Patents by Inventor Larry Partain

Larry Partain 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).

  • Publication number: 20090087045
    Abstract: A method of analyzing a volumetric data set obtained by an imaging system from an object is provided includes defining a first region of interest comprising a population of voxels of a first tissue part of the object to obtain a first distribution of radiation attenuation coefficient values, defining a second region of interest comprising a sample of voxels of a second tissue part of the object to obtain a second distribution of radiation attenuation coefficient values, and distinguishing the second tissue from the first tissue using the properties of the first and second distributions of radiation attenuation coefficients.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Inventors: Larry Partain, Stavros Prionas, John Boone
  • Publication number: 20080237481
    Abstract: Improved corrosion resistance for direct X-ray imaging detectors is obtained by providing a pixelated, electrically conductive barrier layer between the X-ray sensitive material and the pixel electrodes. Each barrier layer can cover part or all of its corresponding pixel electrode. In cases where pixel electrodes makes contact to underlying circuitry through vertical vias, it is preferred for the barrier layers to cover the via sections of the pixel electrodes. The barrier layers for each pixel electrode can be spaced apart from each other, or they can all be included within a continuous film on top of the pixel electrodes. Such a continuous film can be pixelated by spatially modulating its properties (e.g., thickness, doping) to significantly reduce lateral conductivity from pixel to pixel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2007
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Inventors: George Zentai, Larry Partain, William Wei-Yu Yao, Richard Weisfield
  • Publication number: 20070269000
    Abstract: A method of imaging a patient's uncompressed region of interest using X-ray cone beam computed tomography or cone beam digital tomography comprises the step of introducing an effective amount of a contrast agent to the uncompressed region of interest. A system for imaging a patient's uncompressed region of interest using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) or cone beam digital tomography (CBDT) comprises an X-ray source transmitting an X-ray to the uncompressed region of interest, an image acquisition system acquiring a plurality of two-dimensional projection images data for a CBCT or CBDT data set with at least one of the projection images acquired in 35 milliseconds or less, and a processor generating a three-dimensional computed tomography image data set resolving voxels with dimensions of 0.4 mm or less in at least two orthogonal directions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2006
    Publication date: November 22, 2007
    Inventors: Larry Partain, Stavros Prionas, Edward Seppi, Robert Sutherland, David Humber, Hassan Mostafavi, Felix Fernando, John Boone
  • Publication number: 20070170351
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for excess signal compensation in an imaging system is described. In one particular embodiment, the invention provides for non-linear background, offset (due to time dependent dark current) and/or lag (including constant, linear and non-linear terms, due to image persistence) corrections of large area, flat panel imaging sensors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2007
    Publication date: July 26, 2007
    Inventors: Larry Partain, Ivan Mollov, Carlo Tognina, Richard Colbeth
  • Patent number: 7177386
    Abstract: A method for collecting computed tomography (CT) image data includes determining a number of intervals N into which a respiratory cycle is to be divided, determining a number of respiratory cycles M to be covered in one gantry rotation, and rotating a gantry to collect at least M×N sets of CT image data of at least a portion of a patient, wherein each set of the CT image data corresponds to a phase of a respiratory cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: Varian Medical Systems Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Hassan Mostafavi, Edward J. Seppi, Larry Partain
  • Publication number: 20070023853
    Abstract: A photodetector for detecting megavoltage (MV) radiation comprises a semiconductor conversion layer having a first surface and a second surface disposed opposite the first surface, a first electrode coupled to the first surface, a second electrode coupled to the second surface, and a low density substrate including a detector array coupled to the second electrode opposite the semiconductor conversion layer. The photodetector includes a sufficient thickness of a high density material to create a sufficient number of photoelectrons from incident MV radiation, so that the photoelectrons can be received by the conversion layer and converted to a sufficient of recharge carriers for detection by the detector array.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2005
    Publication date: February 1, 2007
    Inventors: Larry Partain, George Zentai
  • Publication number: 20060278832
    Abstract: An image acquisition device 30 is provided. The image acquisition device 30 comprises a photoconductor 48 adapted to convert an electromagnetic radiation into electrical signals, a first layer 36 or 37 coupled to the photoconductor 48. The interconnecting layer 36 or 37 comprises an insulator 54 and a plurality of conductors 56 or 57 embedded in the insulator 54 adapted to conduct the electrical signals. A method of making an image acquisition device 30 is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2005
    Publication date: December 14, 2006
    Applicant: Varian Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: George Zentai, Larry Partain
  • Publication number: 20060262898
