Methods Patents (Class 250/362)
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Patent number: 10816682Abstract: A radiation position detector includes a radiator including a medium that generates light in a first wavelength region and light in a second wavelength region by interacting with incident radiation, a first photodetector that includes a plurality of first two-dimensionally arranged pixels and detects the light in the first wavelength region, and a second photodetector that includes a plurality of second two-dimensionally arranged pixels and detects the light in the second wavelength region.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2017Date of Patent: October 27, 2020Assignee: HAMAMATSU PHOTONICS K.K.Inventor: Ryosuke Ota
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Patent number: 10725187Abstract: Boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) with 1013 combined with a scintillation gas can serve as the basis for detecting thermal neutrons by detecting light from the decay products of the thermal neutron's absorption on the 10B atoms in the BNNT Material as the resultant decay products pass through the scintillating gas. BNNTs with 11B can be utilized as a scaffold for 238U and combined with a scintillation gas as the basis for detecting fast neutrons via detecting light from the fission decay products passing through the scintillating gas. Both technologies provide high spatial and temporal resolution for the detection of thermal neutrons and fast neutrons respectively.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2019Date of Patent: July 28, 2020Assignee: BNNT, LLCInventors: Kevin C. Jordan, R. Roy Whitney
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Patent number: 10690784Abstract: A 14C testing bottle, a 14C testing device, a 14C testing method, a sampling and preparation system and its implementation method are provided. The 14C testing bottle includes a pressure-bearing shell and a sample bin positioned in the pressure-bearing shell. A cavity is arranged in the sample bin and the 14C testing bottle is provided with an injection port connected to the cavity. The sample bin may diffuse the light produced in the cavity and at least part of the sample bin is transparent. An optical fiber channel is set on the pressure-bearing shell. One end of the optical fiber channel is connected with an external scintillation counter, and the other end of the optical fiber channel is connected with the transparent part of the sample bin. The 14C testing bottle may measure the 14C content in the carbon dioxide sample rapidly.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 2017Date of Patent: June 23, 2020Assignee: ZHEJIANG UNIVERSITYInventors: Zhongyang Luo, Yuxing Tang, Chunjiang Yu, Mengxiang Fang, Qinhui Wang, Tao Wang
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Patent number: 10647914Abstract: Scintillating plastics resistant to crazing and fogging, methods of making and using the same are disclosed. The scintillating plastics include: one or more primary polymers present in an amount ranging from about 40 wt % to about 95 wt %; one or more secondary polymers present in an amount ranging from about 1 wt % to about 60 wt %; and one or more fluors present in an amount ranging from about 0.1 wt % to about 50 wt %. Methods of making such plastics include: creating a homogenous mixture of precursor materials including primary polymer, secondary polymer, and fluor in the amounts set forth above; and polymerizing the homogenous mixture. Methods of using such plastics include: exposing the scintillating plastic to one or more extreme environmental conditions for a predetermined amount of time without generating crazing or fogging within the scintillating plastic. Various additional features and specific embodiments of these inventive concepts are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2017Date of Patent: May 12, 2020Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLCInventors: Natalia P. Zaitseva, M. Leslie Carman, Andrew M. Glenn, Andrew Neil Mabe, Stephen A. Payne
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Patent number: 10598800Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a process for fabricating a crystalline scintillator material with a structure of elpasolite type of theoretical composition A2BC(1-y)MyX(6-y) wherein: A is chosen from among Cs, Rb, K, Na, B is chosen from among Li, K, Na, C is chosen from among the rare earths, Al, Ga, M is chosen from among the alkaline earths, X is chosen from among F, Cl, Br, I, y representing the atomic fraction of substitution of C by M and being in the range extending from 0 to 0.05, comprising its crystallization by cooling from a melt bath comprising r moles of A and s moles of B, the melt bath in contact with the material containing A and B in such a way that 2s/r is above 1. The process shows an improved fabrication yield. Moreover, the crystals obtained can have compositions closer to stoichiometry and have improved scintillation properties.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2018Date of Patent: March 24, 2020Assignee: Saint-Gobain Cristaux et DetecteursInventors: Vladimir Ouspenski, Samuel Blahuta, Raphaël Huchet, Julien Lejay
