The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 20, 1978
Filed:
May. 31, 1977
Gary T Barnes, Birmingham, AL (US);
The Board of Trustees of the University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL (US);
Abstract
A method and apparatus are disclosed for reducing scatter in diagnostic radiology and thereby improving image clarity and resolution, particularly in mammography or where abdominal organs are being studied. The method includes the use of a scanning multiple slit arrangement in conjunction with a conventional X-ray generator and imaging modality. A first or upper plate having a plurality of slits is placed between the patient to be X-rayed and the focal spot of an X-ray tube. A second or lower plate having corresponding number of slits, but substantially expanded in scale relative to the first plate, is placed beneath the patient but above the photographic cassette on which the X-ray image is to be recorded. The lower plate may consist of a bifurcated plate structure or a single, thick, slotted plate. The upper and lower slit structures are coupled together and are mechanically driven by a suitable drive mechanism to rapidly scan the patient with a group of separate beams produced by the upper slit plate. The upper and lower slits are maintained in registration with one another so that primary radiation transmitted by the upper slits is also transmitted by the lower slits while scattered radiation from the patient is blocked by the lower plate structure.