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:
Dec. 05, 2000
Filed:
Oct. 06, 1998
Edward G Solomon, Menlo Park, CA (US);
Giovanni Pastrone, Los Gatos, CA (US);
Cardiac Mariners, Inc., Los Gatos, CA (US);
Abstract
An x-ray beam hardening filter is disclosed. The x-ray beam hardening filter comprises a support member and a beam hardening sheet, the beam hardening sheet having a multidimensional array of regularly spaced apertures. The apertures are configured to have an x-ray transmissive quality. An actuator, engaging the support member, is capable of moving the multidimensional array of apertures into or out of a path of an x-ray beam, thereby selectively introducing varying levels of x-ray energy filtration. In one embodiment, multiple layers of beam hardening sheets are added to the x-ray beam hardening filter to create additional levels of x-ray energy filtration. Advantages of the x-ray beam hardening filter include the relatively small distance the x-ray beam hardening filter must move in order to absorb the incident x-ray beam, the ability to introduce varying levels of x-ray filtration, and the compact structure of the x-ray beam hardening filter.