Patents by Inventor Robert E. Dickerson

Robert E. Dickerson 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: 20040101094
    Abstract: A method of mammography imaging includes exposing a patient to a peak voltage greater than 29 kVp. The film used in this method comprises a cubic grain silver halide emulsion layer on one side of the support and a tabular grain silver halide emulsion layer on the other side. The cubic grain silver halide emulsion layer comprises a combination of first and second spectral sensitizing dyes that provides a combined maximum J-aggregate absorption on the cubic silver halide grains of from about 540 to about 560 nm. The first spectral sensitizing dye is an anionic benzimidazole-benzoxazole carbocyanine, the second spectral sensitizing dye is an anionic oxycarbocyanine. The cubic grain silver halide emulsion layer also includes a mixture of gelatin or a gelatin derivative and a second hydrophilic binder other than gelatin or a gelatin derivative. The cubic silver halide grains comprise from about 1 to about 20 mol % chloride and from about 0.25 to about 1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2002
    Publication date: May 27, 2004
    Applicant: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Robert E. Dickerson, William E. Moore, David J. Steklenski
  • Publication number: 20040096769
    Abstract: A radiographic silver halide film is designed for improved imaging of dense soft tissue as in mammography. The film includes a silver halide emulsion on each side of the support and at least one silver halide emulsion contains cubic silver halide grains that are doped with a metal hexacoordination complex compound such as a ruthenium hexacoordination complex compound.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2003
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Applicant: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Anthony Adin, Richard E. Beal, Robert E. Dickerson, Anthony D. Gingello
  • Publication number: 20040096770
    Abstract: A radiographic imaging assembly comprises a radiographic silver halide film having a film speed of at least 100 and a single fluorescent intensifying screen that has a screen speed of at least 200. This imaging assembly is particularly useful for mammography or imaging or other soft tissues.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2003
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Applicant: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Robert E. Dickerson, William E. Moore, David J. Steklenski
  • Publication number: 20040096768
    Abstract: A radiographic silver halide film useful for mammography comprises a support having a cubic grain silver halide emulsion on one side. The cubic grains are spectrally sensitized with a combination of first and second spectral sensitizing dyes that provides a combined maximum J-aggregate absorption of from about 540 to about 560 nm. The first spectral sensitizing dye is an anionic benzimidazole-benzoxazole carbocyanine and the second spectral sensitizing dye is an anionic oxycarbocyanine. The first and second spectral sensitizing dyes are present in a molar ratio of from about 0.25:1 to about 4:1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2003
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Applicant: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Anthony Adin, Stephen A. Hershey, Robert E. Dickerson
  • Publication number: 20040096028
    Abstract: A method of mammography imaging includes exposing a patient to a peak voltage greater than 29 kVp using X-radiation generating equipment comprising rhodium or tungsten anodes. The film used in this method comprises a cubic grain silver halide emulsion layer on one side of the support and a tabular grain silver halide emulsion layer on the other side. The cubic grain silver halide emulsion layer comprises a combination of first and second spectral sensitizing dyes that provides a combined maximum J-aggregate absorption on the cubic silver halide grains of from about 540 to about 560 nm. The first spectral sensitizing dye is an anionic benzimidazole-benzoxazole carbocyanine, the second spectral sensitizing dye is an anionic oxycarbocyanine. The cubic grain silver halide emulsion layer also includes a mixture of gelatin or a gelatin derivative and a second hydrophilic binder other than gelatin or a gelatin derivative.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2002
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Applicant: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Robert E. Dickerson, William E. Moore, David J. Steklenski
  • Publication number: 20040096039
    Abstract: A radiographic silver halide film comprises a cubic grain silver halide emulsion layer on one side of the support and a tabular grain silver halide emulsion layer on the other side. The cubic grain silver halide emulsion layer comprises a combination of first and second spectral sensitizing dyes that provides a combined maximum J-aggregate absorption on the cubic silver halide grains of from about 540 to about 560 nm. The first spectral sensitizing dye is an anionic benzimidazole-benzoxazole carbocyanine, the second spectral sensitizing dye is an anionic oxycarbocyanine. The cubic grain silver halide emulsion layer also includes a mixture of gelatin or a gelatin derivative and a second hydrophilic binder other than gelatin or a gelatin derivative at a weight ratio of first to second hydrophilic binder of from about 2:1 to about 5:1. The cubic silver halide grains comprise from about 1 to about 20 mol % chloride and from about 0.25 to about 1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2002