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Patent number: 10591630Abstract: A subsurface logging tool that is deployable in a wellbore that traverses a formation includes a gamma-ray scintillation detector with a thallium-based scintillator material. The scintillator material is suitable for high-temperature downhole environments (i.e., above 70° C.). As such, the scintillator material improves the performance of oilfield measurement(s) at temperatures above 70° C. and at least up to 175° C., when compared with the use of the other materials. The scintillator material may have an effective atomic number of at least sixty. The scintillator material may have the chemical formula Tl2LiY1-xCexCl6, where x is 0 to 1. Lithium (Li) may be partially or completely replaced by another alkali metal or by indium (In). Yttrium (Y) is partially or completely replaced by another rare earth element. Chlorine (Cl) is partially or completely replaced by another halide.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2017Date of Patent: March 17, 2020Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATIONInventors: Markus Berheide, Cornelis Huiszoon
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Patent number: 10534097Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a PET detector and a PET frame. The PET detector may include a plurality of detector modules and a plurality of installing modules configured to install the plurality of detector modules. The plurality of installing modules may be coupled together to form a detector ring. The PET frame may include a detector stabilizing cylinder configured to stabilize a detector and a fixing support configured to support the detector stabilizing cylinder. The detector stabilizing cylinder may be rotatably fixed on the fixing support.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2017Date of Patent: January 14, 2020Assignee: SHANGHAI UNITED IMAGING HEALTHCARE CO., LTD.Inventors: Huawei Jiang, Huaifang Jiang
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Patent number: 10527741Abstract: Systems and methods for configuring a radiation detector are provided. A first event is detected at a first scintillator crystal of a first detector unit. A second coincident event is detected at a second scintillator crystal of a second detector unit adjacent to the first detector unit. Operating parameters are calculated for the first detector unit based on the coincident events.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2016Date of Patent: January 7, 2020Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.Inventors: Sanghee Cho, Robert Mintzer, Johannes Breuer
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Patent number: 10499863Abstract: A long length imaging system having a host processor, an x-ray source, and a plurality of radiographic detectors is configured to simultaneously capture a radiographic image of a portion of a subject exposed by the x-ray source, and to transmit the partial images to the host processor whereby the partial images are combined into a long length image.Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 2017Date of Patent: December 10, 2019Assignee: Carestream Health, Inc.Inventors: Timothy J. Wojcik, Mark E. Shafer, Bradley S. Jadrich, Friedrich H. Ueffinger
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Patent number: 10482596Abstract: A method and system for simultaneously monitoring a positron emission tomography scanner performance during a continuous-bed-motion acquisition is disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 2017Date of Patent: November 19, 2019Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.Inventor: Vladimir Y. Panin
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Patent number: 10473797Abstract: An apparatus for detecting radiation for obtaining density information of a structure, the apparatus including: at least one detector (10), the detector (10) including: a scintillator (12) including a scintillating material for emitting light in response to incident radiation (14), and a photodetector (16) for receiving light emitted by the scintillating material (12) and outputting an electrical signal in response to light received from the scintillating material (12), wherein the photodetector (16) includes at least one silicon photomultiplier (16a). The invention reduces the volume of the apparatus and therefore provides particular advantages for use in scanning pipelines and other structures located deep subsea.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2014Date of Patent: November 12, 2019Assignee: Johnson Matthey Public Limited CompanyInventors: Marco Panniello, Emanuele Ronchi, Carl Robert Tipton
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Patent number: 10422887Abstract: Disclosed is a photon-counting x-ray detector system having a plurality of photon-counting channels, and at least one anti-coincidence circuit, each of which is connected to least two of the channels and configured to detect coincident events in the connected channels. The x-ray detector system further includes an anti-coincidence controller configured to control the operation of the at least one anti-coincidence circuit based on photon count information by gradually adapting the operation of the at least one anti-coincidence circuit with increasing count rates, starting from a threshold count rate.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 2017Date of Patent: September 24, 2019Assignee: PRISMATIC SENSORS ABInventors: Mats Persson, Mats Danielsson, Cheng Xu
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Patent number: 10424091Abstract: A method of beamforming datasets from a tomographic detection system. The system comprises scintillation detectors that are arranged in D detector pairs, D?1, wherein the detectors are adapted to count radiation hits. According to the method in one aspect, a tomographic dataset is received for each detector pair coordinates (?d, pd) of a detector pair d of the D detector pairs, so as to obtain a plurality of tomographic datasets. Each of said datasets is associated with respective detector pair coordinates (?d, pd). Then, for each point y of interest, the received datasets are coherently combined by weighting the datasets according to respective beamforming weights d(y)=?(?d, pd; y), based on said respective detector pair coordinates (?d, pd) and coordinates of said each point y of interest. This way, a signal focusing on said each point y is obtained. Related tomographic detection systems and computer program products may be also presented.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2018Date of Patent: September 24, 2019Assignee: Internationl Business Machines CorporationInventors: Matthieu Simeoni, Paul Hurley, Lucien Roquette, Sepand Kashani
