Body Scanner Or Camera Patents (Class 250/363.02)
  • Patent number: 10307127
    Abstract: X-ray image data of an examination subject is acquired for an acquisition period by an X-ray detector of an X-ray system simultaneously with a decay process of a radioactive material taking place in or on the examination subject. The X-ray image data includes information relating to an X-ray attenuation distribution of the examination subject and information relating to the decay process. Correction image data representing the information relating to the decay process in the X-ray image data for the acquisition period is determined. Corrected X-ray image data for the acquisition period is generated using the X-ray image data and the correction image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Philipp Bernhardt, Dirk Ertel, Michael Stark
  • Patent number: 10310102
    Abstract: A gamma-ray detector for determining the direction to a source of gamma-rays is described. The detector comprises a first scintillation body coupled to a first photodetector and a second scintillation body coupled to a second photodetector, wherein the first scintillation body and the second scintillation body are arranged to be co-axial with a pointing axis of the detector. The detector further comprises a processing circuit arranged to receive output signals associated with the first and second photodetectors for a plurality of different orientations of the pointing axis of the detector relative to a reference direction. The processing circuit is further operable to determine a direction to the source of gamma-rays relative to the reference direction based on output signals associated with the first and second photodetectors for the plurality of different orientations of the pointing axis of the detector relative to the reference direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: Symetrica Limited
    Inventors: David Ramsden, Mark Abbott Foster
  • Patent number: 10304240
    Abstract: The present disclosure concerns a methodology that allows a user to “orbit” around a model on a specific axis of rotation and view an orthographic floor plan of the model. A user may view and “walk through” the model while staying at a specific height above the ground with smooth transitions between orbiting, floor plan, and walking modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Matterport, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Bell, Michael Beebe
  • Patent number: 10286551
    Abstract: A robot system is provided with a robot including a combination of mechanical units serving as multiple modules, a robot control device that controls the robot, and a memory provided in each of the mechanical units. In the memory, a shape model and a parameter for estimating the coasting distance of the robot are stored beforehand, the shape model indicating the shape of the mechanical unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Gou Inaba, Tomoyuki Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 10228470
    Abstract: A method for real-time processing of a pulse pile-up event comprises the following steps of: generating a fitted baseline value lookup table and a fitted energy value lookup table for a pulse falling edge, using a multi-voltage threshold sampling method to identify piled-up pulses and trigger a procedure of processing pulse signals; and using pulse priori information and acquired pulse information to acquire information of an incorrectly sampled portion due to a pulse pile-up by looking up in the tables, so as to recover information of the pile-up pulses in real time. First, in the disclosure the multi-voltage threshold sampling method is proposed to identify pile-up pulses at a high count rate and trigger a procedure of processing pulse signals. Next, pulse priori information and acquired pulse information are used to acquire information of an incorrectly sampled portion due to a pulse pile-up by looking up in the tables, to recover information of the piled-up pulses in real time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: RAYCAN TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD. (SU ZHOU)
    Inventors: Xiaoke Wu, Jun Zhu, Ming Niu, Tong Liu, Qingguo Xie
  • Patent number: 10194876
    Abstract: A gamma camera includes a detector array of a plurality of detector pixels. Each detector pixel is configured to generate a signal indicative of gamma or x-ray radiation incident on that detector pixel. Each collimator of a collimator array is configured to collimate the radiation onto a detector pixel. An actuator is configured to move the collimator array along an axis in one or a plurality of incremental movements, each incremental movement smaller than a lateral dimension of a detector pixel along that axis. A processor is configured to obtain the signals generated by each detector pixel of the plurality of detector pixels and to generate image data with sub-pixel resolution from the sampled signals and a position of the collimator when each signal was generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Inventor: Vitaly Gutkovich
