Testing Or Calibration Patents (Class 378/207)
  • Patent number: 11303831
    Abstract: A radiation imaging apparatus includes an imaging unit having a pixel array of pixels, and a signal processing unit for processing a signal from the imaging unit. Each pixel includes a conversion element for converting radiation into electrical signal and a reset unit for resetting the conversion element, the signal processing unit generates radiation image based on first image corresponding to electrical signal converted by the conversion unit of each pixel in a first period, and second image corresponding to electrical signal converted by the conversion element of each pixel in a second period which starts after start of the first period and ends before end of the first period, and in each pixel, the conversion element is not reset by the reset unit in the first period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Atsushi Iwashita, Kosuke Terui, Akira Tsukuda, Sota Torii
  • Patent number: 11300696
    Abstract: A radiation imaging device capable of reducing the number of measurement times of calibration data used in pile up correction while maintaining the accuracy of the pile up correction. The radiation imaging device has a photon counting type detector to output an electric signal corresponding to energy of an incident radiation photon. The radiation imaging device includes: an extraction unit that extracts a component by the number of pile ups from a material spectrum, as a photon energy spectrum, obtained by detecting a radioactive ray transmitted through a calibration member, formed by combining plural basal substances having different radiation attenuation coefficients, with the photon counting type detector; and a synthesis unit that generates a calibrated equivalent spectrum, as a photon energy spectrum to be collated with an imaging spectrum obtained by imaging a subject by synthesizing the components by the number of pile ups based on the imaging spectrum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Healthcare Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuma Yokoi, Isao Takahashi
  • Patent number: 11291425
    Abstract: In order to sufficiently capture spatial distortion specific to an X-ray CT device and evaluate the three-dimensional shape measurement accuracy of the X-ray CT device, in a utensil, by attaching support rods fixing spheres to the tip thereof and having different lengths to a base spheres are arranged in an XYZ space on the base. On a flat surface on the top of the base, the support rods supporting the spheres and having different lengths are arranged at predetermined intervals. In doing so, the spheres are arranged in the XYZ space respectively at appropriate inter-sphere distances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignees: SHIMADZU CORPORATION, NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ADVANCED INDUSTRIAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Taketo Kishi, Makoto Sato, Toshiyuki Takatsuji, Makoto Abe, Hiroyuki Fujimoto
  • Patent number: 11291865
    Abstract: A verification device for robotic radiotherapy provides beam imaging displaced from an isocenter of a treatment plan to isolate individual beams for comparison to a baseline image to deduce convergence or target deviations in each of three dimensions over the area of a planar imager and perpendicular to that area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Standard Imaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Jacob A. Gersh, Regina K. Fulkerson
  • Patent number: 11246554
    Abstract: A radiographic imaging system uses an automatic exposure control device configured at a default shut-off threshold. If the radiographic imaging system includes a processor programmed to process the image by executing a scatter removal algorithm thereupon, the shut-off threshold of the AEC is increased prior to capturing the radiographic image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Carestream Health, Inc.
    Inventor: Xiaohui Wang
  • Patent number: 11246208
    Abstract: A method may include obtaining a feedback or a reference value of a tube voltage applied to a radiation source of a radiation device for generating radiation rays. The method may also include determining, based on the feedback or the reference value of the tube voltage, a specific value of a focusing parameter associated with a focusing device of the radiation device. The method may further include causing the focusing device to shape a focus of the radiation rays according to the determined value of the focusing parameter. The focus of the radiation rays may satisfy an operational constraint under the specific value of the focusing parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: SHANGHAI UNITED IMAGING HEALTHCARE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Guoping Zhu, Jinglin Wu, Tieshan Zhang, Siming Chen, Xu Chu
  • Patent number: 11224396
    Abstract: An x-ray imaging apparatus and associated methods are provided to receive measured projection data from a wide aperture scan of a wide axial region and a narrow aperture scan of a narrow axial region within the wide axial region and determine an estimated scatter in the wide axial region using an optimized scatter estimation technique. The optimized scatter estimation technique is based on the difference between the measured scatter in the narrow axial region and the estimated scatter in the narrow axial region. Kernel-based scatter estimation/correction techniques can be fitted to minimize the scatter difference in the narrow axial region and thereafter applying the fitted (optimized) kernel-based scatter estimation/correction to the wide axial region. Optimizations can occur in the projection data domain or the reconstruction domain. Iterative processes are also utilized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: Accuray, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Gagnon, Chuanyong Bai, Zhicong Yu, Amit Jain, Calvin R. Maurer, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11202652
    Abstract: Exemplary methods, apparatus, and systems are disclosed for automated registration and motion compensation of patient-mounted needle guide medical devices using fiducial markers, and processing algorithms where a re-registration step is provided. These methods, apparati, and systems adaptively compensate for the displacement of the medical device and/or target location due to the patient movement or internal organ motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignees: Canon U.S.A., Inc., The Brigham and Women's Hospital Inc.
