Patents by Inventor Wolfgang Knuepfer

Wolfgang Knuepfer 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: 7250613
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for capturing ionizing radiation, in which a substrate which is provided with a phosphor layer is accommodated in a housing. To simplify the device and to ensure a high light yield, the invention provides that a means for buffering the atmospheric humidity is accommodated in the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2007
    Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert
    Inventors: Manfred Fuchs, Erich Hell, Peter Hackenschmied, Wolfgang Knuepfer
  • Patent number: 7189426
    Abstract: In a method for vapor-depositing a substrate with a layer of a needle-shaped x-ray fluorescent material containing at least one alkali metal, alkali halide phases and an alkali halide are mixed in a vapor phase and are vapor-deposited on the substrate. A needle-shaped fluorescent material is thereby produced having the formula ( ( M ? + ? H ? - ) a ? ( M ?? + ? H ?? - ) ( 1 - a ) ) k ? : ? ? ( M x ? + ? S y z + ? H x ? - ? H z * ? y ??? - ) b ? ( M x ?? + ? S y z + ? H x ?? - ? H z * ? y ??? - ) c ? ( M x ? + ? S y z + ? H x ?? - ? H z * ? y ??? - ) d ? ( M x ?? + ? S y z + ? H x ? - ? H z * ? y ??? - ) e wherein M+ is at least one metal ion from the group Na, K, Rb and Cs, H? is at least one halide from the group F, Cl, Br and I and Sz+ is at least one lanthanide ion from the group La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb or Lu.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Manfred Fuchs, Erich Hell, Wolfgang Knüpfer, Detlef Mattern, Peter Röhrer
  • Patent number: 7022994
    Abstract: A radiation converter has a radiation absorber for generating photons dependent on the intensity of incident x-ray radiation, a photocathode arranged downstream of the radiation absorber in the radiation propagation direction at a distance therefrom and serving for generating electrons dependent on the photons emerging from the radiation absorber, a device for accelerating the electrons emerging from the photocathode onto an electron detector for generating electrical signals dependent on the impinging electrons, an electron multiplier arranged between the photocathode and the electron detector, the electrons emerging from the photocathode being multiplied by the electron multiplier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Manfred Fuchs, Erich Hell, Wolfgang Knüpfer, Detlef Mattern
  • Publication number: 20040169148
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for capturing ionizing radiation, in which a substrate which is provided with a phosphor layer is accommodated in a housing. To simplify the device and to ensure a high light yield, the invention provides that a means for buffering the atmospheric humidity is accommodated in the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2004
    Publication date: September 2, 2004
    Inventors: Manfred Fuchs, Erich Hell, Peter Hackenschmied, Wolfgang Knuepfer
  • Patent number: 6566809
    Abstract: A radiation converter includes a radiation absorber for generating light photons dependent on the intensity of incident radiation following the radiation absorber by a photocathode, an electrode system for accelerating the electrons emanating from the photocathode onto an electron detector for generating electrical signals dependent on the incident electrons, and an electron multiplier arranged between the photocathode and the electron detector. The electrons emanating from the photocathode are multiplied by the electron multiplier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Manfred Fuchs, Erich Hell, Wolfgang Knuepfer, Detlef Mattern
  • Publication number: 20030086522
    Abstract: An X-ray image storage unit for storing an X-ray image, particularly for subtraction angiography, has a first storage layer containing a first storage luminophore and a second storage layer containing a second storage luminophore, the first and second storage luminophores being different from one another being applied on opposite sides of a radiation-transparent substrate. In a method for the examination of a patient according to the principle of subtraction angiography, a contrast agent is administered to the patient and the patient is subsequently transirradiated with x-rays. The x-rays penetrating the patient are detected with the two storage layers that respectively contain different storage luminophores. The respective images stored in the storage luminophores are separately read out, either successively or simultaneously, with a readout device designed fro the image storage unit, and are subsequently linearly combined with one another, particularly subtracted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2002
    Publication date: May 8, 2003
    Inventors: Manfred Fuchs, Erich Hell, Wolfgang Knuepfer, Detlef Mattern