  • Patent number: 10186338
    Abstract: The invention relates to a radioisotope generator (1) comprising an eluent reservoir (2) and a chromatographic column (3) connected to one another by a first eluent duct (4), characterized in that it comprises a second duct (7) and a valve (8) connected said second duct (7) to the first eluent duct and the first eluent duct, said valve (8) having a first position where the second duct (7) communicates with the first eluent duct (4) and a second position where the second duct (7) communicates with the first eluent duct (4), said second duct (7) having a bypass segment (9) for a predetermined eluent volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: INSTITUT NATIONAL DES RADIOELEMENTS
    Inventors: Jérôme Paris, Thierry Dierickx, Philippe Vanwolleghem, Valery Host, Steve Dierick
  • Patent number: 10181493
    Abstract: Among other things, a detection assembly of a radiation detector system is provided. In some embodiments, the detection assembly comprises a plurality of detector elements. Respective detector elements include a scintillator array, a photodetector array supporting the scintillator array on a first side of the photodetector array, and an electrical contact disposed on a second side of the photodetector array. In some embodiments, the detection assembly includes a printed circuit board. The electrical contact of respective detector elements is bonded to the printed circuit board to physically and electrically couple respective detector elements to the printed circuit board. A method of fabricating a detection assembly of a radiation detector system is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Analogic Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel Abenaim, Randy Luhta, Ruvin Deych, Andrew Litvin
  • Patent number: 10143437
    Abstract: A nuclear medicine (NM) multi-head imaging system is provided that includes a gantry, plural detector units, and at least one processor. The gantry defines a bore configured to accept an object to be imaged. The plural detector units are mounted to the gantry. Each detector unit defines a corresponding view oriented toward a center of the bore, and is configured to acquire imaging information over a sweep range. The at least one processor is configured to dynamically determine at least one boundary of an acquisition range corresponding to an uptake value of the object to be imaged for at least one of the detector units. The acquisition range is smaller than sweep range. The at least one processor is also configured to control the at least one detector unit to acquire imaging information over the acquisition range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Yaron Hefetz, Jean-Paul Bouhnik
  • Patent number: 10126391
    Abstract: A combined-modality imaging assembly includes a Magnetic Resonance (MR) imaging system and a nuclear imaging system. The nuclear imaging system has a plurality of (M) modules; and the combined imaging assembly includes a timing control unit having a reference clock unit; and at least one of a phase shifting unit and a frequency shifting unit. At least one of the phase shifting unit and the frequency shifting unit is configured to receive a reference clock signal from the reference clock unit and to generate a plurality of (M) shifted clock signals for clocking the (M) modules such that at least one of the (M) shifted clock signals is shifted respective the reference clock signal in at least one of frequency or phase. In so doing, reduced interference between the modules of the nuclear imaging system and the MR imaging system is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Bjoern Weissler, Pierre Gebhardt, Jacob Adrian Clemens Wehner, Volkmar Schulz
  • Patent number: 10121818
    Abstract: A digital quantum dot radiographic detection system described herein includes: a scintillation subsystem 202 and a semiconductor light detection subsystem 200, 200? (including a plurality of quantum dot image sensors 200a, 200b). In a first preferred digital quantum dot radiographic detection system, the plurality of quantum dot image sensors 200 is in substantially direct contact with the scintillation subsystem 202. In a second preferred digital quantum dot radiographic detection system, the scintillation subsystem has a plurality of discrete scintillation packets 212a, 212b, at least one of the discrete scintillation packets communicating with at least one of the quantum dot image sensors. The quantum dot image sensors 200 may be associated with semiconductor substrate 210 made from materials such as silicon (and variations thereof) or graphene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: OREGON DENTAL, INC.
