Rise/fall time control for X-ray pulses
Granted: June 17, 2014
Patent Number:
8755491
A method for generating a fast rise-time X-ray pulse includes the steps of providing an n-phase x-ray generator, the x-ray generator including an n-phase transformer having at least one primary winding and at least one secondary winding per phase, and providing n sections of rectifiers, each rectifier having at least a fast pulse rise-time mode and a n-phase ripple flat-top mode. According to the method, at least a first capacitor is charged in each of the n sections of rectifiers at a…
Flat panel imagers with pixel separation and method of manufacturing the same
Granted: June 10, 2014
Patent Number:
8748831
A method of making at least a portion of an imager includes obtaining an imager component having a substrate layer, a photo-sensitive layer, and a first image element and a second image element disposed between the substrate layer and the photo-sensitive layer, and delivering ultraviolet light through the substrate layer and between the first image element and the second image element to reach the photo-sensitive layer, wherein the ultraviolet light interacts with a portion of the…
Method and apparatus regarding iterative processes as pertain to medical imaging information
Granted: June 3, 2014
Patent Number:
8744148
A medical-imaging digital-computing platform serves to access a plurality of data objects and to execute an iterative process with respect to these data objects. The data objects themselves each at least generally pertain to portions of the human anatomy and may comprise, for example, both a source data object and a target data object. The platform executes the iterative process to determine at least one of a labeling of a portion of one of the data objects and a geometric relationship…
Method and system for treating moving target
Granted: June 3, 2014
Patent Number:
8744045
A method and system for providing intensity modulated radiation therapy to a moving target is disclosed. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, a treatment plan for providing radiotherapy using a multi-leaf collimator (“MLC”) comprises a plurality of sub-plans, each of which is optimized for a different phase of target movement. Movements of the treatment target are tracked in real time, and the choice of which sub-plan to implement is made in real time based on the…
Systems and methods for monitoring radiation treatment
Granted: May 20, 2014
Patent Number:
8730314
A method of monitoring radiation treatment employs a video camera directed to at least a portion of a patient and/or patient support and at least a portion of a radiation machine. The direction of movement of the radiation machine and/or clearance between at least a portion of the radiation machine and the patient are determined by a control system. Graphics indicating the direction of movement of the machine and/or the clearance between the machine and the patient are overlaid on the…
Method and apparatus pertaining to radiation-therapy treatment-plan optimization
Granted: April 8, 2014
Patent Number:
8693630
These various embodiments access target information regarding a radiation-therapy treatment volume for a given patient as well as non-target information regarding at least one structure other than the radiation-therapy treatment volume that also comprises a part of the given patient. These embodiments then provide for accessing uncertainties information regarding spatial uncertainties as pertain to at least one of the target information and the non-target information and using that…
Homing and establishing reference frames for motion axes in radiation systems
Granted: April 8, 2014
Patent Number:
8692503
A method of homing motion axes in a radiation system uses a motor and one or more hardstops. A load is driven by a motor to move toward a hardstop during which an electrical parameter of the motor is monitored. A reference position for the motion axis is defined when the monitored electrical parameter reaches or exceeds a determined value. Alternative to monitoring the motor electrical parameter, the motor velocity may be monitored during the motion and a reference position for the…
Conversion of existing portable or mobile analog radiographic apparatus for enabling digital radiographic applications
Granted: March 25, 2014
Patent Number:
8678649
A kit for converting an existing mobile or portable film X-ray examination apparatus typically configured solely for analog radiography to enable said examination apparatus for digital radiographic applications. The kit includes a tablet PC that is attached to the wheeled chassis of the mobile or portable apparatus, and an input/output device used to divert the exposure control signal from the user actuable exposure control switch of the apparatus to the tablet PC. The tablet PC includes…
Methods of scatter correction of x-ray projection data 2
Granted: March 25, 2014
Patent Number:
8682055
A system and method for forming an adjusted estimate of scattered radiation in a radiographic projection of a target object, which incorporates scattered radiation from objects adjacent to the target object, such as a patient table. A piercing point equalization method is disclosed, and a refinement of analytical kernel methods which utilizes hybrid kernels is also disclosed.
Treatment planning simulation and verification system
Granted: March 25, 2014
Patent Number:
8681938
A treatment planning, simulation, and verification system is described. According to one embodiment, a treatment plan and a fluoroscopy data image of a treatment volume are received and the treatment plan is automatically adjusted based on the movement of the fluoroscopy data image. According another embodiment, a system includes a treatment planning component to generate a treatment plan and a simulation component to simulate the execution of the treatment plan.