    Inventors: Junichi Tokuda, Laurent Chauvin, Kemal Tuncali, Nobuhiko Hata, Santosh Ganesan, Barret Daniels, Brian Ninni, Franklin King
  • Patent number: 11189045
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for evaluating the characteristics of the focal spot of an X-ray tube. This algorithm can be used to obtain the size of fuzzy zone and focal spot size in all directions, and the average value thereof can be automated to replace cumbersome manual operations and reduce human error. The algorithm can be used to automatically obtain the size of fuzzy zone and focal spot size in each direction, as well as their average value, thus replacing cumbersome manual operations and reducing personal error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: NATIONAL YANG MING CHIAO TUNG UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Jyh-Cheng Chen, Suei-Ting Jhao
  • Patent number: 11175418
    Abstract: A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions readable and executable by a workstation (18) including at least one electronic processor (20) to perform a quality control (QC) method (100). The method includes: receiving a current QC data set acquired by a pixelated detector (14) and one or more prior QC data sets acquired by the pixelated detector; determining stability levels of detector pixels (16) of the pixelated detector over time from the current QC data set and the one or more prior QC data sets; labeling a detector pixel of the pixelated detector as dead when the stability level determined for the detector pixel is outside of a stability threshold range; and displaying, on a display device (24) operatively connected with the workstation, an identification (28) of the detector pixels labelled as dead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Chuanyong Bai, Andriy Andreyev, Shushen Lin, Bin Zhang, Michael Allen Miller, Xiyun Song, Jinghan Ye, Shekhar Dwivedi, Zhiqiang Hu, Yu-Lung Hsieh, Ilya Brodskiy, Thomas Christopher Bulgrin, Yang-Ming Zhu, Douglas B. McKnight
  • Patent number: 11154268
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a new positron emission tomography (PET) scanning method that generates images with improved spatial resolution. The method includes placing a plurality of radiation-attenuating rods in a parallel arrangement near the target region of a patient, where the rods are in a first orientation with respect to the patient and conducting one or more PET scans of the target region generating a projection data that includes the radiation-attenuating rods, and reconstructing an image of the target region from the projection data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.
    Inventor: James J. Hamill
  • Patent number: 11134907
    Abstract: A signal processing method is disclosed, which includes detecting a total intensity of X-rays passing through an object comprising multiple materials; obtaining at least one set of basis information of basis material information of the multiple materials and basis component information of photon-electric absorption basis component and Compton scattering basis component of the object; estimating a scatter intensity component of the detected X-rays based on the at least one set of basis information and the detected total intensity; and obtaining an intensity estimate of primary X-rays incident on a detector based on the detected total intensity and the estimated scatter intensity component. An imaging system adopting the above signal processing method is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Xue Rui, Mingye Wu, Yannan Jin, Peter Michael Edic, Bruno Kristiaan Bernard De Man
  • Patent number: 11116466
    Abstract: A method, system and computer readable storage media for segmenting individual intra-oral measurements and registering said individual intraoral measurements to eliminate or reduce registration errors. An operator may use a dental camera to scan teeth and a trained deep neural network may automatically detect portions of the input images that can cause registration errors and reduce or eliminate the effect of these sources of registration errors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: DENTSPLY SIRONA Inc.