    Inventor: Leigh E. Colby
  • Patent number: 10111634
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a nuclear medicine diagnostic apparatus includes a counting unit, a region of interest setting unit, a normalization unit, and an image generation unit. The counting unit counts radiation emitted from radioisotopes in an imaging region of an object. The ROI setting unit sets a region of interest (ROI) in the imaging region. The normalization unit determines association between count values and pixel values of display pixels for the ROI in accordance with a distribution of the count values of the display pixels corresponding to the ROI. The image generation unit generates an image of the ROI based on the association between the count values and the pixel values for the ROI.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Tatsuya Kimoto, Yoshihiro Ikeda
  • Patent number: 10082812
    Abstract: A low dropout voltage regulator includes: a pass element connected between an input terminal and an output terminal of the low dropout voltage regulator; an error amplifier driving a control terminal of the pass element; a first compensation element connected to the output terminal of the low dropout voltage regulator; and a compensation circuit connected to a control terminal (of the first compensation element, wherein the compensation circuit is configured to control a trans-conductance of the first compensation element in accordance with a noise compensation criterion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Bin Zhou, Vladimir Koifman
  • Patent number: 10034640
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for improvement of spatial resolution in molecular and radiological imaging is presented. System equipment includes bed with either flat or cylindrical detectors large detector arrays with collimator(s), lens(s), mirror(s) and/or shutter(s). This system utilizes magnification principles with large detector arrays. There is error reduction by reduction of non-collinearity error as seen in current PET scans by determination of the trajectory of the photons and accurate localization of the annihilation event of a positron. Additional error reduction of random coincidence and scatter coincidence is seen. Overall, this method and apparatus affords improved spatial resolution and higher efficiencies, which would allow for lower cost and dose reduction to the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Inventors: David Byron Douglas, Robert E. Douglas
  • Patent number: 10007010
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method for determining the depth of an interaction in a pixellated gamma radiation detector characterized in that it comprises the following steps: —detecting first photons on the detector (10); —measuring the arrival time (Tpc) of said first photons on the detector (10) for a central pixel; —measuring the arrival time (Tpa) of the first photons in a pixel adjacent to said central pixel; —comparing the time (Tpa) with the time (Tpc) in order to estimate the depth of interaction (Z) owing to the different light propagation speeds in adjacent pixels; —integrating the radiation emitted over the whole of the emission of a crystal of the detector in order to determine the energy of the interaction; and —recording the integral of the energy emitted by this detection. The invention further concerns a pixellated gamma radiation detector for implementing the above method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Inventor: Alain Iltis
  • Patent number: 9993222
    Abstract: A system and method of dynamic virtual collision objects includes a control unit for a medical device. The control unit includes one or more processors and an interface coupling the control unit to the medical device. The control unit is configured to determine a position of a first movable segment of the medical device, a volume occupied by the first movable segment being approximated by one or more first virtual collision objects (VCOs); adjust, based on the position and motion goals for the medical device, one or more properties of the first VCOs; determine, based on the position and the properties, first geometries of the first VCOs; receive second geometries of one or more second VCOs associated with a second segment of a second device; determine relationships between the first VCOs and the second VCOs; and adjust, based on the relationships, a motion plan for the medical device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Mahdi Azizian, Jonathan M. Sorger, Holger Kunze, Lutz Blohm
  • Patent number: 9991311
    Abstract: Some embodiments include an imaging system. The imaging system includes an active matrix pixel array having a flexible substrate and a pixel. The pixel includes a transistor over the flexible substrate, and the transistor includes multiple active layers having a first active layer and a second active layer over the first active layer. Further, the active matrix pixel array also includes a photodiode over the transistor, and the photodiode includes an N-type layer over the transistor, an I layer over the N-type layer, and a P-type layer over the I layer. Meanwhile, the imaging system also includes a flexible scintillator layer over the active matrix pixel array. Other embodiments of related systems and methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: ARIZONA BOARD OF REGENTS ON BEHALF OF ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Joseph T. Smith, Michael Marrs
  • Patent number: 9977138