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Patent number: 10390775Abstract: A method and system for acquiring a series of medical images includes receiving medical imaging data corresponding to photons emitted from a subject having received a dose of a radiotracer. Determining, from the medical imaging data, coincidence events including photon coincidence events involving two photons and photon coincidence events involving more than two photons. The photon coincidence events involving two photons and photon coincidence events involving more than two photons are processed and use to reconstruct a series of medical images of the subject.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 2013Date of Patent: August 27, 2019Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyInventors: Eduardo M. Lage, Joaquin Lopez Herraiz, Vicente Jose Parot, Shivang R. Dave
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Patent number: 10338236Abstract: This disclosure provides a radiation detection apparatus and a method, a data processing method and a processor, which relates to the field of radiation detection technology. Wherein, the radiation detection apparatus of this disclosure comprises: a radiation detector which generates an electrical signal by interacting with X-rays; an Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC) which is coupled to the radiation detector and transmits the electrical signal to a waveform data; and a data processor which receives the waveform data from the ADC, determines the number of single photon signals according to the waveform data, and determines whether an integral signal and/or a count signal of the waveform data will be used for imaging according to the number of the single photon signals.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2017Date of Patent: July 2, 2019Assignees: NUCTECH COMPANY LIMITED, TSINGHUA UNIVERSITYInventors: Yuanjing Li, Ziran Zhao, Jianmin Li, Yulan Li, Weibin Zhu, Xiang Zou, Qingjun Zhang, Chunguang Zong, Xiaolin Zhao, Shuwei Li, Junxiao Wang
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Patent number: 10274341Abstract: A magnetic shield cover for an encoder of magnetic detection type includes a soft magnetic section and a non-magnetic section. The soft magnetic section is formed to cover a magnetic detection element and a magnet and has an opening for avoiding a situation that a part of the soft magnetic section prevents a magnetic field from the magnet from passing through the magnetic detection element. The non-magnetic section is provided in the opening of the soft magnetic section.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2015Date of Patent: April 30, 2019Assignee: SANYO DENKI CO., LTD.Inventors: Kazuhiro Makiuchi, Yoshihiro Shoji
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Patent number: 10228472Abstract: In a radiation position detection method, a scintillator that initially generates scintillation light is specified on the basis of a two-dimensional map showing regions for identifying a plurality of scintillators and the centroid position of positions where the scintillation light is generated. The regions shown in the two-dimensional map includes a first region corresponding to a first scintillator which is one of the plurality of scintillators, a second region corresponding to a second scintillator adjacent to the first scintillator among the plurality of scintillators, a third region that is located on the first region side and corresponds to the second scintillator, and a fourth region that is located on the second region side and corresponds to the first scintillator.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2017Date of Patent: March 12, 2019Assignee: HAMAMATSU PHOTONICS K.K.Inventor: Hiroshi Uchida
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Patent number: 10159451Abstract: Some embodiments of the present invention provide a 2D position-sensitive detector assembly comprising at least three substantially planar detector portions arranged in overlapping relationship as viewed normal to a plane of the detector portions, each detector portion comprising an array of substantially parallel, linear detector elements, the detector elements of respective detector portions being mutually non-parallel, the detector elements each being configured to generate one or more electrical signals in response to interaction of a particle of radiation therewith.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2015Date of Patent: December 25, 2018Assignee: University of LincolnInventors: Nigel Allinson, Grainne Riley, Chris Waltham, Michela Esposito, Tony Price, Phil Allport, Jon Taylor, Gianluigi Casse, Phil Evans, Gavin Poludniowski, Stuart Green, Spyros Manolopoulos, Jaime Nieto-Camero, Marcus Verhoeven
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Patent number: 10150913Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a scintillator, method for manufacturing the same and applications of scintillator. The scintillator has a chemical formula of Tl2ABC6:yCe, wherein A includes at least one alkali element; B includes at least one trivalent element; C includes at least one halogen element; and y is equal to or greater than 0 and equal to or smaller than 1.Type: GrantFiled: September 2, 2014Date of Patent: December 11, 2018Assignee: KYUNGPOOK NATIONAL UNIVERSITY INDUSTRY-ACADEMIC COInventors: Hong Joo Kim, Hwanbae Park, Sunghwan Kim, Gul Rooh