Electronic conical collimator verification
Granted: March 18, 2014
Patent Number:
8675820
A device for use with a radiation machine includes a first cone collimator, wherein the first cone collimator has a first end for receiving a radiation beam, a collimating portion for changing the radiation beam, and a second end for emitting an output beam, and wherein the first cone collimator is configured to be detachably coupled to a coupling device that has a plurality of moveable switches, and has one or more engaging portions configured to engage with a first subset of the…
Integral liquid-coolant passageways in an x-ray tube
Granted: March 18, 2014
Patent Number:
8675819
Integral liquid-coolant passageways in an x-ray tube. In one example embodiment, an x-ray tube includes a can at least partially defining an evacuated enclosure, a cathode at least partially positioned within the evacuated enclosure, and an anode at least partially positioned within the evacuated enclosure. The can has first integral liquid-coolant passageways formed therein. The can is configured to have a liquid coolant circulated through the first integral liquid-coolant passageways…
Ceramic metallization in an x-ray tube
Granted: March 18, 2014
Patent Number:
8675818
Ceramic metallization in an x-ray tube. In one example embodiment, a metalized ceramic plate for an x-ray tube includes a first side configured to reside inside an evacuated enclosure of an x-ray tube, a second side configured to reside outside the evacuated enclosure, a recess formed in the second side, feedthru openings that extend through the plate between the first side and the recess, and metallization formed around the perimeter of the recess and electrically connected to one of…
Transient pixel defect detection and correction
Granted: February 25, 2014
Patent Number:
8660335
A method of processing images produced by an imaging system includes detecting transient defects by comparing the value of a selected pixel with values of a plurality of the neighboring pixels, excluding known defective pixels. The value of the selected pixel may be compared with the maximal or minimal value of the neighboring pixels, and if the comparison shows that the value of the selected pixel exceeds the maximal or minimal value by a predetermined value, then the pixel may be…
Method and apparatus for correcting excess signals in an imaging system
Granted: February 25, 2014
Patent Number:
8658960
A method and apparatus for excess signal compensation in an imaging system is described. In one particular embodiment, the invention provides for non-linear background, offset (due to time dependent dark current) and/or lag (including constant, linear and non-linear terms, due to image persistence) corrections of large area, flat panel imaging sensors.
Methods, systems, and computer-program products for estimating scattered radiation in radiographic projections
Granted: February 11, 2014
Patent Number:
8649587
Several related inventions for estimating scattered radiation in radiographic projections are disclosed. Several of the inventions use scatter kernels of various forms, including symmetric and asymmetric forms. The inventions may be used alone or in various combinations with one another. The resulting estimates of scattered radiation may be used to correct the projections, which can improve the results of tomographic reconstructions. Still other inventions of the present application…
Indirect X-ray imager having semi-transparent layers
Granted: February 11, 2014
Patent Number:
8648310
An indirect x-ray imager including one or more semi-transparent layers that reduce lateral spreading of light produced by the scintillator layer. The semi-transparent layers may be one or more layers above and/or below the scintillator, which the light generated by the scintillator goes through prior to being received by an array of photosensors. The semi-transparent layers may have a light transparency that is proportional to the pixel pitch of the photosensor, and/or proportional to a…
Multi level multileaf collimators
Granted: January 28, 2014
Patent Number:
8637841
A multilevel MLC includes a first set and a second set of a plurality of pairs of beam blocking leaves arranged adjacent one another. Leaves of each pair in the first set are disposed in an opposed relationship and longitudinally movable relative to each other in a first direction. Leaves of each pair in the second set are disposed in an opposed relationship and longitudinally movable relative to each other in a second direction generally parallel to the first direction. The first and…
Multi-energy X-ray imaging
Granted: January 21, 2014
Patent Number:
8633445
An imaging method includes obtaining a first image data for a subset of a target region, the subset of the target region having a first metallic object, obtaining a second image data for the target region, and using the first and second image data to determine a composite image. A imaging system includes a first detector configured to provide a first projection data using a first radiation having high energy, and a second detector configured to provide a second projection data using a…
System and method for high resolution radiation field shaping
Granted: December 10, 2013
Patent Number:
8604450
A system and method are provided for a high resolution radiation treatment system which provide for projecting a field of radiation energy at targeted patient tissue. The system uses a multi-leaf collimator, which is positioned such that a significant clearance is provided between the multi-leaf collimator and the isocenter plane where the targeted tissue is located. The leaves of the multi-leaf collimator are designed to provide for high step resolution in the projected radiation energy…