    Inventors: Stan Mandelkern, Joseph Lasker, Fred Duewer
  • Patent number: 11071510
    Abstract: The method may include obtaining a first set of imaging data affording a sagittal view relating to a subject and a first couch supporting the subject. The first couch may have a plurality of first positions reflected in the first set of imaging data as a first conformation. The method may also include determining a displacement field associated with a first set of imaging data with respect to the reference conformation based on the first conformation and a reference conformation. The method may further include adjusting the first set of imaging data with respect to the reference conformation based on the displacement field. In some embodiments, the method may include obtaining an image of the subject with respect to the reference conformation based on the adjusted first set of imaging data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: SHANGHAI UNITED IMAGING HEALTHCARE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Supratik Bose, Jonathan Maltz
  • Patent number: 11058497
    Abstract: Physicians performing invasive procedures require accuracy and precision when working with surgical tools. Surgical procedures are increasingly becoming minimally invasive, with physicians operating using cameras to view the surgery site and directing their tools through oculars or video displays. Ideally, the physician should be able to perform the invasive procedure while simultaneously observing both the real-time image of the patient and additional data critical for his medical decisions about the manipulation of the surgical tool and the next surgical step. The augmented reality navigation system of the present disclosure provides tool location visibility for invasive procedures through the use of location sensors included on a camera and/or on the tools used during a procedure. A location tracking system determines and monitors the locations of the tools and camera based on the characteristics of signals detected by the sensors and displays informational overlays on images obtained with a camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignees: Biosense Webster (Israel) Ltd., Acclarent, Inc.
    Inventors: Andres Claudio Altmann, Assaf Govari, Vadim Gliner, Itzhak Fang, Noam Rachli, Yoav Pinsky, Itamar Bustan, Jetmir Palushi, Zvi Dekel
  • Patent number: 11051782
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed, which significantly improves image quality. Specifically, the method disclosed utilizes structures within an image with a known or calculated value, such as a phantom or presumed homogeneous structure, such as an air mass outside of the patient. The method then performs segmentation of the imaging dataset and subsequent measurement of the structure with a known value. The difference between the known value and the measured value is used as a correction factor, which is then applied to the remainder of the dataset where values are not known. This can improve image quality by helping to generate extremely similar gray scale maps over multiple examinations and eliminate artifacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Inventor: Robert Edwin Douglas
  • Patent number: 11013487
    Abstract: An apparatus and method are described using a forward model to correct pulse pileup in spectrally resolved X-ray projection data from photon-counting detectors (PCDs). The forward model represents pulse pileup effects using an integral in which the integrand includes a term that is a function of a count rate, which term is called a spectrum distortion correction function. This correction function can be represented as superposition of basis energy functions and corresponding polynomials of the count rate, which are defined by the polynomial coefficients. To calibrate the forward model, the polynomial coefficients are adjusted to optimize an objective function, which uses calibration data having known projections lengths for the material components of a material decomposition. To determine projection lengths for projection data from a computed tomography scan, the calibrated polynomial coefficients are held constant and the projection lengths are adjusted to optimize an objective function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: CANON MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jian Zhou, Xiaohui Zhan, Zhou Yu
  • Patent number: 10977839
    Abstract: A method for determining assignment data is carried out in a method for determining a geometry calibration. The 3D calibration phantom features a calibration object with a number of calibration elements, which are arranged so that a descriptor based on the spatial arrangement is projectively invariant. Based upon the descriptor the calibration elements mapped in the 2D transmission element can be assigned to the calibration elements of the calibration object, so that the geometry calibration is determined on the basis of this assignment and the arrangement of the calibration elements in the three-dimensional space as well as on the 2D image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: SIEMENS HEALTHCARE GMBH
    Inventors: Andre Aichert, Andreas Maier, Tobias Wuerfl
  • Patent number: 10930028