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Applicant: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Robert E. Dickerson, William E. Moore, David J. Steklenski
  • Patent number: 6686118
    Abstract: A blue-sensitive, radiographic silver halide film comprises a silver halide emulsion layer comprising predominantly tabular silver halide grains that have an aspect ratio of at least 15, a grain thickness of at least 0.1 &mgr;m, and comprise at least 90 mol % bromide and up to 4 mol % iodide, based on total silver halide. Substantially all of the iodide is present in an internal localized portion of the tabular silver halide grains that excludes the surface of the grains. The tabular silver halide grains are dispersed in a hydrophilic polymeric vehicle mixture comprising at least 0.5% of oxidized gelatin, based on the total dry weight of the polymeric vehicle mixture in the emulsion layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Richard F. Davis, Robert E. Dickerson, Susan K. Mroczek
  • Patent number: 6686117
    Abstract: A radiographic silver halide film has reduced yellow dye stain by including a blend of tabular silver halide grains in the emulsion layers. The blend of grains includes blue-sensitive tabular silver halide grains that have an aspect ratio of at least 15, a grain thickness of at least 0.1 &mgr;m, and comprise at least 90 mol % bromide and up to 4 mol % iodide, based on total silver halide. Substantially all of the iodide is present in an internal localized portion of the tabular silver halide grains that excludes the surface of the grains. The blend also includes green-sensitive tabular silver halide grains that have an aspect ratio of at least 20, a grain thickness of at least 0.07 &mgr;m, and comprise at least 90 mol % bromide, up to 1.5 mol % chloride, and up to 1.5 mol % iodide, based on total silver halide. The molar ratio of silver in the blue-sensitive silver halide grains to the silver in the green-sensitive silver halide grains is from about 2:1 to about 6:1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Robert E. Dickerson, Richard F. Davis
  • Patent number: 6686115
    Abstract: A blue-sensitive, radiographic silver halide film comprises a silver halide emulsion layer comprising predominantly tabular silver halide grains that have an aspect ratio of at least 15, a grain thickness of at least 0.1 &mgr;M, and comprise at least 90 mol % bromide and from about 0.5 to about 2.75 mol % iodide, based on total silver halide. Substantially all of the iodide is present in an internal localized portion of the tabular silver halide grains that excludes the surface of the grains. The tabular silver halide grains are dispersed in a hydrophilic polymeric vehicle mixture comprising at least 0.5% of oxidized gelatin, based on the total dry weight of the polymeric vehicle mixture in the emulsion layer. In addition, the tabular grain emulsion includes a mercapto-substituted benzothiazole, benzoxazole, or benzimidazole to provide desired image tone and processability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Robert E. Dickerson, Richard F. Davis, Susan K. Mroczek
  • Patent number: 6686116
    Abstract: A blue-sensitive radiographic silver halide film comprises a silver halide emulsion layer comprising predominantly tabular silver halide grains that have an aspect ratio of at least 15, a grain thickness of at least 0.1 &mgr;m, and comprise at least 90 mol % bromide and up to 4 mol % iodide, based on total silver halide. Substantially all of the iodide is present in an internal localized portion of the tabular silver halide grains that excludes the surface of the grains. The tabular silver halide grains are dispersed in a hydrophilic polymeric vehicle mixture comprising at least 0.5% of oxidized gelatin, based on the total dry weight of the polymeric vehicle mixture in the emulsion layer. The tabular silver halide grains are spectrally sensitized using a combination of spectral sensitizing dyes to provide increased speed and reduced dye stain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Robert E. Dickerson, Anthony Adin, Stephen A. Hershey, Richard F. Davis
  • Patent number: 6682868
    Abstract: An imaging assembly includes a blue-sensitive, radiographic silver halide film comprises a silver halide emulsion layer comprising predominantly tabular silver halide grains that have an aspect ratio of at least 15, a grain thickness of at least 0.1 &mgr;m, and comprise at least 90 mol % bromide and up to 4 mol % iodide, based on total silver halide. The tabular silver halide grains are dispersed in a hydrophilic polymeric vehicle mixture comprising at least 0.5% of oxidized gelatin. The film is used in combination with one or more intensifying screens that absorb X-radiation and emit radiation having a wavelength of from about 300 to about 500 nm. In many embodiments, the intensifying screens include a “blue-light” emitting alkaline earth fluorohalide phosphor dispersed in a binder on a support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Robert E. Dickerson, Richard F. Davis, David J. Steklenski
  • Patent number: 6680154
    Abstract: An asymmetric radiographic silver halide film has two cubic grain silver halide emulsion layers on the frontside and a tabular grain silver halide emulsion layer on the backside. The cubic grain silver halide emulsion layer closer to the support also includes a crossover control agent to reduce crossover to the backside to less than 10% and is thinner than the outermost cubic grain silver halide emulsion layer. The backside of the support also includes an antihalation layer. These films are useful for imaging soft tissue as in mammography.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Robert E. Dickerson
