Patents by Inventor Jan Sijbers

Jan Sijbers 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: 11953451
    Abstract: A method is provided for inspection of an item comprising acquiring a projection image of the item using a radiation imaging system and obtaining a plurality of simulated projection images of the item or a component thereof, based on a simulation of a numerical three-dimensional model. A relative orientation of the item with respect to the imaging system is determined by comparing the projection image to the plurality of simulated images, and at least one angle of rotation is determined by taking into account a viewing angle and the relative orientation. The method further comprises moving the item and/or the imaging system in accordance with the at least one angle of rotation and acquiring a further projection image of the item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignees: UNIVERSITEIT ANTWERPEN, IMEC VZW
    Inventors: Jan De Beenhouwer, Jan Sijbers
  • Patent number: 11927586
    Abstract: A method and system for inspection of an item, and a use thereof, are presented. The method comprises acquiring a plurality of projection images of an item at a plurality of projection angles for performing a tomographic reconstruction of the item. A plurality of objects are detected in the tomographic reconstruction and each object has a generic shape described by a parametric three-dimensional numerical model. Said detection comprises determining initial estimates of position and/or orientation of each object and at least one geometrical parameter of the three-dimensional model for each object. The initial estimates are iteratively refining by using a projection-matching approach, in which forward projection images are simulated for the objects according to operating parameters of the radiation imaging device and a difference metric between acquired projection images and simulated forward projection images is reduced at each iteration step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignees: UNIVERSITEIT ANTWERPEN, IMEC VZW
    Inventors: Jan De Beenhouwer, Jan Sijbers
  • Publication number: 20230307207
    Abstract: A method for determining a three-dimensional atomic distribution of a sample having a tip, during an atom probe tomography process. The method accounts for the tip not being axial symmetric and not having a hemispherical shaped apex throughout the evaporation process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2021
    Publication date: September 28, 2023
    Inventors: Jan SIJBERS, Jan DE BEENHOUWER, Yu-Ting LING, Wilfried VANDERVORST
  • Publication number: 20210270755
    Abstract: A method, system, use, and computer program product for inspection of an item are disclosed. The method (1) comprises acquiring (2) a projection image of the item using a radiation imaging system and obtaining (3) a plurality of simulated projection images of the item or a component thereof, based on a simulation of a numerical three-dimensional model, in which at least one geometric parameter relating to the relative orientation between the simulated item, a simulated radiation source, and a simulated detection plane varies over the plurality of simulated images. The method comprises determining (4) a relative orientation of the item with respect to the imaging system, said determining of the relative orientation comprises comparing (9) the projection image to the plurality of simulated images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2019
    Publication date: September 2, 2021
    Applicants: UNIVERSITEIT ANTWERPEN, IMEC VZW
    Inventors: Jan DE BEENHOUWER, Jan SIJBERS
  • Publication number: 20210212567
    Abstract: Example embodiments describe a computer implemented method for obtaining parameterized characteristics of a tissue comprising obtaining at least two weighted MRI volume scans of the tissue, and transforming the two weighted MRI volume scans into parameters of a parameterized voxel-based model of the tissue by combined performing, by a super-resolution imaging technique, constructing a volume comprising voxels of the parameterized voxel-based model, and, by a quantitative MRI modelling technique, constructing the parameters for the respective voxels of the parameterized voxel-based model.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2019
    Publication date: July 15, 2021
    Inventors: Jan SIJBERS, Ben JEURISSEN
  • Publication number: 20210116434
    Abstract: A method and system for inspection of an item, and a use thereof, are presented. The method comprises acquiring a plurality of projection images of an item at a plurality of projection angles for performing a tomographic reconstruction of the item. A plurality of objects are detected in the tomographic reconstruction and each object has a generic shape described by a parametric three-dimensional numerical model. Said detection comprises determining initial estimates of position and/or orientation of each object and at least one geometrical parameter of the three-dimensional model for each object. The initial estimates are iteratively refining by using a projection-matching approach, in which forward projection images are simulated for the objects according to operating parameters of the radiation imaging device and a difference metric between acquired projection images and simulated forward projection images is reduced at each iteration step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2019
    Publication date: April 22, 2021
    Applicants: UNIVERSITEIT ANTWERPEN, IMEC VZW
    Inventors: Jan DE BEENHOUWER, Jan SIJBERS
  • Patent number: 10945682
    Abstract: A method and system to correct for alignment errors between assumed and actual geometric parameters of an acquisition geometry during image reconstruction in a chest tomosynthesis application includes receiving at least 2 raw projection images acquired on at least 2 different positions in a known acquisition geometry, determining an actual geometric parameter value by determining the minimum of a redundant planes cost function which is calculated for a varying range of the geometric parameter values, and which is determined by: a) at least one plane which intersects an X-ray source trajectory with at least two points, b) an intersection between the planes and a detector surface for which points the source positions are determined, and c) for which the parameters determining the intersection (?, ?, l) are used for the construction of the cost function, applying the calculated actual geometric parameter value of the acquisition geometry for the image reconstruction of the plurality of images, characterized in t