  • Patent number: 6396901
    Abstract: An X-ray source is proposed having a rotating piston tube (2) which is mounted such that it can rotate, in which a stationary guide body (12), which at least partially surrounds the tube, is provided for cooling the anode plate (4). The guide body (12) is designed such that a liquid coolant, which is supplied to the tube (2) from a reservoir (15) concentrically with respect to the anode-bearing shaft (17), is initially positively guided along the tube outside of the anode plate (4) and along the beam outlet window (20) of the tube forming narrow gaps (18, 19), and is then passed out radially via at least one baffle plate (21) which is arranged on the tube (2) and engages in a correspondingly designed gap in the guide body (12). The high-voltage parts have an insulating gas applied to them, which is physically not separated from the liquid coolant in the source housing (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Erich Hell, Wolfgang Knüpfer, Detlef Mattern, Peter Schardt
  • Patent number: 5940469
    Abstract: A radiation source for generating multi-chromatic, particularly di-chromatic, x-radiation has at least one cathode and an anode for generating x-ray bremsstrahlung and a target surrounded by the cathode for converting the x-ray bremsstrahlung incident on the target into fluorescence radiation. The target is composed of different materials in sections and the sections can be selectively irradiated with the x-ray bremsstrahlung.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Erich Hell, Wolfgang Knuepfer, Peter Schardt
  • Patent number: 5126573
    Abstract: An output luminescent screen for an x-ray image intensifier has a carrier on which a phosphor, embedded in a bonding agent, is applied. The phosphor is a terbium-activated gadolinium oxysulfide (Gd.sub.2 O.sub.2 S:Tb)luminophore. The average grain size of the phosphor is between 1.7 .mu.m and 2 .mu.m, with no more than 15%, preferably 10%, of the grains of the phosphor being larger than 3.5 .mu.m, and 85% through 95%, preferably 90%, of the phosphor grains being larger than 1.1 .mu.m. Zinc cadmium sulfide in a proportion up to 80% may be aded to the phosphor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1992
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Wolfgang Knuepfer, Monika Mengel
  • Patent number: 5084619
    Abstract: An x-ray diagnostics installation has a solid-state image transducer with a layer whose electrical resistance is dependent on the intensity of incident radiation from an x-ray source, and an electro-luminescent layer in contact therewith which converts the resistance into a corresponding brightness value. Due to the decay time of the electro-luminescent layer, an image will be temporarily stored in the solid-state image transducer after the x-ray source has been deactivated. This temporarily stored image is read-out, after deactivation of the x-ray source, by a scanner for converting the brightness of the picture elements of the electro-luminescent layer into corresponding electrical signals. These signals are supplied to a data acquisition and processing system, which generates an image for display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 28, 1992
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Manfred Pfeiler, Fritz-Walter Hofmann, Wolfgang Knuepfer
  • Patent number: 4914303
    Abstract: An intensifier foil specifically employable in mammography is provided that minimizes stationary noise and enhances topical resolution. The luminophore is composed of Gd.sub.2 O.sub.2 S:Tb grains, whose mean grain size lies between approximately 3.4 microns to about 3.6 microns. Approximately 5% to about 15% of the luminophore grains are larger than 6.5 microns and approximately 85% to about 95% are larger than 2 microns with the luminophore otherwise having a scattered grain size distribution. The bonding agent includes approximately 0.1 to about 0.2 weight percent SiO.sub.2 particles having a grain size of approximately 10 nm to about 100 nm. The substrate is constructed from a polyester foil having a dark pigment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 3, 1990
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Wolfgang Knuepfer
  • Patent number: 4682600
    Abstract: A non-invasive method and apparatus for in situ disintegrating calculi in the body of a living being employ electromagnetic radiation generated by a transmission antenna. The electromagnetic radiation is highly focused at the location of the calculus to be disintegrated. The transmission antenna is matched to the body medium by a suitable dielectric material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1985
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1987
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Werner Haas, Wolfgang Knuepfer, Manfred Pfeiler