    Abstract: An imaging method for computed tomographic system (1) includes following steps of: controlling a computed tomographic system (1) to receive a description operation for configuring description data; selecting one of a plurality of imaging parameter sets corresponding to different template data, wherein each imaging parameter set is used to maximize a contrast-to-noise ratio of the three-dimensional imaging data (34) matching with the corresponding template data; and, controlling the computed tomographic system (1) to execute a three-dimensional imaging operation according to the selected imaging parameter set for obtaining the three-dimensional imaging data (34). The present disclosed example has the ability of effectively reducing a technical threshold of operating the computed tomographic system (1) via automatically selecting the suitable one of the complex imaging parameter sets according to the comprehensible description operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: DELTA ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Sih-Yu Chen, Jhih-Shian Lee, Wen-Chieh Yang, Fang-Jing Li
  • Patent number: 10925572
    Abstract: A geometric calibration method for dual-axis digital tomosynthesis includes the steps of: providing a calibration phantom having a first plate, a second plate parallel to the first plate, and mark points distributed to the first and second plates; arranging any mark point at the first plate not to be vertically collinear with a mark point at the second plate; projecting the calibration phantom onto a planar detector to obtain a projected calibration-phantom image; deriving a conversion relationship between the mark point and the corresponding projected position at the planar detector to further establish a projection matrix related to an imaging system; and, applying the projection matrix to calculate a plurality of geometric parameters. In addition, a geometric calibration system for dual-axis digital tomosynthesis is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: INSTITUTE OF NUCLEAR ENERGY RESEARCH, ATOMIC ENERGY COUNCIL, EXECUTIVE YUAN, R.O.C
    Inventors: Chia-Hao Chang, Sheng-Pin Tseng, Yu-Ching Ni, Fan-Pin Tseng
  • Patent number: 10912181
    Abstract: A method is for detecting high-voltage flashovers in X-ray equipment including an X-ray emitter and a high-voltage supply. The X-ray emitter has an X-ray tube, surrounded by an insulating medium; and the high-voltage supply has a high-voltage generator and a cable. The cable is at least part of a connecting passage between the high-voltage generator and the X-ray tube. During normal operation of the X-ray equipment, an interference pulse, which occurs due to the high-voltage flashover in the connecting passage, is detected and evaluated with the aid of a measuring device, including a measuring element. As such, an assessment of the condition of the X-ray emitter and of other high voltage-carrying components, and measures that follow, are made using the evaluated interference pulse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: SIEMENS HEALTHCARE GMBH
    Inventor: Bernhard Gebert
  • Patent number: 10888299
    Abstract: The present invention provides an X-ray detection device and an apparatus and method for calibrating an X-ray detector, the method for calibrating an X-ray detector comprising: retrieving a calibration parameter stored in the X-ray detector relative to the X-ray detector; and calibrating the X-ray detector according to the calibration parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Peijun Chen, Wei Zhao, Yongtao Tan, Rowland Saunders
  • Patent number: 10881372
    Abstract: In an X-ray imaging apparatus, an X-ray irradiation unit, an X-ray detection unit, a control unit configured to control irradiation of an X-ray, an X-ray image processing unit configured to operate independently of the control unit, and a storage battery for the X-ray image processing unit and the control unit are provided. The X-ray image processing unit is configured to acquire information on a remaining amount of the storage battery from the control unit and perform processing of reducing power consumption of the X-ray image processing unit when the remaining amount of the storage battery is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: Shimadzu Corporation
    Inventor: Keita Gotoh
  • Patent number: 10856835
    Abstract: Phantoms for use in calibrating a dual energy imaging system and methods for their use. The phantoms include a body having at least first and second portions arranged in a through-thickness direction of the body. The first portion defines an anterior surface of the body and contains a first material simulating soft tissue and a second material simulating bone. The second portion contains a third material simulating lung tissue and at least a first object embedded in the third material and formed of a fourth material simulating tumor tissue. The first and second portions of the body are configured such that the second material in the first portion superimposes the first object in the second portion in the through-thickness direction of the body relative to the anterior surface thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: Loyola University Chicago
    Inventors: John C. Roeske, Rakesh Patel, Maksat Haytmyradov
  • Patent number: 10828003
