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).

  • Patent number: 11782176
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: CANON MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Xiaohui Zhan, Xiaochun Lai, Yi Qiang, Kevin Christopher Zimmerman, Zhihong Ye
  • Patent number: 11707243
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: CANON MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Liang Cai, Wenyuan Qi, Xiaochun Lai, Peng Peng
  • Publication number: 20220342098
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2021
    Publication date: October 27, 2022
    Applicant: CANON MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Xiaohui ZHAN, Xiaochun LAI, Yi QIANG, Kevin Christopher ZIMMERMAN, Zhihong YE
  • Patent number: 11269084
    Abstract: 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, th
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
    Inventors: Ling-Jian Meng, Xiaochun Lai, Elena Maria Zannoni
  • Patent number: 11229413
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: CANON MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Xiaochun Lai, Liang Cai, Yi Qiang, Xiaohui Zhan
  • Publication number: 20220000437
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2020
    Publication date: January 6, 2022
    Applicant: Canon Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Xiaochun LAI, Liang CAI, Yi QIANG, Xiaohui ZHAN
  • Publication number: 20200096652
    Abstract: 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, th
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2019
    Publication date: March 26, 2020
    Applicant: THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
    Inventors: Ling-Jian Meng, Xiaochun Lai, Elena Maria Zannoni