. The apparatus further includes a detector located in the Y-Z plane, distanced from a Z-axis and has a curved shape. Wherein a X-component of a scatter voxel of the object is clearly imaged onto Z-components of said detector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2005
    Publication date: June 29, 2006
    Inventor: Geoffrey Harding