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Patent number: 10107934Abstract: A device for detecting neutrons and gamma rays comprises at least one detector and an acquisition and data-analysis system, connected to the detector; the detector comprises an active part that is formed by a plurality of: scintillator layers, made of a scintillator material, in particular a plastic scintillator; and absorber layers, containing at least one neutron-absorbing material, in particular cadmium or gadolinium; the acquisition and data-analysis system is configured so as to: analyze the signals coming from the detector and calculate the total energy released within the detector following upon an interaction with gamma rays or neutrons; and discriminate between gamma rays and neutrons impinging upon the detector according to whether the energy detected is higher or lower than a pre-set threshold.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 2014Date of Patent: October 23, 2018Assignees: ANSALDO NUCLEARE S.P.A., ISTITUTO NAZIONALE DI FISICA NUCLEAREInventors: Raffaella De Vita, Francesca Ambi, Gabriele Firpo
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Patent number: 10039937Abstract: A charged-particle beam therapy apparatus includes: an accelerator configured to accelerate a charged particle and emit a charged-particle beam; an irradiation unit configured to irradiate an irradiated body with the charged-particle beam using a scanning method; and a control unit. The control unit stores a control pattern of the apparatus during one treatment. An irradiation interruption time for which the irradiation of the irradiated body with the charged-particle beam by the irradiation unit is interrupted and an irradiation time for which the irradiation unit irradiates the irradiated body with the charged-particle beam are set in the control pattern. The sum of the irradiation interruption times during one treatment is set to be shorter than the sum of the irradiation times during one treatment.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2015Date of Patent: August 7, 2018Assignee: SUMITOMO HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.Inventors: Toshiki Tachikawa, Toru Asaba, Masanori Tachibana
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Patent number: 10007004Abstract: According to one embodiment, an apparatus of manufacturing a radiation detection panel, includes an evaporation source configured to evaporate a scintillator material and emit the scintillator material vertically upward, a holding mechanism located vertically above the evaporation source, and holding a photoelectric conversion substrate, and a heat conductor arranged opposite to the holding mechanism with a gap.Type: GrantFiled: September 6, 2017Date of Patent: June 26, 2018Assignee: TOSHIBA ELECTRON TUBES & DEVICES CO., LTD.Inventors: Hitoshi Chiyoma, Atsuya Yoshida, Wataru Matsuyama, Toyoo Yamamoto, Hiroshi Aida, Yuichi Shimba
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Patent number: 9947713Abstract: A detection substrate and a manufacturing method thereof, and a detector are provided. The detection substrate comprises a base substrate, a thin film transistor, a PIN photodiode and a scintillation layer. The thin film transistor and the PIN photodiode are provided above a first face of the base substrate and the scintillation layer is provided above a second face of the base substrate. The visible light obtained after the X-ray passes through the scintillation layer is directly irradiated on the PIN photodiode after passing through the base substrate with relative high transmittance, thus preventing intensity of the light irradiated on the PIN photodiode from being weakened, and improving light utilization efficiency of the detection substrate.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2015Date of Patent: April 17, 2018Assignee: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD.Inventor: Lei Zhao
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Patent number: 9927536Abstract: A radiation detection apparatus includes a selecting unit that allows a light having a light emission wavelength and a polarization direction to pass thorough the selecting unit, an optical system that forms an image of the light, a photon detecting unit that observes the image formed by the optical system, and detects the photon in whole range of the entire image, a counting unit that calculates the number of the alpha rays based on a result of counting the photons derived from the light emission of gas excited by the alpha rays, whereby it is possible to sufficiently eliminate background light (noise light) even if background light is strong, and therefore observe weak light emission.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2014Date of Patent: March 27, 2018Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBAInventors: Hidehiko Kuroda, Kunihiko Nakayama, Kei Takakura, Mikio Izumi, Naoto Kume
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Patent number: 9885793Abstract: Embodiments are directed to a fast and thermal neutron detector material composition for Special Nuclear Material (SNM) detection. Specific embodiments of the material composition result in two excimer scintillation light production mechanisms that provide two corresponding independent techniques for gamma discrimination; namely Pulse Shape Discrimination and Pulse Height Discrimination. A dual discrimination method, Pulse Shape and Pulse Height Discrimination (PSHD), can be implemented relying on both pulse height discrimination and pulse shape discrimination, and can allow the operation of large area, fast and thermal neutron detectors.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2015Date of Patent: February 6, 2018Assignee: NANOPTICS, INCORPORATEDInventors: James K. Walker, Youngwook Noh, Richard T. Farley