    Abstract: A digital X-ray detector is provided. The digital X-ray detector includes control circuitry. The control circuitry is configured to obtain an electromagnetic interference (EMI) frequency of an EMI signal, to receive a signal to start a scan, to ensure EMI noise is in a same phase during acquisition of offset images and read images to enable a subtraction of the EMI noise, and to start the scan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: GE Precision Healthcare, LLC
    Inventors: Mahesh Raman Narayanaswamy, Catherine Noel Bailey, Joseph John Kulak, Jeffrey Alan Kautzer, Douglas Albagli, Jeffrey Lange
  • Patent number: 10809337
    Abstract: A method and a device for reconstructing magnetic resonance images with different contrasts are provided. According to an example of the method, after collecting magnetic resonance signal data recorded in k-space of N contrasts by N number of magnetic scans, a first image for each of the contrasts may be obtained by performing image reconstruction according to the magnetic resonance signal data corresponding to the contrast; an association coefficient of each of the contrasts may be determined according to the first images for the N contrasts; and a second image shared with the N contrasts may be obtained by performing image reconstruction based on the magnetic resonance signal data of the N contrasts and the association coefficient of each of the N contrasts. In this way, a reconstructed image for each of the contrast may be obtained by combining the association coefficient of the contrast with the second image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Shanghai Neusoft Medical Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Feng Huang
  • Patent number: 10810564
    Abstract: A decision support system initially determines in response to the creation of a customer ticket a customer's driving style in accordance with user responses and input regarding driving habits and preferences, and calculates a driving style algorithm. The system compares the driving style algorithm to car tire profiles and determines which tires are best suited to the customer's driving style algorithm. Upon said determination, the selected car tires are presented to the customer for final selection in a comprehensive service platform environment for creating, forwarding, performing, and completing customer tickets amongst front end devices comprising a computer kiosk and a customer's mobile device, and a back end device comprising an employee's mobile device. Tickets created via a front end device are forwarded for performance to the back end device, wherein upon completion of service the ticket is finalized and forwarded back to a front end device for review and payment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLC
    Inventors: Matthew R. Kolton, John T. Stoner, Joyce R. Barbieri, Timothy J. Netzel, Amber C. Holm, Kimberly M. Hughes
  • Patent number: 10804605
    Abstract: The system and method of calibrating a receiver array using a quaternionic scattering model. The calibration method is model based, quick, and suitable for sparse sampling of the array. The calibration scheme can be cheaply and rapidly deployed, either from operational test data or from rapid ground calibration experiments. The model allows for closed loop calibration repair during actual geolocation or line of bearing collects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.
    Inventor: Matthew C. Bromberg
  • Patent number: 10725188
    Abstract: Photon-counting x-ray detectors (3) suffer from a degradation of their performance due to polarization. In order to correct the effects of polarization to the generated x-ray images, the invention suggests (i) exposing the radiation detector (3) to a first radiation pulse emitted by a further radiation source (11) and obtaining a first electric pulse signal generated by the radiation detector (3) in response thereto, (ii) later exposing the 5 radiation detector (3) to a second radiation pulse emitted by the further radiation source (11) during the acquisition of the image and obtaining a second electric pulse signal generated by the radiation detector (3) in response thereto, and (iii) comparing amplitudes of the first and second electric pulse signals and generating the x-ray image based on a result of the comparison. The invention provides a corresponding x-ray device and a corresponding method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Roger Steadman Booker, Ewald Roessl, Heiner Daerr
  • Patent number: 10706595
    Abstract: A method for reconstructing an object via tomography is provided. The method includes: acquiring a plurality of projections of the object at different angles via an imaging system; backprojecting each projection of the plurality to generate an intermediate image of each projection via at least one processor of the imaging system; and applying a filter to each intermediate image via the at least one processor. The filter is based at least in part on a noise model and an image model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: Cyril Riddell
  • Patent number: 10698125