    Abstract: A thermal neutron detecting device comprises a scintillator unit including a scintillator layer and a nuclear capture reaction layer, and an optical sensor array unit. The scintillator layer emits light upon receiving incident gamma ray or charged particles. The nuclear capture reaction layer is laminated on a side of the scintillator layer on which the gamma ray or the charged particles are incident, and includes first cell regions and second cell regions two-dimensionally, dispersedly arranged along an incidence plane of the gamma ray or the charged particles. The first cell regions contain a 6Li compound as a nuclear capture reaction material yielding nuclear capture reaction with incident thermal neutrons to generate the charged particles. The second cell regions contain no nuclear capture reaction material. The optical sensor array unit is capable of detecting a quantity of the emitted light in association with each of the first and second cell regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: YASU MEDICAL IMAGING TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Fumiaki Kunimoto
  • Patent number: 9936895
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes a gantry and a movable bed. A magnet, a gradient coil, and a radio frequency coil are built in the gantry. The movable bed is configured to be positioned to the gantry by a positioning mechanism having different structures at different positions in a longitudinal direction of the bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: TOSHIBA MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiromitsu Takamori
  • Patent number: 9934733
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided that employ one or more of a variety of techniques for reducing the time required to display high resolution images on a high dynamic range display having a light source layer and a display layer. In one technique, the image resolution is reduced, an effective luminance pattern is determined for the reduced resolution image, and the resolution of the effective luminance pattern is then increased to the resolution of the—display layer. In another technique, the light source layer's point spread function is decomposed into a plurality of components, and an effective luminance pattern is determined for each component. The effective luminance patterns are then combined to produce a total effective luminance pattern. Additional image display time reduction techniques are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Lorne A. Whitehead, Helge Seetzen, Gregory John Ward, Wolfgang Heidrich
  • Patent number: 9924916
    Abstract: An X-ray CT apparatus includes: intensity distribution data acquiring circuitry is configured to acquire, by performing a first scan, intensity distribution data of X-rays being radiated from an X-ray tube and having passed through a subject; scan controlling circuitry is configured to estimate an X-ray dose with which it is possible to discriminate individual X-ray photons having passed through the subject based on the intensity distribution data and to cause a second scan that is for a photon counting CT purpose to be performed by causing the estimated dose of X-rays to be radiated from the X-ray tube to the subject; a counting result acquiring circuitry is configured to acquire, by the second scan, a counting result by counting the X-ray photons being radiated from the X-ray tube and having passed through the subject; and an image reconstructing circuitry is configured to reconstruct X-ray CT image data based on the counting result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Tooru Kato, Hiroaki Nakai, Kanta Kobuchi
  • Patent number: 9903961
    Abstract: A photodetector array readout and dynamic multiplexing method for reducing the overall channel count in a PET scanner system is disclosed. A PET system includes detector modules mounted on a ring-shaped gantry, each module including an array of M×N pixelated scintillators with photosensors attached to each pixelated scintillator on at least one of the top and the bottom surfaces. The multiplexer includes row and column summing, pulse shaping, and dynamic switching circuits multiplexing M×N inputs to a single output representing the energy and timing of the detected radiation. A position encoder is configured to receive outputs from the N+M summing circuits, and determine which pixelated scintillator had a gamma ray interaction. When photosensors are attached on both surfaces, the depth of interaction is determined as well based on the relative strength of the top and bottom surface readouts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: FMI Medical Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Johnny S. Ng, Piyush J. Shah, Xiaoxu Niu
  • Patent number: 9871073
    Abstract: An x-ray detector may comprise: a moisture-impermeable substrate including a non-monolithic conductive portion integrated with a monolithic dielectric portion; a scintillator and an array of CMOS tiles positioned between the scintillator and the substrate; a cover positioned on the substrate and forming a seal therebetween that semi-hermetically encloses the scintillator and the array of CMOS tiles in a covered sealed region; and analog-to-digital electronics conductively coupled to the array of CMOS tiles and to the conductive portion, wherein the conductive portion transmits signals from the covered sealed region to beyond the seal without disrupting a semi-hermeticity of the seal. In this way, sealing of multiply-tiled CMOS image array detectors within a single x-ray detector can be more simply and reliably achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Nicholas Konkle, Biju Jacob, Douglas Albagli, William Andrew Hennessy
  • Patent number: 9851452
    Abstract: A converter unit configured to convert incident photons into electrons comprises multiple blind holes forming respective ionization chambers. In additional embodiments, the converter unit is arranged in a detector, such as an X-ray detector or absolute radiation dose measurement detector, additionally comprising an electron amplification device and/or a readout device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: C-RAD IMAGING AB
