Patents by Inventor William F. Collins

William F. Collins 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).

  • Article locating and tracking apparatus and method
    Patent number: 7242306
    Abstract: An activity based monitoring system is disclosed, the activity based monitoring system being configured to monitor a plurality of badges associated with a plurality of assets within a healthcare facility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Assignee: Hill-Rom Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy D. Wildman, Williams F. Collins, Jr., Thomas M. Fleck, Carl W. Riley, Richard J. Schuman
  • X-ray therapy electronic portal imaging system and method for artifact reduction
    Patent number: 7076023
    Abstract: X-ray therapy EPI artifact reduction and control of imaging is provided. Scanning of images is synchronized with the pulse rate of the x-rays. The scanning period is longer than the pulse rate period, so artifacts are generated within the resulting images. Due to the synchronization, the pulse variation artifacts are aligned across multiple images. The synchronization and resulting alignment of linear artifacts allows for gain correction as a function of lines within the image. Such gain correction reduces or removes non-linearities associated with pulse rate variation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Farhad Abbasi Ghelmansarai, William F. Collins
  • Focused radiation visualization
    Patent number: 7070327
    Abstract: A system includes substantial focus of radiation on a focal area, the focused radiation following a radiation path from a lens to the focal area, and projection of light on a surface so as to substantially indicate an intersection of the radiation path with the surface. In some aspects, the light projected on the surface substantially indicates a distance between the surface and the focal area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.
    Inventor: William F. Collins
  • X-ray therapy electronic portal imaging system and method for artifact reduction
    Patent number: 7027558
    Abstract: X-ray therapy EPI artifact reduction and control of imaging is provided. Scanning of images is synchronized with the pulse rate of the x-rays. The scanning period is longer than the pulse rate period, so artifacts are generated within the resulting images. Due to the synchronization, the pulse variation artifacts are aligned across multiple images. The synchronization and resulting alignment of linear artifacts allows for gain correction as a function of lines within the image. Such gain correction reduces or removes non-linearities associated with pulse rate variation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Farhad Abbasi Ghelmansarai, William F. Collins
  • Automated delivery of treatment fields
    Patent number: 6853703
    Abstract: A system, method, apparatus, and means for delivering treatment fields includes identifying a sequence group. A type of radiation to be applied in a first field of the sequence group is identified. The type of radiation is selected from among primary photon radiation and primary electron radiation. A radiation therapy treatment device is configured, based at least in part on the type of radiation. The first field is then delivered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2005
    Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Michelle Marie Svatos, William F. Collins
  • System providing multiple focused radiation beams
    Patent number: 6853704
    Abstract: A system includes a plurality of treatment heads, each of the plurality of treatment heads including a radiation source and a radiation-focusing lens. The system also includes a plurality of voltage sources, each of the plurality of voltage sources associated with a respective one of the plurality of treatment heads, and a control device to control an intensity of radiation emitted from each radiation-focusing lens of the plurality of treatment heads in accordance with a treatment plan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2005
    Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.
    Inventors: William F. Collins, Christopher Jude Amies
  • Verification of electron treatment fields
    Patent number: 6822252
    Abstract: A system, method, apparatus, and means for verifying an electron treatment field include positioning an image detector, and operating the image detector to detect an image created by photons generated in the delivery of an electron treatment beam. The image is manipulated to generate a representation of the electron treatment field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2004
    Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Michelle Marie Svatos, William F. Collins
  • Removable electron multileaf collimator
    Patent number: 6813337
    Abstract: A removable electron collimator for use in collimating an electron beam in a radiation therapy device is provided, where the collimator includes drive electronics, removably mounted on an exterior of an accessory tray of the radiation therapy device. The electron collimator also includes a plurality of leaves positionable by the drive electronics to move across a path of the electron beam, the plurality of leaves removably mounted on the accessory tray of the radiation therapy device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc
    Inventors: Michelle Marie Svatos, William F. Collins
  • Planning system for convergent radiation treatment
    Patent number: 6782073
    Abstract: A system includes determination of a treatment plan for delivering convergent radiation to a target based at least on a decrease in intensity of the convergent radiation due to material intercepted by the convergent radiation prior to reaching the target and on an increase in intensity of the convergent radiation due to a geometry of the convergent radiation. Some aspects include determination of a dose enhancement at the target over time due to contrast agent located at the target, wherein the determination of the treatment plan is based at least on the dose enhancement over time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.