    Abstract: Time of flight (TOF) corrections for radiation detector elements of a TOF positron emission tomography (TOF PET) scanner are generated by solving an over-determined set of equations defined by calibration data acquired by the TOF PET scanner from a point source located at an isocenter of the TOF PET scanner, suitably represented as matrix equation Formula I=CS where Formula I represents TOF time differences, C is a relational matrix encoding the radiation detector elements, and S represents the TOF corrections. A pseudo-inverse C?1 of relational matrix C may be computed to solve S=C?1 Formula I. TOF corrections can be generated for a particular type of detector unit by identifying the radiation detector elements in C by detector unit. Further, multi-photon triggering time stamps can be adjusted to first-photon triggering based on Formula II where P1 is average photon count using first-photon triggering and Pm is a photon count using multi-photon triggering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Sharon Xiaorong Wang, Thomas Leroy Laurence
  • Patent number: 10638994
    Abstract: A method and system for producing tomosynthetic images of a patient's breast. An x-ray source that delivers x-rays through a breast immobilized and compressed between a compression paddle and a breast platform and form an image at a digital x-ray receptor panel. Multiple x-ray images are taken as the x-ray source and the receptor move relative to the immobilized breast. In one preferred embodiment, the x-ray source travels from ?15° to +15°. The source can travel in an arc around the breast while the receptor travels linearly while remaining parallel and at the same distance from the breast platform. The sets of x-ray image data taken at different angles are to combined to form tomosynthetic images that can be viewed in different formats, alone or as an adjunct to conventional mammograms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: Hologic, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth DeFreitas, Baorui Ren, Ian Shaw, Christopher Ruth, Andrew P. Smith, Jay A. Stein
  • Patent number: 10605737
    Abstract: A system and method for characterizing contributions to signal noise associated with charge-coupled devices adapted for use in biological analysis. Dark current contribution, readout offset contribution, photo response non-uniformity, and spurious charge contribution can be determined by the methods of the present teachings and used for signal correction by systems of the present teachings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: APPLIED BIOSYSTEMS, LLC
    Inventors: Austin B. Tomaney, Mark F. Oldham
  • Patent number: 10603514
    Abstract: A radiotherapy system comprising at least one pulsed radiation source, at least one imaging system, a control system, and a synchronization system is disclosed. The pulsed radiation source deposits high dose radiation pulses to a target region inside the patient; simultaneously the imaging system is used to monitor the target region, synchronized by the synchronization system. The dose per radiation pulse is high enough to deposit, within few pulses, 1 Gy at a depth of at least 1 cm in water. At each irradiation time step, the pulsed radiation source delivers short pulses of radiation (<1 ms) and the imaging system performs a snapshot of the position, and eventually the shape, of the target region during the irradiation time, with a time resolution better than 200 ms. Being both the pulsed radiation source and imaging system synchronized by the synchronization system with less than 200 ms jitter, this system allows for very precise reconstruction of the map of the dose deposited into the target region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: FYZIKALNI USTAV AV CR, V.V.I.
    Inventors: Gabriele Maria Grittani, Tadzio Levato, Carlo Maria Lazzarini, Georg Korn
  • Patent number: 10595803
    Abstract: A signal processing method is disclosed, which includes detecting a total intensity of X-rays passing through an object comprising multiple materials; obtaining at least one set of basis information of basis material information of the multiple materials and basis component information of photon-electric absorption basis component and Compton scattering basis component of the object; estimating a scatter intensity component of the detected X-rays based on the at least one set of basis information and the detected total intensity; and obtaining an intensity estimate of primary X-rays incident on a detector based on the detected total intensity and the estimated scatter intensity component. An imaging system adopting the above signal processing method is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Xue Rui, Mingye Wu, Yannan Jin, Peter Michael Edic, Bruno Kristiaan Bernard De Man
  • Patent number: 10578702
    Abstract: An imaging phantom having a housing and a dynamic perfusion assembly positioned within the housing. The dynamic perfusion assembly permits the flow of at least one contrast agent into a non-contrast solution at a desired rate. The dynamic perfusion assembly includes a first chamber that receives at least one contrast agent and a second chamber that receives a non-contrast solution. The second chamber receives the at least one contrast agent from the first chamber at the desired rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignees: UAB Research Foundation, Southern Research Institute
    Inventor: Harrison Kim
  • Patent number: 10539689