  • Patent number: 6673507
    Abstract: A radiographic silver halide film has improved processability because it includes a silver halide emulsion composed of cubic grains having a critical molar ratio of chloride, iodide, and bromide. In particular, the cubic grains comprise from about 1 to about 20 mol % of chloride and from about 0.25 to about 1.5 mol % of iodide, with the remainder being bromide. The cubic grains also have an ECD of from about 0.65 to about 0.8 &mgr;m. This film is particularly useful in mammography for imaging dense soft tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Robert E. Dickerson, Anthony Adin, Richard E. Beal, Anthony D. Gingello
  • Patent number: 6582874
    Abstract: Radiographic films containing cubic grain, high silver chloride emulsions can be used in radiographic imaging assemblies comprising intensifying screens for therapy portal localization imaging. The average silver halide grain size is from about 0.1 to about 0.18 &mgr;m and the silver halide is free of silver halide dopant compounds. These films provide excellent contrast with improved exposure latitude (at least 4:1 when measured at a gamma value of 1.5) for use in various exposure conditions and equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Robert E. Dickerson, William E. Moore
  • Patent number: 6517986
    Abstract: Radiographic films exhibit improved visual performance because of the presence of certain colorants that provide more positive a* values without diminishing image tone (b*). Thus, the greenish tint the films may exhibit is reduced. These films provide desired sensitometric properties while they have reduced silver, hydrophilic polymer binder, and hardener coverage on both sides of a transparent support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Robert E. Dickerson
  • Patent number: 6489077
    Abstract: A radiographic imaging assembly has two different (“asymmetric”) fluorescent intensifying screens on either side of two radiographic silver halide films. The two fluorescent intensifying screens differ in speed by at least 0.1 logE. This imaging assembly provides high contrast images and improved exposure latitude for use in various exposure conditions and equipment. The two films can be the same or different (for example, providing images of different contrast).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Robert E. Dickerson, William E. Moore
  • Patent number: 6489076
    Abstract: A radiographic imaging assembly has first and second radiographic silver halide films in association with two fluorescent intensifying screens. Between one set of screen and film is a magenta filter having a density of at least 0.3 to provide improved exposure latitude for use in various exposure conditions and equipment. The magenta filter comprises a transparent support having a hydrophilic layer disposed thereon, which layer includes sufficient dyes or pigments that absorb in the range of from about 500 to about 600 nm. These dyes or pigments are dispersed in a hydrophilic binder to provide the desired density. The magenta filter is laminated to one of the screens with its hydrophilic layer in contact with the screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Robert E. Dickerson, William E. Moore
  • Patent number: 6485882
    Abstract: A radiographic imaging assembly has a first radiographic silver halide film that provides high contrast images in association with a second radiographic silver halide film that provides lower contrast images. The combination of two films, with or without one or more fluorescent intensifying screens, provides images with excellent contrast and improved exposure latitude for use in various exposure conditions and equipment. The ratio of contrast of images provided by the first and second radiographic silver halide films is at least 1.25.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Robert E. Dickerson, William E. Moore
  • Patent number: 6485879
    Abstract: A radiographic imaging assembly has a first radiographic silver halide film in association with a second radiographic silver halide film wherein the ratio of photographic speed of the two films is greater than 0.15 logE. The combination of two films is used with two fluorescent intensifying screens that also have photographic speeds that differ by at least 0.1 log E. This imaging assembly provides images with excellent contrast and improved exposure latitude for use in various exposure conditions and equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Robert E. Dickerson, William E. Moore
  • Patent number: 6485880
    Abstract: A radiographic imaging assembly has first and second radiographic silver halide films in association with two fluorescent intensifying screens. Between one set of screen and film is a neutral density filter having a density of at least 0.3 to provide with improved exposure latitude for use in various exposure conditions and equipment. The neutral density filter comprises a transparent support having a hydrophilic neutral density filter layer disposed thereon, which layer includes sufficient silver metal, colloidal carbon, or exposed and processed silver halide in a hydrophilic binder to provide the desired density. The neutral density filter is laminated to one of the screens with its hydrophilic layer in contact with the screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Robert E. Dickerson, William E. Moore