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: AGFA HEALTHCARE NV
    Inventors: Jeroen Cant, Jan Sijbers
  • Patent number: 10859511
    Abstract: A system for imaging a target object comprises a first unmanned vehicle including a source of penetrating radiation. The first vehicle positions the source such as to direct the radiation toward the target object. A second unmanned vehicle comprises an image detector for registering a spatial distribution of the radiation as an image, in which the second vehicle positions the detector to register the distribution of radiation when transmitted through the target object. These unmanned vehicles are autonomous vehicles adapted for independent propelled motion, and comprise a positioning unit for detecting a position of the vehicle. A processing unit controls the motion of the unmanned vehicles to acquire at least two images corresponding to at least two different projection directions of the radiation through the target object. The processing unit is adapted for generating data representative of an internal structure of the target object from the at least two images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: UNIVERSITEIT ANTWERPEN
    Inventors: Jan Sijbers, Jan Jozef Victor De Beenhouwer
  • Patent number: 10520452
    Abstract: A non-destructive inspection method for inline inspection of an object comprises moving an object in between a radiation source and an image detector and through a three-dimensional scanner field of view, imaging the object using the image detector to obtain a projection radiograph of an internal structure of the object, scanning an exterior surface of the object using the 3D scanner, fitting a shape model of the object to a point cloud provided by the 3D scanner to obtain a surface model of the exterior surface, creating a solid model of the surface model by taking a grey value distribution of a reference object into account, simulating a reference radiograph from the solid model and comparing the reference and projection radiographs to detect internal deviations of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignees: KATHOLIEKE UNIVERSITEIT LEUVEN, UNIVERSITEIT GENT, UNIVERSITEIT ANTWERPEN
    Inventors: Mattias Van Dael, Pieter Verboven, Bart Nicolaï, Jelle Dhaene, Luc Van Hoorebeke, Jan Sijbers
  • Publication number: 20190216408
    Abstract: A method and system to correct for alignment errors between assumed and actual geometric parameters of an acquisition geometry during image reconstruction in a chest tomosynthesis application includes receiving at least 2 raw projection images acquired on at least 2 different positions in a known acquisition geometry, determining an actual geometric parameter value by determining the minimum of a redundant planes cost function which is calculated for a varying range of the geometric parameter values, and which is determined by: a) at least one plane which intersects an X-ray source trajectory with at least two points, b) an intersection between the planes and a detector surface for which points the source positions are determined, and c) for which the parameters determining the intersection (?, ?, l) are used for the construction of the cost function, applying the calculated actual geometric parameter value of the acquisition geometry for the image reconstruction of the plurality of images, characterized in t
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2017
    Publication date: July 18, 2019
    Inventors: Jeroen CANT, Jan SIJBERS
  • Publication number: 20190145912
    Abstract: A system for imaging a target object comprises a first unmanned vehicle including a source of penetrating radiation. The first vehicle positions the source such as to direct the radiation toward the target object. A second unmanned vehicle comprises an image detector for registering a spatial distribution of the radiation as an image, in which the second vehicle positions the detector to register the distribution of radiation when transmitted through the target object. These unmanned vehicles are autonomous vehicles adapted for independent propelled motion, and comprise a positioning unit for detecting a position of the vehicle. A processing unit controls the motion of the unmanned vehicles to acquire at least two images corresponding to at least two different projection directions of the radiation through the target object. The processing unit is adapted for generating data representative of an internal structure of the target object from the at least two images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2017
    Publication date: May 16, 2019
    Inventors: Jan SIJBERS, Jan Jozef Victor DE BEENHOUWER
  • Patent number: 9996951
    Abstract: A computerized tomographic image exposure and reconstruction method wherein an object is subjected to irradiation during a relative movement of a source of radiation, the object, and a radiation detector and wherein a digital representation of the radiation image of the object is computed by applying a tomographic reconstruction algorithm to image data read out of the irradiated radiation detector. A number of projection images are generated, each of the projection images being generated by integrating X-ray beams continuously emitted during the relative movement through a predefined movement path, and the created projection images are modeled in a tomographic reconstruction algorithm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignees: Agfa HealthCare, Universiteit Antwerpen
    Inventors: Jan Sijbers, Jeroen Cant
  • Publication number: 20180113083
    Abstract: A non-destructive inspection method for inline inspection of an object comprises moving an object in between a radiation source and an image detector and through a three-dimensional scanner field of view, imaging the object using the image detector to obtain a projection radiograph of an internal structure of the object, scanning an exterior surface of the object using the 3D scanner, fitting a shape model of the object to a point cloud provided by the 3D scanner to obtain a surface model of the exterior surface, creating a solid model of the surface model by taking a grey value distribution of a reference object into account, simulating a reference radiograph from the solid model and comparing the reference and projection radiographs to detect internal deviations of the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2016
    Publication date: April 26, 2018