    Inventors: Kristofer Maad, Gunnar Norberg
  • Patent number: 9851456
    Abstract: A tomograph for imaging an interior of an examined object, the tomograph comprising: TOF-PET detection modules configured to register annihilation quanta and deexcitation quanta and a data reconstruction system (103, 203, 303) configured to reconstruct an ortho-positronium to-ps(x,y,z) lifetime image and a probability of production of positronium Ppoz(x,y,z) as a function of position in the imaged object, on the basis of a difference (At) between a time of annihilation (ta) and a time of emission of a deexcitation quantum (te), wherein the TOF-PET detection modules (101, 201, 301) comprise scintillators having a time resolution of less than 100 ps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: UNIWERSYTET JAGIELLONSKI
    Inventors: Pawel Moskal, Ines Moskal, Gabriel Moskal
  • Patent number: 9841515
    Abstract: A system (10) and a method (150) identify non-functioning pixels in positron emission tomography (PET) imaging. Data describing scintillation events localized to a plurality of pixels (22, 32) of a PET scanner (12) is received. A count map histogram is generated from the received data. The count map histogram maps each of the pixels (22, 32) to a count of scintillation events localized to the pixel (22, 32). One or more non-functioning pixels are identified from the count map histogram.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Thomas Leroy Laurence, Sharon Xiaorong Wong
  • Patent number: 9829445
    Abstract: An apparatus for testing diffraction or diffusion of a light beam is provided. The apparatus includes a photosensitive semiconductor, shaped to define an aperture. At least one anode, and a plurality of cathodes, are coupled to the semiconductor. An optical element, configured to modify an angular spread of a light beam that traverses the optical element, is disposed within the aperture. A detector is configured to detect electric currents that pass between the cathodes and the anode in response to a portion of the light beam exiting the optical element and hitting the semiconductor. Other embodiments are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Jawad Nawasra, Yazan Z. Alnahhas
  • Patent number: 9817132
    Abstract: A digital x-ray detector comprises a substrate, gate and data lines on the substrate to have the lines intersect each other to form a pixel domain, a thin film transistor within the pixel domain and adjacent to a portion where the gate and data lines intersect each other, the thin film transistor including gate, source, and drain electrodes and an active layer, a PIN diode within the pixel domain and including a lower electrode connected to the source electrode of the thin film transistor, a PIN layer on the lower electrode, and an upper electrode on the PIN layer, a bias line connected to the upper electrode of the PIN diode, and a scintillator disposed above the PIN diode. An aperture hole is formed on a plate surface of the upper electrode to transmit a visible ray from the scintillator directly towards the PIN layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Hydis Technologies Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Seongsu Kim, Jong Ho Jang
  • Patent number: 9812510
    Abstract: A method for packaging an organic photodetector includes providing a multilayer structure disposed on a portion of a substrate to form the organic photodetector; providing a casing having at least one wall and an open end, wherein the casing includes at least one aperture in at least one wall; sealing the open end of the casing with the substrate to enclose the multilayer structure in a volume such that the least one aperture is located in a path of radiation to an inactive region of the organic photodetector; evacuating the volume through the at least one aperture; and closing the at least one aperture after evacuating the volume to form a detector package. The multilayer structure includes a thin film transistor (TFT) array, an organic photodiode disposed on the TFT array, and a scintillator layer disposed on the organic photodiode. An imaging system including the detector package is also presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Kwang Hyup An, Jie Jerry Liu
  • Patent number: 9804277
    Abstract: In a radiation detector, a first segment positioned closest to the other side in a predetermined direction and a second segment positioned closest to the other side in the predetermined direction are optically connected to each other, and the first segments other than the first segment positioned closest to the other side in the predetermined direction and the second segments other than the second segment positioned closest to the other side in the predetermined direction are optically separated from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: HAMAMATSU PHOTONICS K.K.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Uchida, Hidemoto Yamauchi, Kento Hakamata
  • Patent number: 9778378
    Abstract: A detector configuration that combines a plurality of elongated semiconductor photo-multiplier sensor strips coupled to a scintillator crystal block with a differential readout that will enhance the time resolution. This is permitted due to a reduction of electronic noise due to reduced cross talk and noise in the ground. In addition, the dead area is minimized and thus the efficiency of the photodetector is enhanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignees: CERN EUROPEAN ORGANIZATION FOR NUCLEAR RESEARCH, ISTITUTO NAZIONALE DI FISICA NUCLEARE
    Inventor: Crispin Williams
  • Patent number: 9778379
