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:
Aug. 22, 2000
Filed:
Apr. 21, 1998
Virgil N Cooper, III, Sagamore Hills, OH (US);
Zhongmin Lin, Twinsburg, OH (US);
Picker International, Inc., Cleveland, OH (US);
Abstract
An object (22) is positioned on a patient support (25) between an x-ray source (10) and an x-ray detector assembly (15). The x-ray source (10) is selectively activated to transmit an x-ray beam (20) through an imaging region (32) to the x-ray detector assembly (15). Positioning of the object (22) on the patient support (25) is such that a gap 33 exists in the imaging region (32) through which x-rays may pass unattenuated. An x-ray equalization filter (30) is introduced into the gap 33 and substantially conforms to its shape. The equalization filter (30) comprises a fluid medium disposed in a flexible receptacle. The fluid medium contains x-ray attenuating material suspended in a gel base. Placement of the equalization filter (30) in the gap reduces the number of unattenuated x-rays reaching the x-ray detector assembly (15) thereby enhancing image quality.