    Inventors: Mattias VAN DAEL, Pieter VERBOVEN, Bart NICOLAÏ, Jelle DHAENE, Luc VAN HOOREBEKE, Jan SIJBERS
  • Publication number: 20170221232
    Abstract: A computerized tomographic image exposure and reconstruction method wherein an object is subjected to irradiation during a relative movement of a source of radiation, saidthe object, and a radiation detector and wherein a digital representation of the radiation image of saidthe object is computed by applying a tomographic reconstruction algorithm to image data read out of the irradiated radiation detector. A number of projection images are generated, each of saidthe projection images being generated by integrating X-ray beams continuously emitted during saidthe relative movement through a predefined movement path, and the created projection images are modeled in a tomographic reconstruction algorithm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2015
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Applicants: Agfa HealthCare, Universiteit Antwerpen
    Inventors: Jan SIJBERS, Jeroen CANT
  • Patent number: 9619902
    Abstract: A method for applying a filter component for an analytical tomographic reconstruction technique, e.g. filtered backprojection, used in tomographic comprises providing an algebraic reconstruction algorithm for reconstructing a spatial representation of a volume of interest from a projection data set. It thereby takes into account a geometry of the tomographic imaging. The method also comprises applying the algebraic reconstruction algorithm to a plurality of virtual projection data sets—corresponding with a basis vector of a basis for the projection space—to produce a plurality of reconstructed spatial representations and determining the filter component using the plurality of reconstructed spatial representations, and applying the filter. Applying the analytical reconstruction technique with the determined filter component may inherit beneficial properties from the algebraic reconstruction algorithm, e.g. versatility and robustness to noise, without incurring the associated computational cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignees: Universiteit Antwerpen, CWI
    Inventors: Kees Joost Batenburg, Jan Sijbers, Linda Plantagie
  • Patent number: 9373180
    Abstract: A method for determining a projection angle for use in tomographic imaging comprises obtaining projection data including at least one projection view from at least one projection angle. The at least one projection view is generated by scanning a test object with a tomographic imaging device. Each projection view comprises at least one observation value obtained at least one detection location, providing a plurality of candidate projection angles, for each candidate projection angle, calculating a function value indicative of an amount of information that may be gained by adding to the projection data a further projection view generated by scanning of the test object with the tomographic imaging device from the candidate projection angle, and selecting a candidate projection angle from the plurality of candidate projection angles taking into account the function values. A corresponding system and computer program product also is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignees: UNIVERSITEIT ANTWERPEN, CWI
    Inventors: Kees Joost Batenburg, Jan Sijbers
  • Patent number: 8933932
    Abstract: Methods of cylindrical surface parameterization, such as colon flattening are provided for parameterizing tubular surfaces onto a cylinder, wherein the length of the cylinder is modified so that parameterization distortion is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignees: Iminds VZW, Universiteit Antwerpen
    Inventors: Toon Huysmans, Jan Sijbers
  • Publication number: 20140307934
    Abstract: A method for determining a projection angle for use in tomographic imaging comprises obtaining projection data including at least one projection view from at least one projection angle. The at least one projection view is generated by scanning a test object with a tomographic imaging device. Each projection view comprises at least one observation value obtained at least one detection location, providing a plurality of candidate projection angles, for each candidate projection angle, calculating a function value indicative of an amount of information that may be gained by adding to the projection data a further projection view generated by scanning of the test object with the tomographic imaging device from the candidate projection angle, and selecting a candidate projection angle from the plurality of candidate projection angles taking into account the function values. A corresponding system and computer program product also is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2012
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Inventors: Kees Joost Batenburg, Jan Sijbers
  • Publication number: 20140219417
    Abstract: A method for applying a filter component for an analytical tomographic reconstruction technique, e.g. filtered backprojection, used in tomographic comprises providing an algebraic reconstruction algorithm for reconstructing a spatial representation of a volume of interest from a projection data set. It thereby takes into account a geometry of the tomographic imaging. The method also comprises applying the algebraic reconstruction algorithm to a plurality of virtual projection data sets—corresponding with a basis vector of a basis for the projection space—to produce a plurality of reconstructed spatial representations and determining the filter component using the plurality of reconstructed spatial representations, and applying the filter. Applying the analytical reconstruction technique with the determined filter component may inherit beneficial properties from the algebraic reconstruction algorithm, e.g. versatility and robustness to noise, without incurring the associated computational cost.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2012
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicants: Universiteit Antwerpen, CWI
    Inventors: Kees Joost Batenburg, Jan Sijbers, Linda Plantagie
  • Publication number: 20120120074
    Abstract: Methods of cylindrical surface parameterization, such as colon flattening are provided for parameterizing tubular surfaces onto a cylinder, wherein the length of the cylinder is modified so that parameterization distortion is reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2010
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Applicants: UNIVERSITEIT ANTWERPEN, IBBT VZW
    Inventors: Toon Huysmans, Jan Sijbers