    Abstract: A photon-counting X-ray computed tomography (CT) apparatus of an embodiment includes photon-counting CT detection circuitry, integral CT detection circuitry, switching circuitry, and a feedback capacitance. Photon-counting CT detection circuitry outputs count values for respective energy bins, based on voltage pulses output from a feedback capacitance with electric charges output from an X-ray detection element configured to detect incident X-rays. Integral CT detection circuitry outputs an integral value, based on the voltage pulses output from the feedback capacitance with the electric charges output from the X-ray detection element. Switching circuitry switches between a case of transmitting the electric charges output from the X-ray detection element to the photon-counting CT detection circuitry and a case of transmitting the electric charges output from the X-ray detection element to the integral CT detection circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventor: Tomoe Sagoh
  • Patent number: 9757077
    Abstract: When two detector panels are rotationally moved around the entire circumference of a region of interest and projection images of the region of interest are captured during the rotational movement, the respective detector panels are moved along the tangential direction of the rotational movement to a position where the union of the capturing ranges of the projection images captured by the respective detector panels covers the entire region of interest. The projection images captured by the respective detector panels are used to reconstruct a transaxial image of the region of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsuro Suzuki, Yuichiro Ueno, Takafumi Ishitsu, Wataru Takeuchi, Isao Takahashi
  • Patent number: 9724077
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides for a surgical device. The surgical device includes a jaw assembly and a camera assembly coupled to the jaw assembly. The camera assembly includes a camera housing defining an interior space having at least one opening on a side thereof, first and second support arms pivotally coupled within the camera housing and deployable therefrom, and a camera body coupled to the first and second support arms and moveable between a first position, in which the camera body is positioned within the interior space of the camera housing, and a second position, in which the camera body extends from the at least one opening of the camera assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Ernest Aranyi, Michael P. Whitman, Donald Malinouskas, David A. Nicholas
  • Patent number: 9704300
    Abstract: A framework for anatomy orientation detection is described herein. In accordance with one aspect, a pre-trained regressor is applied to appearance features of the image volume to predict a colatitude of the structure of interest. An optimal longitude corresponding to the predicted colatitude is then determined. In response to the colatitude being more than a pre-determined threshold, the image volume is re-oriented based on the predicted colatitude and the optimal longitude, and the predicted colatitude and optimal longitude determination is repeated for the re-oriented image volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Fitsum Aklilu Reda, Yiqiang Zhan, Xiang Sean Zhou
  • Patent number: 9690006
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a downhole tool that includes a photon source, a photon detector having a plurality of detector pixels in a cylindrical row and column arrangement, and a radial collimator having at least two concentric frustoconical collimators circumferentially arranged about the photon detector and at least two azimuthal collimating members radially arranged with respect to the photon detector, wherein one of the azimuthal collimating members is on a first side of a detector pixel and a second azimuthal collimator is on a second side of a detector pixel opposite the first side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Dongwon Lee, Weijun Guo
  • Patent number: 9649509
    Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods for positioning a radiation source with respect to one or more regions of interest in a coordinate system. Such systems and methods may be used in emission guided radiation therapy (EGRT) for the localized delivery of radiation to one or more patient tumor regions. These systems comprise a gantry movable about a patient area, where a plurality of positron emission detectors, a radiation source are arranged movably on the gantry, and a controller. The controller is configured to identify a coincident positron annihilation emission path and to position the radiation source to apply a radiation beam along the identified emission path. The systems and methods described herein can be used alone or in conjunction with surgery, chemotherapy, and/or brachytherapy for the treatment of tumors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: RefleXion Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel Mazin, Akshay Nanduri
  • Patent number: 9645257
    Abstract: A radiation sensor can include a first layer and a second layer. The first layer can include a first scintillation material to produce first light in response to receiving a first targeted radiation, and the second layer can include a second scintillation material to produce second light in response to receiving a second targeted radiation. The first scintillation material can be different from the second scintillation material, and the first targeted radiation can be different from the second targeted radiation. The first layer can be configured to receive and transmit the second light. In an embodiment, the radiation sensor can be part of a radiation detection system that includes a photosensor that can produce an electronic pulse in response to the first and second lights. A method of detecting radiation can include using the radiation detection system to distinguish different radiations by differences in pulse shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: SAINT-GOBAIN CERAMICS & PLASTICS, INC.
