Patents by Inventor Kirk Duffin

Kirk Duffin 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: 11813105
    Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method for generating a medical image is provided. In some embodiments, the medical image is generated by determining a location and an alignment for a first tracking detector with respect to a particle beam system. The direction of a beam generated from the particle beam system is determined. A first position of a first particle from a detected particle hit on the first tracking detector is also determined. A determination is made as to a first residual range of the first particle from a detected particle hit on a residual range detector. The system reconstructs a path for the first particle based on the location, the alignment, the first position, and the first residual range of the first particle. The resulting medical image that is generated by the system is based on the reconstructed path for the first particle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignees: BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF NORTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY, PROTONVDA LLC
    Inventors: Don F. Dejongh, Ethan A. Dejongh, Kirk Duffin, Nicholas Karonis, Caesar Ordoñez, John Winans
  • Publication number: 20230126392
    Abstract: A novel method and a related system are configured to place measured trajectories into a voxel space, which moves with respect to a particle detector system. The trajectories are measured in a detector reference frame. The voxel space, typically fixed with respect to the object being imaged, is tracked optically with markers and a camera system. A decipherable correlation is established between a set of markers and a set of detector elements. This correlation provides coordinate transformation definitions to place the trajectories into the voxel space in medical imaging, treatment planning, and/or therapeutic applications. The novel method provides a clever process to register an optical tracking system with a particle detector system, which improves quality assurance, accuracy, speed, and operating cost efficiencies of ion, particle, and/or radiation-based imaging, treatment planning, or therapies. This novel method may be utilized in proton imaging, helium imaging, other ion-based imaging, or x-ray imaging.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2022
    Publication date: April 27, 2023
    Inventors: Don F. DeJongh, Ethan A. DeJongh, Victor Rykalin, Nicholas Karonis, Kirk Duffin, Caesar Ordonez, John Winans
  • Publication number: 20210204896
    Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method for generating a medical image is provided. In some embodiments, the medical image is generated by determining a location and an alignment for a first tracking detector with respect to a particle beam system. The direction of a beam generated from the particle beam system is determined. A first position of a first particle from a detected particle hit on the first tracking detector is also determined. A determination is made as to a first residual range of the first particle from a detected particle hit on a residual range detector. The system reconstructs a path for the first particle based on the location, the alignment, the first position, and the first residual range of the first particle. The resulting medical image that is generated by the system is based on the reconstructed path for the first particle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2021
    Publication date: July 8, 2021
    Inventors: Don F. DEJONGH, Ethan A. DEJONGH, Kirk DUFFIN, Nicholas KARONIS, Caesar ORDOÑEZ, John WINANS
  • Patent number: 10918350
    Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method for generating a medical image is provided. In some embodiments, the medical image is generated by determining a location and an alignment for a first tracking detector with respect to a particle beam system. The direction of a beam generated from the particle beam system is determined. A first position of a first particle from a detected particle hit on the first tracking detector is also determined. A determination is made as to a first residual range of the first particle from a detected particle hit on a residual range detector. The system reconstructs a path for the first particle based on the location, the alignment, the first position, and the first residual range of the first particle. The resulting medical image that is generated by the system is based on the reconstructed path for the first particle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignees: BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF NORTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY, PROTONVDA LLC
    Inventors: Don F. Dejongh, Ethan A. Dejongh, Kirk Duffin, Nicholas Karonis, Caesar Ordoñez, John Winans
  • Publication number: 20190200946
    Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method for generating a medical image is provided. In some embodiments, the medical image is generated by determining a location and an alignment for a first tracking detector with respect to a particle beam system. The direction of a beam generated from the particle beam system is determined. A first position of a first particle from a detected particle hit on the first tracking detector is also determined. A determination is made as to a first residual range of the first particle from a detected particle hit on a residual range detector. The system reconstructs a path for the first particle based on the location, the alignment, the first position, and the first residual range of the first particle. The resulting medical image that is generated by the system is based on the reconstructed path for the first particle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2018
    Publication date: July 4, 2019
    Inventors: Don F. DEJONGH, Ethan A. DEJONGH, Kirk DUFFIN, Nicholas KARONIS, Caesar Ordoñez, John WINANS
  • Patent number: 9140810
    Abstract: A proton computed tomography (pCT) detector system, including two tracking detectors in sequence on a first side of an object to be imaged, two tracking detectors in sequence on an opposite side of the object to be imaged, a calorimeter, and a computer cluster, wherein the tracking detectors include plastic scintillation fibers. All fibers in the detector system are read out by Silicon Photomultipliers (SiPM). A method of imaging an object by emitting protons from a source through two tracking detectors, through and around the object, and through two opposite tracking detectors, detecting energy of the protons with a calorimeter, and imaging the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignees: Board of Trustees of Northern Illinois University, Fermi Research Alliance, LLC, University of Wollongong
    Inventors: Nicholas Karonis, George Coutrakon, Kirk Duffin, Bela Erdelyi, Kevin Naglich, Scott Penfold, Paul Rubinov, Victor Rykalin, Vishnu Zutshi
  • Publication number: 20140367569
    Abstract: A proton computed tomography (pCT) detector system, including two tracking detectors in sequence on a first side of an object to be imaged, two tracking detectors in sequence on an opposite side of the object to be imaged, a calorimeter, and a computer cluster, wherein the tracking detectors include plastic scintillation fibers. All fibers in the detector system are read out by Silicon Photomultipliers (SiPM). A method of imaging an object by emitting protons from a source through two tracking detectors, through and around the object, and through two opposite tracking detectors, detecting energy of the protons with a calorimeter, and imaging the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2014
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Inventors: Nicholas Karonis, George Coutrakon, Kirk Duffin, Bela Erdelyi, Kevin Naglich, Scott Penfold, Paul Rubinov, Victor Rykalin, Vishnu Zutshi
  • Patent number: 8766180
    Abstract: A proton computed tomography (pCT) detector system, including two tracking detectors in sequence on a first side of an object to be imaged, two tracking detectors in sequence on an opposite side of the object to be imaged, a calorimeter, and a computer cluster, wherein the tracking detectors include plastic scintillation fibers. All fibers in the detector system are read out by Silicon Photomultipliers (SiPM). A method of imaging an object by emitting protons from a source through two tracking detectors, through and around the object, and through two opposite tracking detectors, detecting energy of the protons with a calorimeter, and imaging the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Board of Trustees of Northern Illinois University
    Inventors: Nicholas Karonis, George Coutrakon, Kirk Duffin, Bela Erdelyi, Kevin Naglich, Scott Penfold, Paul Rubinov, Victor Rykalin, Vishnu Zutshi
  • Publication number: 20130015352
    Abstract: A proton computed tomography (pCT) detector system, including two tracking detectors in sequence on a first side of an object to be imaged, two tracking detectors in sequence on an opposite side of the object to be imaged, a calorimeter, and a computer cluster, wherein the tracking detectors include plastic scintillation fibers. All fibers in the detector system are read out by Silicon Photomultipliers (SiPM). A method of imaging an object by emitting protons from a source through two tracking detectors, through and around the object, and through two opposite tracking detectors, detecting energy of the protons with a calorimeter, and imaging the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2011
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Applicants: BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF NORTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY, UNIVERSITY OF WOLLONGONG, FERMI RESEARCH ALLIANCE, LLC
    Inventors: Nicholas Karonis, George Coutrakon, Kirk Duffin, Bala Erdelyi, Kevin Naglich, Scott Penfold, Paul Rubinov, Victor Rykalin, Vishnu Zutshi