    Abstract: The present invention provides a system 10 for irradiating a breast 20 of a patient 22. The system 10 comprises a gantry 12 rotatable about a horizontal axis 14 and comprising a radiation source 16 for generating a radiation beam 18 and a detector 24 spaced from the radiation source 16, and a barrier 26 disposed between the patient 22 and the gantry 12. The barrier 26 is provided with an opening 30 adapted to allow a breast 20 passing therethrough to be exposed to the radiation beam 18. In some embodiments, the barrier 26 is provided with an opening 30 adapted to allow both the breast 20 and the tissue leading from the breast to axilla and the muscle tissue of the adjacent chest wall passing therethrough to be exposed to the radiation beam 18.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2005
    Publication date: November 23, 2006
    Applicant: Varian Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Larry Partain, David Humber
  • Patent number: 7054410
    Abstract: An X-ray image acquisition apparatus includes a panel having a first electrode, a second electrode, and a photoconductor secured between said first and second electrodes. The photoconductor has a thickness configured to absorb X-ray radiation at a high energy level. The first and second electrodes are configured to create an electric field for transporting charges created in the photoconductor to a pixel unit, thereby allowing charges to be efficiently collected when low or high energy X-ray radiation is used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: Varian Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: George Zentai, Larry Partain
  • Publication number: 20050201509
    Abstract: A method for collecting computed tomography (CT) image data includes determining a number of intervals N into which a respiratory cycle is to be divided, determining a number of respiratory cycles M to be covered in one gantry rotation, and rotating a gantry to collect at least M×N sets of CT image data of at least a portion of a patient, wherein each set of the CT image data corresponds to a phase of a respiratory cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2004
    Publication date: September 15, 2005
    Inventors: Hassan Mostafavi, Edward Seppi, Larry Partain
  • Publication number: 20050184320
    Abstract: A photodetector device comprising a contact electrode embedded within a semiconductor material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2005
    Publication date: August 25, 2005
    Inventors: Michael Green, Steve Bandy, Larry Partain
  • Publication number: 20050092925
    Abstract: A method of coating the joined crystals within a semiconductor conversion layer to reduce the dark current without compromising the sensitivity of the conversion layer is presented. A semiconductor conversion layer comprising a plurality of joined crystals and permeated by a polymer material and having microscopic voids is also presented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2003
    Publication date: May 5, 2005
    Inventors: George Zentai, Larry Partain, Raisa Pavlyunchkova, Kanai Shah, Paul Bennett
  • Publication number: 20050084060
    Abstract: A method of generating images of a portion of a body includes introducing a contrast agent into the body, generating a first set of image data using radiation at a first energy level after the contrast agent is introduced into the body, generating a second set of image data using radiation at a second energy level after the contrast agent is introduced into the body, and creating a volumetric composite image using the first and the second sets of image data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2003
    Publication date: April 21, 2005
    Inventors: Edward Seppi, Larry Partain, Michael Green, Gary Virshup
  • Publication number: 20050082491
    Abstract: A radiation projection detector includes a conversion layer configured to generate light photons in response to a radiation, the conversion layer having a plurality of first conversion elements and a plurality of second conversion elements, and a photo detector array aligned with the conversion panel, wherein each of the first conversion elements has a first radiation conversion characteristic, and each of the second conversion elements has a second radiation conversion characteristic. A radiation projection detector includes a photoconductor layer configured to generate charges in response to radiation, the photoconductor layer having a plurality of first photoconductor elements and a plurality of second photoconductor elements, and a detector array aligned with the photoconductor layer, wherein each of the first photoconductor elements has a first charge generating characteristic, and each of the second photoconductor elements has a second charge generating characteristic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2003
    Publication date: April 21, 2005
    Inventors: Edward Seppi, Larry Partain, George Zentai
  • Publication number: 20050059887
    Abstract: An apparatus and method of localization of a target using in vivo markers is described. The method may include adjusting a position of a target volume within the body relative to a treatment beam using the in vivo markers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2003
    Publication date: March 17, 2005
    Inventors: Hassan Mostafavi, Larry Partain, Alexander Sloutsky, Peter Munro
  • Publication number: 20050056829
    Abstract: A photodetector having a heterojunction structure is described that may operate to reduce contact corrosion and/or reduce dark current while maintaining high x-ray sensitivity. The heterojunction structure may be formed by a plurality of halide semiconductor materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2003
    Publication date: March 17, 2005
    Inventors: Michael Green, Steve Bandy, George Zentai, Larry Partain
  • Publication number: 20040228436
    Abstract: An X-ray image acquisition apparatus includes a panel having a first electrode, a second electrode, and a photoconductor secured between said first and second electrodes. The photoconductor has a thickness configured to absorb X-ray radiation at a high energy level. The first and second electrodes are configured to create an electric field for transporting charges created in the photoconductor to a pixel unit, thereby allowing charges to be efficiently collected when low or high energy X-ray radiation is used.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2003
    Publication date: November 18, 2004
    Applicant: VARIAN MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: George Zentai, Larry Partain