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Patent number: 9880292Abstract: According to one embodiment, an apparatus of manufacturing a radiation detection panel, includes an evaporation source configured to evaporate a scintillator material and emit the scintillator material vertically upward, a holding mechanism located vertically above the evaporation source, and holding a photoelectric conversion substrate, and a heat conductor arranged opposite to the holding mechanism with a gap.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 2014Date of Patent: January 30, 2018Assignee: TOSHIBA ELECTRON TUBES & DEVICES CO., LTD.Inventors: Hitoshi Chiyoma, Atsuya Yoshida, Wataru Matsuyama, Toyoo Yamamoto, Hiroshi Aida, Yuichi Shimba
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Patent number: 9864072Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method involving one or more sparse detectors are provided. A sparse detector may include an array of scintillator crystals generating scintillation in response to radiation and an array of photodetectors generating an electrical signal in response to the scintillation. A portion of the scintillator crystals may be spaced apart by substituents or gaps. The distribution of the substitutes or gaps may be according to a sparsity rule. At least a portion of the array of photodetectors may be coupled to the array of scintillator crystals. An imaging system including an apparatus that may include one or more sparse detectors is provided. The imaging system may include a processor to process the imaging data acquired by the apparatus or system including the one or more sparse detectors. The method may include preprocess the acquired image data and produce images by image reconstruction.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2017Date of Patent: January 9, 2018Assignee: SHANGHAI UNITED IMAGING HEALTHCARE CO., LTD.Inventors: Hongdi Li, Shaohui An, Yun Dong, Yang Lv, Lingzhi Hu, Jun Bao
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Patent number: 9817136Abstract: A radiation monitoring device includes: a scintillator emitting fluorescence upon absorption of radiation, a photo-multiplier tube converting the fluorescence into an electron pulse, a preamplifier converting the electron pulse into an analog voltage pulse, a pulse amplifier amplifying the analog voltage based on a gain control value, a dose rate measurement part measuring a dose rate based on an output of the pulse amplifier, an average half width measurement part, measuring a half width of a voltage pulse, which is among the outputs of the pulse amplifier and has a wave height larger than a preset value, and processing a predetermined number of measured data on the half widths to calculate a half width deviation, a gain control part receiving the half width deviation from the average half width measurement part, and determining the gain control value using a table, which lists relations between half widths and temperature calibration factors.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2014Date of Patent: November 14, 2017Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATIONInventors: Kenichi Moteki, Masaki Taguchi
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Patent number: 9810792Abstract: A crystal material represented by a general formula (1): (Gd1-x-y-zLaxMEyREz)2MM2O7?? (1), where ME is at least one selected from Y, Yb, Sc, and Lu; RE is Ce or Pr; MM is at least one selected from Si and Ge; and ranges of x, y, and z are represented by the following (i): (i) 0.0?x+y+z<1.0, 0.05?x+z<1.0, 0.0?y<1.0, and 0.0001?z<0.05 (where, when RE is Ce, y=0 is an exception).Type: GrantFiled: December 26, 2013Date of Patent: November 7, 2017Assignee: TOHOKU UNIVERSITYInventors: Akira Yoshikawa, Shunsuke Kurosawa, Yuui Yokota, Yasuhiro Shoji, Akira Suzuki, Toetsu Shishido
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Patent number: 9766351Abstract: A radioisotope generator that releases a daughter radioisotope from radioactive decay of a corresponding parent isotope, such as a 82Sr/82Rb radioisotope generator or 68Ge/68Ga radioisotope generator, may be used to generate radioisotopes for medical imaging applications. In some examples, a gamma ray detector is positioned to detect gamma rays emanating from radioactive eluate flowing from the generator. Based on the detected gamma rays, an activity of the daughter radioisotope in the eluate and an activity of the parent radioisotope in the eluate may be determined. Depending on the application, the activity of the daughter radioisotope and the activity of the parent radioisotope may be determined in substantially real time, e.g., so that the eluate can be diverted from patient dosing based on determined activity information for the eluate.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2015Date of Patent: September 19, 2017Assignee: Bracco Diagnostics Inc.Inventors: James Howard McQuaid, Adrian D. Nunn, Paul Robert Steinmeyer
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Patent number: 9693751Abstract: Disclosed herein too is a positron emission tomography calibration system comprising a positron emission tomography scanner having a ring detector that comprises at least one bin for receiving radiation; a patient that is placed at approximately the center of the ring detector where the patient is irradiated with at least one dose of a treatment radiation beam; a crystal efficiency calibration system that performs the following: measures activity generated by the at least one defined radiation dose in the at least one bin; takes projection data of the measured activity; calculates crystal efficiency from the projection data; re-estimates the measured activity of each bin based on the calculated crystal efficiency; and calibrates the detector based on the re-estimated measured activity.Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 2015Date of Patent: July 4, 2017Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.Inventor: Vladimir Y. Panin
