Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080304620 | System for quantitative radiographic imaging - A system for spectroscopic imaging of bodily tissue in which a scintillation screen and a charged coupled device (CCD) are used to accurately image selected tissue. Applications include the imaging of radionuclide distributions within the human body or the use of a dual energy source to provide a dual photon bone densitometry apparatus that uses stationary or scanning acquisition techniques. An x-ray source generates x-rays which pass through a region of a subject's body, forming an x-ray image which reaches the scintillation screen. The scintillation screen reradiates a spatial intensity pattern corresponding to the image, the pattern being detected by a CCD sensor. The image is digitized by the sensor and processed by a controller before being stored as an electronic image. A dual energy x-ray source that delivers two different energy levels provides quantitative information regarding the object being imaged using dual photon absorptiometry techniques. Dual scintillation screens can be used to simultaneously generate images of low-energy and high-energy x-ray patterns. Each image is directed onto an associated respective CCD or amorphous silicon detector to generate individual electronic representations of the separate images. | 12-11-2008 |
20100208872 | SYSTEM FOR QUANTITATIVE RADIOGRAPHIC IMAGING - A system for spectroscopic imaging of bodily tissue in which a scintillation screen and a charged coupled device (CCD) are used to accurately image selected tissue. An x-ray source generates x-rays which pass through a region of a subject's body, forming an x-ray image which reaches the scintillation screen. The scintillation screen reradiates a apatial intensity pattern corresponding to the image, the pattern being detected by a CCD sensor. The image is digitized by the sensor and processed by a controller before being stored as an electronic image. Each image is directed onto an associated respective CCD or amorphous silicon detector to generate individual electronic representations of the separate images. | 08-19-2010 |
20120195403 | TOMOSYNTHESIS IMAGING - Systems and methods for providing radiographic, stereoscopic and tomographic images of an object of interest. Examples of objects of interest are body parts of living beings, such as the human breast and the human chest. The apparatus includes a high-fluence rate x-ray source and a plurality of satellite x-ray sources operating at lower fluence rate than the high-fluence rate source. A controller controls the operation and locations of the sources, and the operation of a detector. The method provides procedures in which the operation of the high-fluence source and the satellite sources are individually controlled as to location and orientation relative to the object of interest. In some operations, one satellite source may be operating while another satellite source may be repositioning. By proper control, a reduced x-ray dose and reduced operating time can be attained, thereby improving image quality, patient care, and patient experience. | 08-02-2012 |
20150055743 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR X-RAY PHASE CONTRAST IMAGING - An x-ray phase contrast imaging apparatus and method of operating the same. The apparatus passes x-rays generated by an x-ray source through, in succession, a source grating, an object of interest, a phase grating, and an analyzer grating. The x-ray source, the source grating, the phase grating, and the analyzer grating move as a single entity relative to an object of interest. The phase grating and the analyzer grating remain in fixed relative location and fixed relative orientation with respect to one another. The detected x-rays are converted to a time sequence of electrical signals. In some cases, the apparatus is controlled, and the electrical signals are analyzed by, by a general purpose programmable computer provided with instructions recorded on a machine readable medium. One or more x-ray phase contrast images of the object of interest are generated, and can be recorded or displayed. | 02-26-2015 |