Triple Ring Technologies, Inc.

Empyrean Medical Systems, Inc.

Covidien LP

Novaray Medical, Inc.

Leland Stanford Junior University

Empire Technology Development LLC

Sensus Healthcare, Inc.

Tobias Funk

Brian Patrick Wilfley

Joseph A Heanue

Chwen-Yuan Ku

Kate LeeAnn Bechtel

Edward Gerald Solomon

Donald J Olgado

Kalman Fishman

Petre Vatahov

Christopher R Mitchell

Augustus Percival Lowell

Christopher W Ellenor

Waldo Stephen Hinshaw

Steve Burion

Josh Star-Lack

Winston Y Sun

Norbert Joseph Pelc

Peter Holst

Amish Parashar

Yonatan Vainer

Daniel Salvatore Badali

Paul Anthony Kahn

Christopher William Ellenor

Oleg John Konings

Joseph Anthony Heanue

Steve Denis Burion

Augustus Percivall Lowell

Systems and methods for generating X-ray photons. The methods comprise: generating an electron beam; positioning hollow pedestals in the path of the electron beam (the hollow pedestals being radially spaced apart from each other and extending out and away from a major planar face of a base plate); generating X-ray radiation as a result of an interaction of the electron beam with target element(s) disposed at a distal end of a respective pedestal of the hollow pedestals; causing the X-ray radiation to interact with a beam shield comprising wall elements extending out and away from the major planar face of the base plate; and setting at least one of a beam shape and direction of the X-ray radiation by selectively controlling a location where the electron beam intersects the target element(s) to determine an interaction of the X-ray radiation with the wall elements.

Three-dimensional beam forming X-ray source

X-ray target element is comprised of a planar wafer. The planar wafer element includes a target layer and a substrate layer. The target layer is comprised of an element having a relatively high atomic number and the substrate layer is comprised of diamond. The substrate layer is configured to support the target layer and facilitate transfer of thermal energy away from the target layer.

A digital representation of an object is formed. The properties of incident electrons are calculated from a parameterized source model and the irradiation of the object is simulated. The particle-matter interactions for a material of the object are calculated. The amount of absorbed dose at locations at the object is calculated. The digital representation of the object is modified in response to an input from a user and the modified digital representation of the object is displayed.

Method and apparatus for electron beam processing control

Validation of a therapeutic radiation treatment involves using an applicator balloon surrounding an X-ray radiation source to support a plurality of X-ray sensor elements (XRSE). The XRSE are supported on the applicator balloon at distributed locations to sense applied radiation from the radiation source. At least one parameter of the applied radiation which has been sensed by the XRSE is compared to a corresponding parameter of a predetermined radiation treatment plan. Based on the comparing, a determination is made as to whether one or more requirements of the predetermined radiation treatment plan have been satisfied.

Validation of therapeutic radiation treatment

Three-dimensional beam forming x-ray source

Three dimensional beam forming X-ray source includes an electron beam generator (EBG) to generate an electron beam. A target element is disposed a predetermined distance from the EBG and positioned to intercept the electron beam. The target element is responsive to the electron beam to generate X-ray radiation. A beam former is disposed proximate to the target element and comprised of a material which interacts with the X-ray radiation to form an X-ray beam. An EBG control system controls at least one of a beam pattern and a direction of the X-ray beam by selectively varying a location where the electron beam intersects the target element to control an interaction of the X-ray radiation with the beam-former.

The present invention pertains to a method and apparatus for x-ray ionizing radiation control and ionizing radiation control. A digital representation of an inanimate object is formed. The amount of the radiation at a surface of the inanimate object is simulated. The radiation-matter interaction for a material of the inanimate object is calculated. The amount of energy deposited at a plurality of locations at the inanimate object is calculated. The digital representation of the inanimate object is modified in response to an input from a user and the modified digital representation of the inanimate object is displayed.

Method and apparatus for x-ray ionizing radiation control

An x-ray imaging system utilizes enhanced computing arrays. A plurality of x-ray illumination source positions are utilized to produce x-ray radiation at each of the x-ray illumination source positions and to project x-ray radiation towards an object. A detector detects x-ray radiation from the object and transmits detector images for each of the illumination source positions. A memory buffer stores the detector images from the detector. A graphics processing unit formats the detector images and constructs a complete frame data set with the detector images for each of the illumination source positions. Another graphics processing unit receives the complete frame data set and performs image reconstruction on the complete frame data set.

Method and apparatus for enhanced X-ray computing arrays

The present invention pertains to a system and method for X-ray imaging wherein a targeted fluence at the detector for projection images can be achieved at a plurality of projection angles around the imaging subject by control of exposure times implemented during image acquisition. Exposure time for a second projection image may be determined by the fluence in a first projection image, and in a third projection image by the fluence in a second projection image, where projection images are acquired within two degrees of one another. An acquisition parameter calculation can be configured to calculate acquisition parameters, such as said exposure times, to achieve the targeted fluence in projection images and can be coupled to a rotation controller that implements the acquisition parameters by controlling a relative angle between the imaging subject and X-ray image acquisition device.

Method for controlling X-ray exposure

The present invention pertains to a system and method for adaptive X-ray filtration comprising a volume of X-ray attenuating material with a central less attenuating three-dimensional region. The volume of X-ray attenuating material can be positioned within 10 cm from an X-ray source and rotated around an internal axis of rotation. The volume of X-ray attenuating material can be symmetric around the internal axis while the central less attenuating region can be asymmetric around the internal axis. Rotating the volume by a predetermined angle around the internal axis can change the amount of attenuation of an X-ray beam through the filter. The volume can be rotated by the same predetermined angle as an imaging subject or X-ray source and detector are rotated during X-ray image acquisition.

Adjustable X-ray filter

The present invention pertains to an apparatus and method for X-ray imaging wherein a radiation source comprising rows of discrete emissive locations can be positioned such that these rows are angularly offset relative to rows of sensing elements on a radiation sensor. A processor can process and allocate responses of the sensing elements in appropriate memory locations given the angular offset between source and sensor. This manner of allocation can include allocating the responses into data rows associated with unique positions along a direction of columns of discrete emissive locations on the source. Mapping coefficients can be determined that map allocated responses into an image plane.

Method and apparatus for improved sampling resolution in X-ray imaging systems

The present invention pertains to an apparatus and method for adaptive exposure in imaging systems. An x-ray source for producing x-ray radiation and an x-ray detector for measuring amount of x-ray radiation passing through the human patient and striking the detector can be used. A tomographic image of the human patient or a tomosynthetic image of the human patient can be generated. Region of interest filtering and equalization filtering can be utilized. Filtering can be accomplished with a mechanical shield or shutter or with electronic control of the x-ray source.

Method and apparatus for controlling X-ray exposure

Method and apparatus for controlling fluence in computed X-ray imaging

Method and apparatus for variable X-ray filtration

The present invention pertains to an apparatus and method for X-ray imaging a human patient. A vacuum bell bonded to an X-ray radiation-permeable window that can emit X-ray radiation from a plurality of spots located 1 cm from its edge, a collimator, and a detector are used. A ring of stationary X-ray sources can also be used with a stationary collimator and a rotating slot collimator and detector. An X-ray beam can be aligned in an X-ray system by establishing a position of the beam with respect to a moving collimator at a number of points in time, monitoring the velocity of the collimator, navigating the beam to a calculated position of a hole in the collimator, and correcting the alignment of the beam based on the location of the beam on the detector.

Growing community of inventors

Martinez, CA, United States of America

Tobias Funk