Imaging Patents (Class 378/87)
  • Patent number: 4821302
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for measuring the lattice parameters of single crystal material while that material is undergoing a transient shock wave. In a first embodiment, a first target is located at a preselected position in space with respect to a single crystal to be measured. A first laser beam pulse is transmitted through a beam block to the crystal to produce a transient shock wave in part of the crystal. A second laser beam pulse, synchronized to the first laser beam pulse, is transmitted to the first target to cause the first target to produce first and second sets of x-rays which are Bragg-diffracted from shocked and unshocked atomic planes of the crystal as the crystal is undergoing the shock wave. A first x-ray detector records the positions of the first and second sets of Bragg-diffracted x-rays to provide a first measurement of the lattice parameters of the crystal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 11, 1989
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Robert R. Whitlock, Justin S. Wark, Allan Hauer
  • Patent number: 4819256
    Abstract: A method of imaging for enhancing detection of cracks or flaws in an object using penetrating radiation is disclosed wherein a contrast medium is applied to an object before illumination and scatter radiation is detected from the object. This is achieved by employing a flying spot scanner and a backscatter imaging technique allowing imaging of objects which are not completely accessible, e.g. imaging the object where only one side accessible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 4, 1989
    Assignee: American Science and Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin Annis, Paul Bjorkholm
  • Patent number: 4809312
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for the production of tomographic images includes a flying spot scanner to form, from a beam of penetrating radiation, a pencil beam sweeping over a line in space to define a sweep plane. An object to be examined is supported so that the pencil beam intersects the object along a path passing through the object and a selected slice of the object. A line collimator is provided for filtering radiation scattered by the object, the line collimator has a field of view which intersects the sweep plane in a bounded line so that the line collimator passes only that radiation scattered by elementary volumes of the object lying along the bounded line. A radiation detector responds to that portion of the scattered radiation which is passed by the line collimator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1989
    Assignee: American Science and Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Martin Annis
  • Patent number: 4799247
    Abstract: An imaging device for increasing the ability to recognize, in x-ray produced images, materials of low atomic number. A flying spot scanner illuminates an object to be imaged in a raster pattern; the flying spot repeatedly sweeps a line in space, and the object to be imaged is moved so that the illuminating beam intersects the object. At least a pair of x-ray detectors are employed, each pair associated with signal processing apparatus and a display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 17, 1989
    Assignee: American Science and Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin Annis, Paul J. Bjorkholm
  • Patent number: 4768214
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for imaging using penetrating radiant energy provides a resulting image with elements of intensity related to atomic number. A penetrating radiant energy source is used for generating a flying spot. A first detector is located to be responsive to transmitted energy, e.g. the flying spot traverses the first detector. A second detector is located substantially coplanar with the first detector to be responsive to scattered energy, as the flying spot scans a target. The signals produced by the first and second detectors are combined to produce an image array having elements of intensity related to atomic number. A method and apparatus for non-invasively measuring density using the apparatus already recited, is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 30, 1988
    Assignee: American Science and Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul J. Bjorkholm
  • Patent number: 4750196
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for examining a body by means of gamma rays or X-rays, in which a body to be examined is irradiated by a plurality of primary beams having a comparatively small cross-section. The scattered radiation produced is intercepted by detector devices, at least one of which is associated each time with a respective primary beam, and the detector device and an associated slit which images the primary beam on the detector device is arranged so that the detector device is struck essentially only by scattered radiation from this one primary beam. Preferably, the detectors are arranged between the body to be examined and the radiation source, so that they can intercept only the back-scattered radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 7, 1988
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corp.