    Abstract: Novel and advantageous methods and systems for performing computed tomography (CT) imaging are disclosed. Electrodes can be connected to appropriate surface sites of a detector element of a CT scanner to capture nearby electron-hole pairs generated by X-rays received on the detector element. This detection can be performed in current-integrating/energy-integrating mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
    Inventors: Ge Wang, Wenxiang Cong, Zaifeng Shi
  • Patent number: 10470723
    Abstract: The invention relates to an x-ray device (1) for imaging an object (41). A radiation detector (3) of the x-ray device includes detector elements (21) for detecting radiation, each detector element (21) comprising an adjustable sensitive volume, where an x-ray photon entering the sensitive volume produces an electric signal used for generating the image data. Further, the device comprises a control unit (9) configured to control the sensitive volume of at least one of the detector elements (21) in accordance with a geometric structure of the object (41) to be imaged in order to reduce a pile-up effect in the detector element. Moreover, the invention relates to a method for operating the device (1) and to a computer program for carrying out the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventor: Christoph Herrmann
  • Patent number: 10458926
    Abstract: A phantom body (PB) for use in a differential phase contrast imaging apparatus (IM) for calibration of same. The phantom body (PB) allows for simultaneous calibration of three different image signal channels, namely refraction, phase shift and small angle scattering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Udo Van Stevendaal, Heiner Daerr, Thomas Koehler, Gerhard Martens, Ewald Roessl
  • Patent number: 10383203
    Abstract: Technology is described for calibrating a deflected position of a central ray of an x-ray tube to a radiation imager. An x-ray system includes an x-ray tube and a tube control unit (TCU). The x-ray tube includes a cathode that includes an electron emitter configured to emit an electron beam, an anode configured to receive the electron beam and generate x-rays with a central ray from electrons of the electron beam colliding on a focal spot of the anode, and a steering magnetic multipole between the cathode and the anode that is configured to produce a steering magnetic field from a steering signal. At least two poles of the steering magnetic multipole are on opposite sides of the electron beam. The TCU includes at least one steering driver configured to generate the steering signal. The TCU is configured to convert a position correction value to the steering signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: VAREX IMAGING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael Meiler, Bradley D Canfield, Colton B Woodman, Inwoo Yoon
  • Patent number: 10383202
    Abstract: Technology is described for electronically aligning a central ray of an x-ray tube to a radiation detector. In an example, an x-ray system includes an x-ray tube and a tube control unit (TCU). The x-ray tube includes a cathode that includes an electron emitter configured to emit an electron beam, an anode configured to receive the electron beam and generate x-rays with a central ray from electrons of the electron beam colliding on a focal spot of the anode, and a steering magnetic multipole between the cathode and the anode that is configured to produce a steering magnetic field from a steering signal. At least two poles of the steering magnetic multipole are on opposite sides of the electron beam. The TCU includes at least one steering driver configured to generate the steering signal. The TCU is configured to convert an offset value to the steering signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: VAREX IMAGING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Bradley D Canfield, Michael Meiler, Colton B Woodman, Inwoo Yoon
  • Patent number: 10373345
    Abstract: Learning methods and systems are provided for predictive medical image calibration. In various embodiments, a request is received from a user for an image. One or more characteristic of the image is determined. One or more characteristic of the user is determined. A generalized linear model is applied to the one or more characteristic of the image and the one or more characteristic of the user to determine one or more image transformation. The one or more image transformation is applied to the image. The generalized linear model is updated based on any user-applied image transformations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Dennis G. Moore
  • Patent number: 10346957
    Abstract: In a method for image enhancement of image data of a dental image generation system, comprising a first image generating unit (205, 210) for producing two-dimensional image data and a second image generating unit (250, 255) for producing three-dimensional image data, wherein for an object to be examined (220, 222) the image generation system provides both two-dimensional image data and three-dimensional image data, it is in particular provided that the two-dimensional image data and the three-dimensional image data are merged in such a way that the image quality and/or the information content of the two-dimensional image data or of the three-dimensional image data is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: DENTSPLY SIRONA Inc.
