Patents by Inventor Xiaochun Lai
Xiaochun Lai 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).
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Patent number: 11782176Abstract: A method and apparatus for diagnosing and/or calibrating underperforming pixels in detectors in a small pixelated photon counting CT system utilizes a series of tests on image data acquired in-situ as part of a series of calibration scans in the CT system. Tests are performed on the acquired data to determine the existence of underperforming pixels within the detectors such that the information acquired by those pixels can be replaced by alternate data from surrounding pixels (e.g. by interpolation). The underperforming pixels are stored in “bad” pixel tables and may be specific to a type of image (e.g., spectral or counting) and a specific protocol.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2021Date of Patent: October 10, 2023Assignee: CANON MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATIONInventors: Xiaohui Zhan, Xiaochun Lai, Yi Qiang, Kevin Christopher Zimmerman, Zhihong Ye
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Patent number: 11707243Abstract: Multiple interactions, such as Compton scattering, inside a PET detector are used to predict an incident photon's direction for identifying true coincidence events versus scatter/random coincidence events by creating a cone shaped shell projection defining a range of possible flight directions for the incident photon. The disclosed techniques can be used as prior information to improve the image reconstruction process. The disclosed techniques can be implemented in a LYSO/SiPM-based layer stacked detector, which can precisely register multiple interactions' 3D position.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2021Date of Patent: July 25, 2023Assignee: CANON MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATIONInventors: Liang Cai, Wenyuan Qi, Xiaochun Lai, Peng Peng
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Publication number: 20220342098Abstract: A method and apparatus for diagnosing and/or calibrating underperforming pixels in detectors in a small pixelated photon counting CT system utilizes a series of tests on image data acquired in-situ as part of a series of calibration scans in the CT system. Tests are performed on the acquired data to determine the existence of underperforming pixels within the detectors such that the information acquired by those pixels can be replaced by alternate data from surrounding pixels (e.g. by interpolation). The underperforming pixels are stored in “bad” pixel tables and may be specific to a type of image (e.g., spectral or counting) and a specific protocol.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 23, 2021Publication date: October 27, 2022Applicant: CANON MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATIONInventors: Xiaohui ZHAN, Xiaochun LAI, Yi QIANG, Kevin Christopher ZIMMERMAN, Zhihong YE
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Patent number: 11269084Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a device comprising: a first micro-camera-element comprising a first sensor area and a first aperture element, the first aperture element having a first structural configuration, the first aperture element and the first sensor area being disposed relative to each other in order to cooperate in obtaining first imaging data having first characteristics, and the first characteristics comprising first imaging resolution and first angular coverage; a second micro-camera-element comprising a second sensor area and a second aperture element, the second aperture element having a second structural configuration, the second aperture element and the second sensor area being disposed relative to each other in order to cooperate in obtaining second imaging data having second characteristics, the second characteristics comprising second imaging resolution and second angular coverage, and the first imaging resolution differing from the second imaging resolution, thType: GrantFiled: September 24, 2019Date of Patent: March 8, 2022Assignee: THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOISInventors: Ling-Jian Meng, Xiaochun Lai, Elena Maria Zannoni
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Patent number: 11229413Abstract: An embodiment of a computed tomography apparatus includes an x-ray source and scan control circuitry configured to control the x-ray source to expose a subject with x-rays over a scan having a plurality of views. A detector is disposed to receive x-rays from the x-ray source, has a plurality of anodes arranged in groups, and a common conductive strip between the anodes. Photon counting circuits are respectively provided for each of the anodes and have adjustable operating parameters. Connection circuitry is configured to adaptively connect, in a first mode, each anode to one of the photon counting circuits and, in a second mode, each anode in a group to a same one of the photon counting circuits. Processing circuitry, connected to the connection circuitry and the photon counting circuits, is configured to, for each of the views, select the first mode or the second mode and adjust the operating parameters based upon exposure data obtained from exposing the subject with the x-rays from the x-ray source.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 2020Date of Patent: January 25, 2022Assignee: CANON MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATIONInventors: Xiaochun Lai, Liang Cai, Yi Qiang, Xiaohui Zhan
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Publication number: 20220000437Abstract: An embodiment of a computed tomography apparatus includes an x-ray source and scan control circuity configured to control the x-ray source to expose a subject with x-rays over a scan having a plurality of views. A detector is disposed to receive x-rays from the x-ray source, has a plurality of anodes arranged in groups, and a common conductive strip between the anodes. Photon counting circuits are respectively provided for each of the anodes and have adjustable operating parameters. Connection circuitry is configured to adaptively connect, in a first mode, each anode to one of the photon counting circuits and, in a second mode, each anode in a group to a same one of the photon counting circuits. Processing circuitry, connected to the connection circuitry and the photon counting circuits, is configured to, for each of the views, select the first mode or the second mode and adjust the operating parameters based upon exposure data obtained from exposing the subject with the x-rays from the x-ray source.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 2, 2020Publication date: January 6, 2022Applicant: Canon Medical Systems CorporationInventors: Xiaochun LAI, Liang CAI, Yi QIANG, Xiaohui ZHAN
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Publication number: 20200096652Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a device comprising: a first micro-camera-element comprising a first sensor area and a first aperture element, the first aperture element having a first structural configuration, the first aperture element and the first sensor area being disposed relative to each other in order to cooperate in obtaining first imaging data having first characteristics, and the first characteristics comprising first imaging resolution and first angular coverage; a second micro-camera-element comprising a second sensor area and a second aperture element, the second aperture element having a second structural configuration, the second aperture element and the second sensor area being disposed relative to each other in order to cooperate in obtaining second imaging data having second characteristics, the second characteristics comprising second imaging resolution and second angular coverage, and the first imaging resolution differing from the second imaging resolution, thType: ApplicationFiled: September 24, 2019Publication date: March 26, 2020Applicant: THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOISInventors: Ling-Jian Meng, Xiaochun Lai, Elena Maria Zannoni