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Patent number: 9597053Abstract: Methods for setting up, maintaining and operating a radiopharmaceutical infusion system, that includes a radioisotope generator, are facilitated by a computer of the system. The computer includes pre-programmed instructions and a computer interface, for interaction with a user of the system, for example, in order to track contained volumes of eluant and/or eluate, and/or to track time from completion of an elution performed by the system, and/or to calculate one or more system parameters for quality control, and/or to perform purges of the system.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 2008Date of Patent: March 21, 2017Assignee: Bracco Diagnostics Inc.Inventors: Stephen E. Hidem, Aaron M. Fontaine, Janet L. Gelbach, Patrick M. McDonald, Kathryn M. Hunter
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Patent number: 9569891Abstract: A method, an apparatus, an arrangement and a computer readable storage medium for determining an image based at least in part on first data having a first representation is provided. The approach comprises determining a projection of an imaging element on the first representation, the imaging element being arranged to at least partly overlap with the first representation, determining a first subset of data as the subset of the first data corresponding to the projection of the imaging element on the first representation, and determining the image based at least in part on the first subset of data.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2010Date of Patent: February 14, 2017Assignee: TYOTERVEYSLAITOSInventor: Kristian Lukander
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Patent number: 9562978Abstract: A portable detection apparatus can include a housing, a first detector for detecting ionizing radiation from a first subject and a second detector within the housing for the detecting the background radiation. A shield within the housing can surround the first and second detectors and define a shield aperture around the first and second detectors for radiation from the subject to enter the housing. A radiation blocking member can substantially block at least a portion of the ionizing radiation from reaching the second detector, whereby radiation detected by the second detector comprises substantially only the background radiation. A processor module can be connected to the first and second detectors for determining the amount of ionizing radiation detected by the first detector attributable to secondary radiation.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2012Date of Patent: February 7, 2017Assignee: Atomic Energy of Canada LimitedInventors: Xiongxin Dai, Liqian Li, Guy Jonkmans, Aaron Ho
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Patent number: 9561969Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a group of newly discovered intrinsic scintillation compounds. As intrinsic scintillators, these compounds do not require an external activator as a dopant. The new scintillators may include members of two elpasolite families with the general exemplary formulas of A2BMX(6-y)X?y and A3MX(6-y)X?y, (0<y<6).Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2015Date of Patent: February 7, 2017Assignee: University of Tennessee Research FoundationInventors: Hua Wei, Luis Stand, Mariya Zhuravleva, Charles Melcher
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Patent number: 9519753Abstract: Systems and methods for coordinating a medical imaging workflow with the use of preparation and coordination actions, and similar pre-processing protocols are disclosed herein. Imaging procedure data from a medical imaging study, such as image data and order data produced from imaging procedures (e.g., radiological imaging procedures) at medical facilities is processed and presented for review to a preparing user. The preparing user is offered the ability to change the display characteristics of image presentation, supplement erroneous or incomplete data and information of the study, open a support request for the study, or associate prior or comparison images with the study. The changes provided by the preparing user within these or other portions of a preparation protocol may be used to affect a subsequent display of the medical imaging study, and in some examples, to affect the assignment of the study in the workflow to particular imaging users.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 2015Date of Patent: December 13, 2016Assignee: Virtual Radiologic CorporationInventors: Kimberlee Gerdeman, Andrew Grabiel, Kenneth Leer, Joe Schmugge, Wade J. Steigauf, Benjamin Strong, Shannon Werb, Angela Yates
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Patent number: 9488638Abstract: Tritiated planar carbon forms and their production are provided. Methods are provided for the stoichiometrically controlled labeling of planar carbon forms capitalizing on normal flaws of carboxylic acids ubiquitously present in commercial preparations of these planar carbon forms. Alternative methods include generation of a metallated intermediate whereby a metal is substituted for hydrogen on the carbon backbone of a planar carbon form. The metalized intermediate is then reacted with a tritium donor to covalently label the planar carbon form. The tritiated planar carbon forms produced are useful, for example, for determination of a biological property or environmental fate of planar carbon forms.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2014Date of Patent: November 8, 2016Assignee: PerkinElmer Health Sciences, Inc.Inventor: Crist N. Filer
