Johns Hopkins University

Bar-ray Products, Inc.

Turtle Bay Partners, LLC

Other

Thomas J Beck

Harry K Charles, Jr

Howard S Feldmesser

Thomas C Magee

Paul R Falk

Dewei Zhu

Jonathan Ball

A method for quantitatively testing a radiation shielding garment to determine its radiation shielding integrity, utilizing a fluoroscopic system, the method comprising measuring the amount of radiation passing through the garment at a particular location believed to be possibly damaged; measuring the amount of radiation at one or more locations of the garment believed to be intact; determining the average undamaged transmission if more than one location is tested; and comparing the two values of transmitted radiation to determine whether the first location was damaged beyond an acceptable degree.

X-ray detector system for assessing the integrity and performance of radiation protective garments

A device for, and method of manufacture of, a focused anti-scatter grid for improving the image contrast of x-ray images produced in medical, veterinary or industrial applications. The grid comprising a series of modular units so juxtaposed with each other as to form a series of focused channels for the passage of the focused imaging x-rays. The modules comprise a series of focusing ribbons of a heavy metal or a series of mating solid arcuate forms, formed of a polymer and having on at least one side surface a layer of heavy metal.

Three-dimensional focused anti-scatter grid and method for manufacturing thereof

A radiation blocking shied for the hands of a clinical operator of fluoroscopic equipment during extended surgery or diagnostic testing.

Radiation shield with disposable sterile drape for protecting the hands and arms during interventional cardiovascular fluoroscopy

A rollable structure for suspending a heavy radiation protective garment so as to allow easy movement in a clinical environment subject to exposure to x-radiation. The structure comprises a vertically extending frame that is attachable to a user, and that permits the user to move freely around the clinical environment and to perform clinical duties without having to bear the weight of the shielding garment. The frame is vertically adjustable, and supports upper shield support surfaces for supporting the shoulder portions of a radiation protection apron. The upper support surfaces extend outwardly from the vertical frame. A rollable lower support frame for the vertical support frame is provided that includes a first lower frame extending forwardly from the vertically extending frame. A second lower frame for supporting the vertically extending frame is located at a position other than forwardly of the vertically extending frame. A pair of casters is provided at the lower end of each of the lower frames. A midbody attachment is provided for securing a flexible belt between the vertically extending framework and the use to allow the user to walk with the framework without the use of his hands.

Practical design for a walk-around, hands-free radiation protective shielding garment suspension apparatus

Methods and apparatuses for advanced, multiple-projection, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scanning systems include combinations of a conical collimator; a high-resolution two-dimensional detector; a portable, power-capped, variable-exposure-time power supply; an exposure-time control element; calibration monitoring; a three-dimensional anti-scatter-grid; and a gantry-gantry base assembly that permits up to seven projection angles for overlapping beams. Such systems are capable of high precision bone structure measurements that can support three dimensional bone modeling and derivations of bone strength, risk of injury, and efficacy of countermeasures among other properties.

Method and apparatus for multiple-projection, dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry scanning

An x-ray tube and method of operating include a vacuum chamber vessel and a source of an electron beam inside the vacuum chamber vessel. A target disposed inside the vacuum chamber vessel includes a substrate and one or more deposits attached to the substrate. Each different deposit includes an atomic element having a different atomic number. The x-ray tube also includes a means for directing the electron beam to a selectable deposit of multiple deposits. The substrate material can be selected with better vacuum sustaining strength, x-ray transparency, melting point, and thermal conductivity than a deposit. The substrate may be cooled by an integrated cooling system. The x-ray tube allows a selectable x-ray frequency to be produced with enhanced economy of power, reduced moving parts, and reduced size. For improved bone mass applications, one of the deposits has a k-fluorescence energy less than about 53 thousand electron volts.

X-ray source and method for more efficiently producing selectable x-ray frequencies

Techniques for deriving bone properties from images generated by a dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry apparatus include receiving first image data having pixels indicating bone mineral density projected at a first angle of a plurality of projection angles. Second image data and third image data are also received. The second image data indicates bone mineral density projected at a different second angle. The third image data indicates bone mineral density projected at a third angle. The third angle is different from the first angle and the second angle. Principal moments of inertia for a bone in the subject are computed based on the first image data, the second image data and the third image data. The techniques allow high-precision, high-resolution dual-energy x-ray attenuation images to be used for computing principal moments of inertia and strength moduli of individual bones, plus risk of injury and changes in risk of injury to a patient.

Techniques for deriving tissue structure from multiple projection dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry

An X-ray scatter reduction grid includes a first layer having a plurality of cells. The cells have a perimeter formed of an X-ray absorbing material. The shape of the perimeters can vary, but a polygonal shape is preferred. The grid can also include other layers, each with their own cells. The cells of the subsequent other layers are larger than and offset from the cells of the prior layer. The increased size of the cells allows a primary ray passing through the center of a first layer cell to also pass through the center of a subsequent layer cell. This allows for a maximum of primary ray passthrough and a maximum of scatter absorption.

Focused X-ray scatter reduction grid

An arrangement for securing a braided rope to the ski tow rope handle by passing the rope through a transverse hole in the handle, passing the rope around the periphery of the handle and then inserting a portion of the end of the rope into the braided rope so that it passes back through the transverse hole in the handle. The braided rope acts in the manner of the well known Chinese finger, in that the higher the stress placed on the rope, the tighter it grasps the end of the rope that is inserted into it to prevent its detachment from the handle. To insure that the braided rope always retains some grip on the portion of rope inserted into it and to provide protection for the hands of the skier, a rubber sleeve is placed over the rope directly adjacent to the handle. In order to prevent the rubber sleeve from being displaced, a length of heat shrinkable tubing is applied to the rubber tubing and extends beyond the tubing to overlap onto the braided rope itself. The inner surface of this heat shrinkable tubing is provided with a heat sensitive adhesive to increase its hold on the rubber sleeve and the braided rope.

Growing community of inventors

Baltimore, MD, United States of America

Thomas J Beck