    Inventor: William F. Collins
  • Determination of dose-enhancing agent concentration and dose enhancement ratio
    Publication number: 20040116795
    Abstract: A system includes a surface to support a body and a CT scanner to acquire, based on a first set of one or more CT scanning parameters, a first set of CT data representing a volume within the body including a dose-enhancing agent. The system further includes a processor to determine a CT number associated with the volume based on the first set of CT data, and to determine a dose enhancement corresponding to the dose-enhancing agent within the volume based on a stored association between the CT number, the first set of one or more scanning parameters, and the dose enhancement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2002
    Publication date: June 17, 2004
    Inventors: William F. Collins, Michael D. Weil
  • SYSTEM PROVIDING MULTIPLE FOCUSED RADIATION BEAMS
    Publication number: 20040057552
    Abstract: A system includes a plurality of treatment heads, each of the plurality of treatment heads including a radiation source and a radiation-focusing lens. The system also includes a plurality of voltage sources, each of the plurality of voltage sources associated with a respective one of the plurality of treatment heads, and a control device to control an intensity of radiation emitted from each radiation-focusing lens of the plurality of treatment heads in accordance with a treatment plan.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2002
    Publication date: March 25, 2004
    Inventors: William F. Collins, Christopher Jude Amies
  • Patient positioning system
    Publication number: 20030206610
    Abstract: A system includes a radiation source for emitting radiation, an imaging device for generating three-dimensional data representing internal portions of a patient in conjunction with the emitted radiation, and a processor for determining a correspondence between the generated three-dimensional data and other data representing the internal portions of the patient, and for determining whether the treatment equipment is properly positioned relative to the patient based on the correspondence.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2002
    Publication date: November 6, 2003
    Inventor: William F. Collins
  • Planning system for convergent radiation treatment
    Publication number: 20030206611
    Abstract: A system includes determination of a treatment plan for delivering convergent radiation to a target based at least on a decrease in intensity of the convergent radiation due to material intercepted by the convergent radiation prior to reaching the target and on an increase in intensity of the convergent radiation due to a geometry of the convergent radiation. Some aspects include determination of a dose enhancement at the target over time due to contrast agent located at the target, wherein the determination of the treatment plan is based at least on the dose enhancement over time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2002
    Publication date: November 6, 2003
    Inventor: William F. Collins
  • Focused radiation visualization
    Publication number: 20030206613
    Abstract: A system includes substantial focus of radiation on a focal area, the focused radiation following a radiation path from a lens to the focal area, and projection of light on a surface so as to substantially indicate an intersection of the radiation path with the surface. In some aspects, the light projected on the surface substantially indicates a distance between the surface and the focal area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2002
    Publication date: November 6, 2003
    Inventor: William F. Collins
  • Removable electron multileaf collimator
    Publication number: 20030202632
    Abstract: A removable electron collimator for use in collimating an electron beam in a radiation therapy device is provided, where the collimator includes drive electronics, removably mounted on an exterior of an accessory tray of the radiation therapy device. The electron collimator also includes a plurality of leaves positionable by the drive electronics to move across a path of the electron beam, the plurality of leaves removably mounted on the accessory tray of the radiation therapy device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2001
    Publication date: October 30, 2003
    Inventors: Michelle Marie Svatos, William F. Collins
  • Verification of electron treatment fields
    Publication number: 20030201403
    Abstract: A system, method, apparatus, and means for verifying an electron treatment field include positioning an image detector, and operating the image detector to detect an image created by photons generated in the delivery of an electron treatment beam. The image is manipulated to generate a representation of the electron treatment field.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2001
    Publication date: October 30, 2003
    Inventors: Michelle Marie Svatos, William F. Collins
  • Automated delivery of treatment fields
    Publication number: 20030191384
    Abstract: A system, method, apparatus, and means for delivering treatment fields includes identifying a sequence group. A type of radiation to be applied in a first field of the sequence group is identified. The type of radiation is selected from among primary photon radiation and primary electron radiation. A radiation therapy treatment device is configured, based at least in part on the type of radiation. The first field is then delivered.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2001
    Publication date: October 9, 2003
    Inventors: Michelle Marie Svatos, William F. Collins
  • X-ray therapy electronic portal imaging system and method for artifact reduction
    Publication number: 20030083564
    Abstract: X-ray therapy EPI artifact reduction and control of imaging is provided. Scanning of images is synchronized with the pulse rate of the x-rays. The scanning period is longer than the pulse rate period, so artifacts are generated within the resulting images. Due to the synchronization, the pulse variation artifacts are aligned across multiple images. The synchronization and resulting alignment of linear artifacts allows for gain correction as a function of lines within the image. Such gain correction reduces or removes non-linearities associated with pulse rate variation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2001
    Publication date: May 1, 2003
    Inventors: Farhad Abbasi Ghelmansarai, William F. Collins
  • Portable system for digital photo management
    Publication number: 20030072571
    Abstract: A system for digital photo management comprises: a harness; a digital camera; a computer control unit; a wireless data exchange component; a printer; and a battery. The computer control unit begins a process of printing a coupon associated with a digital photograph before the digital photograph has been completely downloaded from the digital camera.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2002
    Publication date: April 17, 2003
    Inventors: John L. Wechsler, John F. O'Brien, William F. Collins
  • Portable system for digital photo management
    Patent number: 6547456
    Abstract: A system for digital photo management comprises: a harness; a digital camera; a computer control unit; a wireless data exchange component; a printer; and a battery. The computer control unit begins a process of printing a coupon associated with a digital photograph before the digital photograph has been completely downloaded from the digital camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Wishoo, Inc.
    Inventors: John L. Wechsler, John F. O'Brien, Williams F. Collins, Jr.