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Patent number: 9488740Abstract: An apparatus, method, computer-readable medium, and system for adjusting data acquisition parameters during a scan performed by a Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scanner. The method includes obtaining, during the scan, a current temperature of a detector of the PET scanner, and adjusting, based on the current temperature, the data acquisition parameters used by the PET scanner during the scan.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2013Date of Patent: November 8, 2016Assignee: Toshiba Medical Systems CorporationInventors: Daniel McGowan, Gin Chung Wang
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Patent number: 9411058Abstract: Polymer composite neutron detector materials are described. The composite materials include an aromatic polymer matrix, such as an aromatic polyester. Distributed within the polymer matrix are neutron capture agents, such as 6LiF nanoparticles, and organic or inorganic luminescent fluors. The composite materials can be formed into stretched or unstretched thin films, fibers or fiber mats.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2014Date of Patent: August 9, 2016Assignee: University of Tennessee Research FoundationInventor: Dayakar Penumadu
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Patent number: 9374540Abstract: An integrated circuit includes an array of pixels for capturing and processing successive image frames of a moving scene, the array including at least one row of pixels (inputs); and at least one current value register, in which the current value register is configured to store current pixel values captured from the array (inputs). Also included is at least one set of multiple accumulated value registers, in which each accumulated value register is configured to communicate with the current value register. Furthermore, there is included at least one readout register, in which the readout register is configured to communicate with the set of accumulated value registers. A controller is also included for shifting and summing the rows of pixels and outputting a summed column as a time delayed integrated (TDI) signal.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 2015Date of Patent: June 21, 2016Assignee: Exelis, Inc.Inventors: Andrew P. Sacco, J. Daniel Newman
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Patent number: 9335425Abstract: The invention is directed to several crystal arrangements for time-of-flight (ToF) positron emission tomography (PET) with depth of interaction (DOI) encoding for high spatial, energy and timing resolution. Additionally, several implementations of the ToF-DOI PET detector arrays are proposed with related measurements which all show that no timing degradation is visible in the used setup for first photon trigger for digital silicon photo multipliers (dSiPMs).Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 2012Date of Patent: May 10, 2016Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.Inventors: Peter Michael Jakob Dueppenbecker, Torsten Solf
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Patent number: 9295437Abstract: According to one embodiment, a flexible wedge filter is arranged between an X-ray tube and an examinee to attenuate a dose according to an X-ray from the X-ray tube. The flexible wedge filter has a plurality of filter modules 39 having a configuration capable of individually changing an X-ray transmission path length in an X-ray shielding material. The PCCT gantry controller individually operates the plurality of filter modules such that a dose according to an X-ray incident to an X-ray detector from the X-ray tube via the examinee is distributed substantially uniformly in spatial.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2014Date of Patent: March 29, 2016Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, Toshiba Medical Systems CorporationInventor: Yasuo Saito
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Patent number: 9268040Abstract: A method for processing electrical signals from a phoswich scintillator including an upstream scintillator and a downstream scintillator, the method including, for each electrical signal: digitization of the electrical signal; determination of an amplitude and an integral surface area of the digitized electrical signal; and representation of an event associated with an electrical signal by a pair of data items.Type: GrantFiled: November 23, 2012Date of Patent: February 23, 2016Assignee: Commissariat á l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternativesInventors: Vladimir Kondrasovs, Stephane Normand, Karim Boudergui, Matthieu Hamel, Chrystele Pittance, Licinio Rocha, Mathieu Trocme
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Patent number: 9217744Abstract: A method to dynamically image the actual translocation of molecular compounds of interest in a plant root, root system, and rhizosphere without disturbing the root or the soil. The technique makes use of radioactive isotopes as tracers to label molecules of interest and to image their distribution in the plant and/or soil. The method allows for the study and imaging of various biological and biochemical interactions in the rhizosphere of a plant, including, but not limited to, mycorrhizal associations in such regions.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2013Date of Patent: December 22, 2015Assignee: JEFFERSON SCIENCE ASSOCIATES, LLCInventors: Andrew Weisenberger, Gregory M. Bonito, Chantal D. Reid, Mark Frederick Smith
