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:
Nov. 02, 1999
Filed:
Dec. 12, 1997
Theodore A Resnick, Beachwood, OH (US);
David A Wilcox, Chesterland, OH (US);
Rodney A Mattson, Mentor, OH (US);
Picker International, Inc., Highland Heights, OH (US);
Abstract
A radiographic scanner (10) has a stationary gantry portion (12) defining a subject receiving region (16) and a rotating gantry portion (20) on which an imaging x-ray tube (22) is mounted. The rotating gantry portion (20) is rotatably mounted to the stationary gantry portion (12) for rotation about the subject receiving region (16). A slip ring assembly extending around the subject receiving region (16) connected with the stationary and rotating gantry portions, includes a scintillating optical fiber (44) mounted around the patient receiving region (16) to one of the rotating and stationary gantry portions. A communication x-ray tube (40) is mounted to the other gantry portion and directed such that radiation therefrom enters the scintillating optical fiber (44) from a lateral direction. The scintillating optical fiber (44) converts the incident x-rays (52) to light (58) and transmits the light (58) along its longitudinal axis. The scintillating optical fiber (44) is enclosed in a protective sheathing (50) that is opaque to optical radiation which protects the fiber from damage and eliminates noise, inaccuracy, and false signals caused by ambient and stray light entering the fiber.