American Science and Engineering, Inc.

Other

Martin Annis Patent Trust - 2009

Annistech, Inc.

Martin Annis

Paul J Bjorkholm

Richard John Adler

Jay A Stein

Edwin Frederick

Richard Mastronardi

Roderick D Swift

Paul Burstein

Allen S Krieger

Carolus M Cobb

Robert J Richter-Sand

Richard C Chase

Gerard P Riley

Alan Ramsey

Michael Johnson

An x-ray source emits a cone beam to a rotating, x-ray-opaque disc with radial slots. The slots break the cone beam into fan beams that are emitted to an x-ray-opaque plate that produces a scanning x-ray pencil beam as each fan beam moves across a slit in the plate. A backscatter detector is adjacent to the plate. A collimator is adjacent. The pencil beam enters the object space through slits in the detector and collimator. The pencil beam moves rapidly in the y direction in the object space, producing backscatter x-rays from the object. The collimator only passes backscattered x-rays at a selected distance from the detector. Simultaneously, the assemblage of x-ray source, disc, plate, detector, and collimator moves slowly in the x and z directions. The backscattered x-rays passed by the collimator are processed to form planar images at various depths in the object space.

Low-dose X-ray backscatter system for three dimensional medical imaging using a conventional X-ray tube

A method of improving the detection of nuclear weapons in cargo containers. The container moves through an imaging region. An x-ray source emits a cone beam through the imaging region and to two or more detector columns, each detector column defining a fan beam. This hardware combines (1) the use of at least two detector assemblies, (2) use of both the current method and the photon counting method to determine x-ray intensities, and (3) use of large detector elements to increase the measured x-ray intensity by a typical factor of 270. The x-ray intensity for a pixel is read by each detector assembly at the appropriate time and the resulting x-ray intensities from each detector assembly are summed. A method of detecting a nuclear weapon includes identifying the nuclear device as the area of the image wherein a high absorption area is surrounded by a lower absorption area.

Method for detecting a nuclear weapon in a shipping container or other vehicle using x-rays

An x-ray source emits a cone beam a rapidly rotating, x-ray-opaque disc with four narrow radial slots. The slots break the cone beam into fan beams that are emitted to an x-ray-opaque plate with a narrow slit. As each fan beam moves across the plate, the slit produces a scanning x-ray pencil beam. The backscatter detector is mounted adjacent to the plate and has a slightly larger slit that is aligned with the plate slit. The pencil beam enters the object space through the detector slit. The pencil beam moves rapidly in a line across the object space, 20 cm in 0.1 second. Simultaneously, the assemblage of x-ray source, disc, plate, and detector moves slowly in the x direction at 1 mm in 0.05 second. Thus, the raster scan of the 20 cm&#xd7;20 cm region is accomplished in 10 seconds.

X-ray backscatter system for imaging soft tissue regions

A method of producing a laminography image of an object. The object is rotated on a platform in an object space between a fixed x-ray source and multiple columns of detector elements. Two samples of each voxel are taken at each detector column, one for each of the two alignments of the x-ray source, voxel, and detector column as the object rotates. It is generally possible to image the entire object in one rotation. Optionally, the platform axis can be offset from the system center line or the platform can be translated through the object space in the plane of the platform in order to make sure that each voxel traverses all of the detector columns to acquire maximum data. Once all of the data for all of the voxels is acquired, it is used with any appropriate laminography algorithm to produce images of the object.

Method of producing a laminography image with a rotating object, fixed x-ray source, and fixed detector columns

The apparatus has an x-ray source that emits an x-ray cone beam through a tubular, x-ray-blocking guide to a planar template with a small pinhole to produce a pencil beam. The template is movable so the pencil beam can scan the target region to be imaged. Between the template and target region is an x-ray detector assembly with a plastic scintillator. The scintillator has an opening about the same size and shape as the target region that allows the pencil beam to pass to the target region. Photo-multiplier detectors receive the light generated by the backscattered x-rays in the scintillator. The method of the present invention employs the apparatus. Multiple x-rays source locations permit the generation of 3D images.

X-ray backscatter system for imaging at shallow depths

A dual-energy x-ray source located a distance of one half of the maximum width of the subject from the subject emits a cone beam to a horizontal slit in an x-ray-blocking sheet, producing a fan beam that is chopped into a pencil beam by a rotating disk with radial slots. The pencil beam sweeps a subject, producing backscatter read by a plastic scintillator detector situated very close to and curved around the sides of the subject. The entire assembly translates vertically to produce a complete image of the subject. Pencil beam area is increased farther from the center by increasing the width of the slit toward both ends and increasing the width of the slots toward the outer end. High and low peak x-ray energies of 50 KeV or more and 30 KeV or less, respectively, enable differentiation between innocent and contraband materials that both contain low Z materials.

Personnel x-ray inspection system

An imaging system and method for taking an image of an object. The imaging system comprises a mechanism that propels the object linearly in a direction of motion through an imaging region that has a top, bottom, front, and rear; an x-ray source located below the bottom, aligned with the front, and emitting an x-ray cone beam to the imaging region; and a plurality of x-ray detector assemblies, each of the detector assemblies including a linear row of detectors above and parallel to the top and perpendicular to the direction of motion, and a linear column of detectors outside of and parallel to the rear right side and extending at an angle to the direction of motion, wherein each of the detector assemblies defines an x-ray fan beam within the x-ray cone beam. A second system embodiment duplicates the x-ray source/detector assemblage and rotates the second assemblage by 90&#xb0; around the object. In the method, a number of x-ray fan beams are emitted from a single location at different angles and the object is propelled linearly through the fan beams. The x-ray intensity of each fan beam passing through a voxel is read and those x-ray intensities are combined in accordance to standard laminography practice to generate an image for the voxel. In this way, images for all voxels are generated and used to produce an image of the entire object. With the second system embodiment, two sets of voxel images are generated, which allows views from a full 180&#xb0; for all voxels in the object. Applying computer tomography reconstruction algorithms can produce CT images.