    Inventor: Michael R. Kusner
  • Patent number: 9638809
    Abstract: A combined thermal neutron detector and gamma-ray spectrometer system, including: a first detection medium including a lithium chalcopyrite crystal operable for detecting neutrons; a gamma ray shielding material disposed adjacent to the first detection medium; a second detection medium including one of a doped metal halide, an elpasolite, and a high Z semiconductor scintillator crystal operable for detecting gamma rays; a neutron shielding material disposed adjacent to the second detection medium; and a photodetector coupled to the second detection medium also operable for detecting the gamma rays; wherein the first detection medium and the second detection medium do not overlap in an orthogonal plane to a radiation flux. Optionally, the first detection medium includes a 6LiInSe2 crystal. Optionally, the second detection medium includes a SrI2(Eu) scintillation crystal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignees: Consolidated Nuclear Security, LLC, Fisk University
    Inventors: Ashley C. Stowe, Arnold Burger, Pijush Bhattacharya, Yevgeniy Tupitsyn
  • Patent number: 9607722
    Abstract: 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 and/or injection parameters for quality control, and/or to perform purges of the system, and/or to facilitate diagnostic imaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Bracco Diagnostics Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen E. Hidem, Aaron M. Fontaine, Janet L. Gelbach, Patrick M. McDonald, Kathryn M. Hunter, Rolf E. Swenson, Julius P. Zodda
  • Patent number: 9592018
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for performing glandular reduction are described. In an example embodiment, an apparatus includes a needle-like probe containing a scintillation detector for converting gamma and x-rays emitted from a radio-labeled gland into photons that are then carried from the probe through a fiberoptic cable to a photodetector, and a therapy element for causing selective tissue destruction by directing energy toward the radio-labeled gland.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
    Inventor: David W. Robertson
  • Patent number: 9569829
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus comprising: an obtaining unit configured to obtain a plurality of radiation images that have been sensed without arranging an object and include a defect, and information about the defect included in the radiation images; and a generation unit configured to generate a sensitivity correction image not including the defect based on the plurality of radiation images and the information about the defect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hirokazu Ohguri, Shinya Katsumata
  • Patent number: 9545526
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for imaging and treatment of tumorous tissue in a patient. In an embodiment, the system includes a radiation source for generating a radiation beam comprising high-energy photons with low energy distributions for high contrast imaging along with high energy distributions for efficient treatment dose delivery. The radiation source includes a charged particle accelerator that generates charged particles having energies of less than 6 megavolts (MV), a target to receive the charged particles and generate the high-energy photons of the radiation beam, and a collimator to emit the radiation beam. The system further includes an imaging device of high detective quantum efficiency to define a target region of the tumorous tissue in the patient using the radiation beam, and a controller to determine the shape and modulate the dose for treatment of the tumorous tissue based on the defined target region, using the radiation beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Inventor: Larry D. Partain
  • Patent number: 9536305
    Abstract: Computerized interpretation of medical images for quantitative analysis of multi-modality breast images including analysis of FFDM, 2D/3D ultrasound, MRI, or other breast imaging methods. Real-time characterization of tumors and background tissue, and calculation of image-based biomarkers is provided for breast cancer detection, diagnosis, prognosis, risk assessment, and therapy response. Analysis includes lesion segmentation, and extraction of relevant characteristics (textural/morphological/kinetic features) from lesion-based or voxel-based analyses. Combinations of characteristics in several classification tasks using artificial intelligence is provided. Output in terms of 1D, 2D or 3D distributions in which an unknown case is identified relative to calculations on known or unlabeled cases, which can go through a dimension-reduction technique.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: QUANTITATIVE INSIGHTS, INC.