    Inventors: Johannes Ulrici, Ulrich Schulze-Ganzlin, Ciamak Abkai
  • Patent number: 10302713
    Abstract: In a method and magnetic resonance apparatus for determining absolute three-dimensional reception sensitivity maps for reception coils in a scanner of the magnetic resonance, in particular a scanner having a basic magnetic field strength of at least 3 T, in the presence of a subject under examination that affects the reception sensitivity, spatially resolved subject parameters are determined, which specify electromagnetic properties of the subject under examination, and coil-geometry parameters are determined, which specify the spatial arrangement of the reception coils in the magnetic resonance scanner. The reception sensitivity maps are determined by simulation in a model specified by the subject parameters and the coil-geometry parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Stefan Popescu
  • Patent number: 10286472
    Abstract: A processor receives solder paste information, where the solder paste information describes a solder paste used in assembly of a printed circuit board. A processor determines a minimum magnetic force required for removing the solder paste from the printed circuit board based on the solder paste information. A processor receives electromagnet information, where the electromagnet information describes an electromagnet used in cleaning of a misprint of the solder paste on the printed circuit board. A processor determines a minimum amount of power to provide the electromagnet to induce the minimum magnetic force in the electromagnet, where the determination of the amount of power is based on the electromagnet information and the minimum magnetic force. A processor adjusts an amount of power applied to the electromagnet to at least the determined minimum amount of power to clean the misprint of the solder paste from the printed circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Xingquan Dong, Yanlong Hou, LiCen Mu, Ben Wu, WeiFeng Zhang
  • Patent number: 10286471
    Abstract: A processor receives solder paste information, where the solder paste information describes a solder paste used in assembly of a printed circuit board. A processor determines a minimum magnetic force required for removing the solder paste from the printed circuit board based on the solder paste information. A processor receives electromagnet information, where the electromagnet information describes an electromagnet used in cleaning of a misprint of the solder paste on the printed circuit board. A processor determines a minimum amount of power to provide the electromagnet to induce the minimum magnetic force in the electromagnet, where the determination of the amount of power is based on the electromagnet information and the minimum magnetic force. A processor adjusts an amount of power applied to the electromagnet to at least the determined minimum amount of power to clean the misprint of the solder paste from the printed circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Xingquan Dong, Yanlong Hou, LiCen Mu, Ben Wu, WeiFeng Zhang
  • Patent number: 10278664
    Abstract: A first image obtaining unit obtains a plurality of projection images corresponding to different radiation source positions, the projection images being imaged under a first imaging condition for tomosynthesis imaging, and a second image obtaining unit obtains a two-dimensional image imaged with a given radiation source position under a second imaging condition for simple imaging. An image quality correction unit performs image quality correction on the projection images to compensate for a difference of image quality between the projection images and the two-dimensional image based on a difference between the first imaging condition and the second imaging condition. A reconstruction unit reconstructs the projection images having been subjected to the image quality correction and the two-dimensional image to generate a tomographic image of a slice plane of the subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: FUJIFILM CORPORATION
    Inventor: Junya Morita
  • Patent number: 10238360
    Abstract: In an example, a method for air calibration is provided. An initial scanning condition may be generated from a subject scanning sequence of medical equipment, wherein, the subject scanning sequence is generated when a subject is scanned by the medical equipment to obtain an image of the subject and recorded in association with a subject ID uniquely identifying the subject. An air calibration scanning condition may be obtained by correcting the initial scanning condition. An air calibration may be performed on the medical equipment according to the air calibration scanning condition to generate air calibration data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Shenyang Neusoft Medical Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Qinghe Song
  • Patent number: 10219774
    Abstract: A quality control phantom comprises a container and a frame to secure quality control accessories in position within the container during radiologic exposure testing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: Carestream Health, Inc.
    Inventors: Yuan Lin, William J. Sehnert, Karin Toepfer
  • Patent number: 10219775
    Abstract: A photon-counting X-ray computed tomography (CT) apparatus according to an embodiment includes an X-ray tube, a detector, a photon counting circuitry, a correcting circuitry, and a calculating circuitry. The X-ray tube irradiates a subject with X-rays. The detector includes a plurality of detection elements that detect photons of X-rays incident on the detection elements. The photon counting circuitry counts the count of X-ray photons for each energy bin set in an X-ray energy distribution, for each position of the X-ray tube, and for each of the detection elements. The correcting circuitry corrects the count of the X-ray photons counted by the photon counting circuitry, based on a detection characteristic, of the detection elements. The calculating circuitry calculates the reliability of a pixel in a reconstruction image, based on the correction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroaki Nakai, Mikihito Hayashi, Tooru Kato