    Inventor: Geoffrey Harding
  • Patent number: 4653080
    Abstract: An X-ray diagnostic apparatus comprises, an X-ray radiation source for generating an X-ray and projecting the same toward an object, an X-ray detector for detecting the X-ray which has transmitted through the object to derive a total X-ray intensity signal of the object including a primary X-ray signal component and a scattered X-ray signal component, a signal processor which processes the X-ray intensity signal detected from the X-ray detector in such a manner that a scattered X-ray intensity distribution which is pre-calculated based upon the X-ray intensity signal is eliminated from an X-ray intensity distribution obtained from the X-ray intensity signal so as to derive a distribution function of the primary X-ray signal component without adverse influences on the scattered X-ray signal component, and a monitor for displaying a distribution from based upon the distribution function of the primary X-ray signal component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1984
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1987
    Assignee: Tokyo Shibaura Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsuya Kikuchi, Michitaka Honda
  • Patent number: 4599742
    Abstract: An X-ray diagnostic apparatus comprises an X-ray radiation source for generating an X-ray and projecting the same toward an object, an X-ray detector for detecting the X-ray which has transmitted through the object to derive a total X-ray intensity distribution signal of the object including a primary X-ray signal component and a scattered X-ray signal component caused by scattered X-rays and system structural factors, a signal processor which processes the X-ray intensity distribution signal detected from the X-ray detector in such a manner that a scattered X-ray intensity distribution which is pre-calculated based upon the X-ray intensity distribution signal is eliminated from an X-ray intensity distribution obtained from the X-ray intensity distribution signal so as to derive a distribution function of the primary X-ray signal component without adverse influences on the scattered X-ray signal component, and a monitor for displaying a distribution form based upon the distribution function of the primary X-r
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1984
    Date of Patent: July 8, 1986
    Assignee: Tokyo Shibaura Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsuya Kikuchi, Michitaka Honda
  • Patent number: 4536883
    Abstract: Holographic X-ray images are produced representing the molecular structure of a microscopic object, such as a living cell, by directing a beam of coherent X-rays upon the object to produce scattering of the X-rays by the object, producing interference on a recording medium between the scattered X-rays from the object and unscattered coherent X-rays and thereby producing holograms on the recording surface, and establishing the wavelength of the coherent X-rays to correspond with a molecular resonance of a constituent of such object and thereby greatly improving the contrast, sensitivity and resolution of the holograms as representations of molecular structures involving such constituent. For example, the coherent X-rays may be adjusted to the molecular resonant absorption line of nitrogen at about 401.3 eV to produce holographic images featuring molecular structures involving nitrogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1982
    Date of Patent: August 20, 1985
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventor: George F. Chapline, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4495636
    Abstract: A diagnostic imaging system and process permits construction of an image of an area of an interfacial surface within the body of a subject, such as the heart-lung interface. The imaging system includes radiation source means for generating a shaped beam of penetrating radiation for illuminating the interfacial surface. Radiation scattered from tissue at the interface is detected by a plurality of directional radiation detectors which can be automatically positioned and oriented so that their fields of view intersect the beam of radiation and the interfacial surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 1981
    Date of Patent: January 22, 1985
    Assignee: Research Corporation
    Inventors: Alan M. Jacobs, Edward S. Kenney, Joseph J. McInerney
  • Patent number: 4480332
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for imaging a layer of a body to be examined. The body is irradiated by primary radiation, in response to which the layer emits scattered radiation. The apparatus comprises a diaphragm plate which is disposed outside the primary radiation beam. The diaphragm is rotatable about an axis perpendicular to its major surface, and it has at least one aperture which is disposed off of the axis of rotation. A detector or a superposition device is provided for measuring or superimposing the scattered radiation which passes through the diaphragm plate at different aperture settings. The primary radiation is stopped down to form a flat fan-shaped beam. The diaphragm plate is oriented parallel to the fan-shaped beam. Each aperture corresponds to an associated detector, which follows the rotation of the diaphragm plate. The input face of each detector extends parallel to the diaphragm plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1982
    Date of Patent: October 30, 1984
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventor: Helmut Strecker
  • Patent number: 4380817
    Abstract: Devices that measure the electron density in a body by means of radiation scattered from a narrow pencil beam of penetrating radiation directed through the body, produce defective images on reconstruction of the density distribution because of multiple scattering of radiation. This can of course be reduced by scattered ray diaphragms, but cannot be eliminated entirely. The invention therefore provides a means for detecting the size of the multiple scattered radiation component be measurement. For this purpose, the detector array which measures radiation including the single scattered radiation, is screened, at least osscasionally, from the single scattered radiation and the detected intensity values measured by the detector elements when so screened, are used to correct the values generated by measuring the detected radiation including the single scattered radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1980
    Date of Patent: April 19, 1983
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventors: Geoffrey Harding, Wolfgang Wagner