    Inventors: Maryellen L. Giger, Robert Tomek, Jeremy Bancroft Brown, Andrew Robert Jamieson, Li Lan, Michael R. Chinander, Karen Drukker, Hui Li, Neha Bhooshan, Gillian Newstead
  • Patent number: 9532838
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for enhancing surgical planning provide enhanced planning of entry port placement and/or robot position for laparoscopic, robotic, and other minimally invasive surgery. Various embodiments may be used in robotic surgery systems to identify advantageous entry ports for multiple robotic surgical tools into a patient to access a surgical site. Generally, data such as imaging data is processed and used to create a model of a surgical site, which can then be used to select advantageous entry port sites for two or more surgical tools based on multiple criteria. Advantageous robot positioning may also be determined, based on the entry port locations and other factors. Validation and simulation may then be provided to ensure feasibility of the selected port placements and/or robot positions. Such methods, apparatus, and systems may also be used in non-surgical contexts, such as for robotic port placement in munitions diffusion or hazardous waste handling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Eve C. Coste-Maniere, Louai Adhami, Jean-Daniel Boissonnat, Alain Carpentier, Gary S. Guthart
  • Patent number: 9517045
    Abstract: Provided are a radiographic imaging apparatus and a method of controlling the same. The radiographic imaging apparatus includes a radiographic source configured to emit radiographic rays in a discontinuous eigen energy spectrum, a radiographic detector configured to receive the radiographic rays, convert the received radiographic rays into electrical signals, and count the number of photons having energy that exceeds a threshold energy, and a controller configured to adjust the threshold energy by comparing an energy spectrum of the detected radiographic rays with the eigen energy spectrum of the emitted radiographic rays from the radiographic source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ji Hoon Kang, Sang Min Lee, Min Kook Cho
  • Patent number: 9482562
    Abstract: A radiation detector head assembly is provided that includes a detector housing and a detector unit. The detector housing defines a cavity therein. The detector housing includes a shell and a shielding body. The shell defines at least a portion of a perimeter surrounding the shielding body, and includes an extrusion defining the at least a portion of a perimeter. The extrusion is formed from a first material that is configured for rigidity. The shielding body includes a second material configured to shield radiation. The detector unit is disposed within the cavity, and includes an absorption member and associated processing circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Yaron Hefetz, Jean-Paul Bouhnik, Nati Herman
  • Patent number: 9478176
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided that employ one or more of a variety of techniques for reducing the time required to display high resolution images on a high dynamic range display having a light source layer and a display layer. In one technique, the image resolution is reduced, an effective luminance pattern is determined for the reduced resolution image, and the resolution of the effective luminance pattern is then increased to the resolution of the-display layer. In another technique, the light source layer's point spread function is decomposed into a plurality of components, and an effective luminance pattern is determined for each component. The effective luminance patterns are then combined to produce a total effective luminance pattern. Additional image display time reduction techniques are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Lorne A. Whitehead, Helge Seetzen, Gregory John Ward, Wolfgang Heidrich
  • Patent number: 9465118
    Abstract: A radiation detection system can include a photosensor to receive light from a scintillator via an input and to send an electrical pulse at an output in response to receiving the light. The radiation detection system can also include a pulse analyzer that can determine whether the electrical pulse corresponds to a neutron-induced pulse, based on a ratio of an integral of a particular portion of the electrical pulse to an integral of a combination of a decay portion and a rise portion of the electrical pulse. Each of the integrals can be integrated over time. In a particular embodiment, the pulse analyzer can be configured to compare the ratio with a predetermined value and to identify the electrical pulse as a neutron-induced pulse when the ratio is at least the predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: SAINT-GOBAIN CERAMICS & PLASTICS, INC.
    Inventors: Peter R. Menge, Clarisse Tur
  • Patent number: 9453935
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a gantry configuration for a combined mobile radiation inspection system comprising a first arm frame, a second arm frame and a third arm frame. The first, second and third arm frames define a scanning channel to allow an inspected object to pass therethrough. The gantry configuration for the combined mobile radiation inspection system further comprises a position sensing device configured to detect a position error between the first arm frame and the second arm frame; and a controller configured to control a moving speed of at least one of the first arm frame and the second arm frame based on the detected position error, so that the position error between the first arm frame and the second arm frame is equal to zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignees: Nuctech Company Limited, Tsinghua University
    Inventors: Jianmin Li, Yuanjing Li, Chunguang Zong, Quanwei Song, Tao Xue, Qingjun Zhang, Sheng Tang