Method and apparatus for producing laminography images using a fixed x-ray source

A Laminography system with x-ray source and a detector assembly. The x-ray source uses a narrow, deflected pencil beam to scan to a linear target. An x-ray cone beam detected by the detector assembly is produced where the electron beam strikes the target. The target is a layer of high-emitting material that is partitioned with narrow regions of low-emitting material, where the low flux intensity is sufficiently low to be easily distinguished from the flux intensity of the high-emitting material. The target may be constructed as a discontinuous layer of high-emitting material applied to a substrate of low-emitting material, or as strips of low-emitting material applied to a continuous layer of high-emitting material.

Method and apparatus for determining the position of an x-ray cone beam produced by a scanning electron beam

A method for substantially reducing the contribution of dense regions of an object while less dense regions of the object are being processed in a laminography blurring system. The method comprises the steps of positioning an x-ray source with a moving fan beam on one side of the object; positioning a row of x-ray detectors on the side of the object opposite that of the x-ray source; sequentially emitting a plurality of x-ray fan beams along an x-ray source line and directed through a focused pixel of the object to the row of x-ray detectors; sampling the x-ray detectors once for each of the fan beams for a total of it samples of intensity I; determining the maximum intensity Ifrom the samples I; choosing a parameter P greater than one; retaining only those samples Ithat are greater than or equal to I/P; summing the retained samples; and normalizing the resultant sum. Normalizing can include multiplying the sum by the total number of samples divided by the number of retained samples.

Method for preventing higher density regions of an object from degrading the lower density focused regions of a laminography image

A method and apparatus for reducing blurring caused by transverse movement of an object being inspected relative to the x-ray source/detector array assembly. The plane of the scanning fan beam plane generated by the x-ray source is tilted by an angle relative to the plane that is perpendicular to the direction of motion of the object by an angle such that the fan beam source traverses distance D parallel to the direction of motion of the object in the same amount of time as one scan of the fan beam.

Method and apparatus for improving the spatial resolution of a laminography system that employs an x-ray source with a scanning beam

A personnel x-ray inspection system includes an electron source that provides a pencil beam of electrons. An electromagnet assembly receives the pencil beam of electrons and directs the beam of electrons along a line to form a scanning redirected beam under the control of a scan command signal. The scanning redirected beam strikes a target and generates a cone of x-rays that moves along a target line as a result of the scanning redirected beam. A collimator receives the scanning cone of x-rays and generates a collimated traveling pencil beam, which is directed to a person under inspection. A moving platform translates the person under inspection through the collimated traveling pencil beam. A backscatter detector detects backscattered x-rays, and provides a backscattered detected signal indicative thereof. A system controller provides the scan command signal, and also receives and processes the backscattered detected signal.

Personnel inspection system with x-ray line source

A digital tomography system includes an electron source that provides a beam of electrons, and an electromagnet assembly that receives said beam of electrons and is configured and arranged to direct the beam of electrons along a selected path, wherein the assembly provides a redirected beam of electrons. The system also includes a target that is struck by the redirected beam of electrons and generates a cone of x-rays, and a slit collimator that receives the cone of x-rays and generates a fan beam. A first line of detectors is positioned to detect x-rays that pass through the object under inspection, and provide sensed signals indicative thereof to a controller that receives the sensed signals and forms a displayable image of a selected plane through the object under inspection.

Imaging with digital tomography and a rapidly moving x-ray source

An x-ray inspection system for automatically detecting nuclear weapons materials generates a high energy x-ray fan beam or a traveling x-ray pencil beam that traverses an object under inspection. An x-ray detector detects x-ray energy that passes through the object and provides a detected signal indicative thereof. The detected signal is processed to detect the presence of an area of very high x-ray attenuation within the object under inspection, which is indicative of nuclear weapons materials. Because of the high atomic number (Z) and high density of nuclear weapons materials Uranium and Plutonium, both of these materials attenuate (i.e., absorb) incident x-rays significantly more than ordinary materials. That is, very high Z materials such as nuclear weapons materials, produce no x-rays outside of their block of material because the x-rays are self absorbed within the very high Z materials. Therefore, these materials can be detected by a transmission detectors, or by combining the readings from transmission and scatter detectors, if a pencil beam system is employed.

High energy X-ray inspection system for detecting nuclear weapons materials

Transmission and scatter detectors for an x-ray inspection system preferably employing a moving pencil beam comprise a solid plastic scintillating material having a front planar surface that is impinged by incident x-ray energy. The detectors also include light detectors that are cooperatively mounted to the plastic scintillating material to detect photons within the plastic scintillating material created in response to x-rays incident on the front planar surface. The detector may be a transmission detector or a scatter detector. The detectors of the present invention are relatively thin in comparison to prior art detectors, which allows shielding to be reduced. In addition, the detectors of the present invention have a greater efficiency of detection in comparison to the prior art detectors.

X-ray inspection system detector with plastic scintillating material

High energy scanning apparatus including a high voltage electrostatic generator and particle accelerator. A variable-trajectory electron beam is converted to a photon beam and collimated by a stationary collimator having a plurality of photon-passing slits. The stationary collimator produces a plurality of photon beams linearly and angularly displaced relative to each other in two dimensions. The photon beams are detected, thereby producing a plurality of preselected images including stereoscopic images. Also disclosed is a method of using the apparatus.

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Cambridge, MA, United States of America

Martin Annis