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Patent number: 9124214Abstract: A method for spatially determining the series resistance of a semiconductor structure by generating luminescent radiation in the semiconductor structure under measurement conditions A and B, by determining a local calibration parameter CV,i for a plurality of prescribed locations of the semiconductor structure and determining local series resistances RS,i for a plurality of prescribed locations of the semiconductor structure. It is essential that the local series resistances RS,i are each determined as a function of a global series resistance RSg of the semiconductor structure that is identical for all local series resistances.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2010Date of Patent: September 1, 2015Assignees: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft Zur Förderung Der Angewandten Forschung E.V., Albert-Ludwigs-Universität FreiburgInventors: Jonas Haunschild, Markus Glatthaar, Stefan Rein
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Patent number: 9040926Abstract: A rugged scintillation crystal assembly includes several scintillator crystals, which are optically coupled to each other by resilient optical-coupling material such as silicone pads and/or grease. The scintillator crystals are configured to collectively emit optical signals. Such a stack may combine the advantages of both a long form-factor for the overall assembly with the ruggedness of the assembly's component short crystals.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2013Date of Patent: May 26, 2015Assignee: CBG CorporationInventor: Paul L. Sinclair
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Patent number: 9040925Abstract: A spatially-aware radiation probe system/method allowing for detection and correction of radiation readings based on the position and/or movement of a radiation detector is disclosed. The system incorporates a radiation detector combined with a spatially-aware sensor to permit detection of spatial context parameters associated with the radiation detector and/or object being probed. This spatial context information is then used by analysis software to modify the detected radiation values and/or instruct the radiation probe operator as to appropriate measurement activity to ensure accurate radiation measurements. The spatially-aware sensor may include but is not limited to: distance sensors to determine the distance between the radiation detector and the object being monitored; accelerometers integrated within the radiation detector to detect movement of the radiation detector; and/or axial orientation sensors to determine the axial orientation of the radiation detector.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2013Date of Patent: May 26, 2015Assignee: CANBERRA INDUSTRIES, INC.Inventors: Olivier Gaëtan Giarmana, Archibald Dupont, Frederic Pierre Henri Meyer, Damien du Bouëtiez de Kerorguen
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Publication number: 20150136992Abstract: A method for making a rare-earth oxyorthosilicate scintillator single crystal includes growing a single crystal from a melt of compounds including a rare-earth element (such as Lu), silicon and oxygen, a compound including a rare-earth activator (such as Ce), and a compound of a Group-7 element (such as Mn). The method further includes selecting an scintillation performance parameter (such as decay), and based on the scintillation performance parameter to be achieved, doping activator and Group-7 element at predetermined levels, or relative levels between the two, so as to achieve stable growth of the single-crystalline scintillator material from the melt.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 10, 2014Publication date: May 21, 2015Inventors: Peter Carl Cohen, A. Andrew Carey, Mark S. Andreaco, Matthias J. Schmand, Brant Quinton
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Patent number: 9035261Abstract: Systems, devices, processes, and algorithms for adapting and/or adjusting a reflectivity of a reflector in a radiation detector. The reflectivity can be changed by a reflectivity control signal that is generated based on an estimated count rate of events so as to adjust a probability of a photosensor detecting light resulting from the event via, for example, a scintillation event. By adjusting the probability, an energy resolution of the radiation detector can be optimized. The reflectivity of a reflector can be changed by changing a state of a thin film, a liquid crystal layer, or a suspended magnetic particle layer.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2012Date of Patent: May 19, 2015Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATIONInventors: Gin-Chung Wang, Jerry Wang, Huini Du
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Patent number: 9029784Abstract: Typical practice of the present invention performs measurement and processing of two forms of light emissions—viz., unfiltered and filtered—of a core-valence luminescent (CVL) scintillator impinged by ionizing radiation emanating from a radioactive source. When unfiltered, the CVL scintillator light emission is inclusive of gamma emissions and neutron emissions. When filtered by a filtering apparatus that transmits CVL light only, the CVL scintillator light emission is inclusive of gamma emissions but is exclusive of neutron emissions. Algorithmic comparison between the two sets of empirical data provides discriminative information regarding gamma emissions versus neutron emissions. Essentially, the difference is taken between the unfiltered pulse height spectra data and the filtered pulse height data.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2011Date of Patent: May 12, 2015Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the NavyInventors: Veerendra K. Mathur, John H. Barkyoumb, Noel A. Guardala