EP0117175A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Three-dimensional and tomographic imaging device for X-ray and gamma-ray emitting objects
Assignee: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
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Filing: 1984-01-20
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2004-01-20
Abstract
Abstract An instrument for obtaining quantitative, three-dimensional and tomographic information relating to x-ray and gamma-ray emitting objects and for the orthoscopic viewing of such objects includes a multiple-pinhole aperture plate (22) held spaced from an x-ray or gamma-ray to visible-light converter (24) which is coupled to a visible-light image intensifier (26). The spacing between the aperture plate and the converter is chosen such that the mini-images of an emitting object formed by the pinholes do not substantially overlap as they impinge on the converter. The output of the image intensifier is digitized by a digitizing camera (36) in terms of position and intensity and fed into a digital computer (40,42). The computer may output quantitative information relating to the emitting object directly, such as that relating to tomograms, or provide information in analogue form when coupled with a suitable viewing device (52,54), to give an orthoscopic, three-dimensional image of the object.
Inventors
- 👤 Lo I. Yin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 11:55
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05G; H05G1/00; H05G1/08; H05G1/60; G; G01; G01T; G01T1/00; G01T1/29; G01T1/2914; G01T1/2985; A; A61; A61B; A61B6/00; A61B6/02; A61B6/03; A61B6/037
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
112 words
An instrument for obtaining quantitative, three-dimensional and tomographic information relating to x-ray and gamma-ray emitting objects; and for the orthoscopic viewing of such objects, comprising: means for forming incident x-rays and gamma-rays emitted by an object into an array of substantially nonoverlapping mini-images of said object; means spatially displaced from said forming means for converting said x-ray and gamma-ray mini-images into visible-light mini-images; means coupled to said converting means for intensifying said visible-light mini-images; means to digitize said intensified visible-light mini-images; computing means for processing said digitized mini-images for tomographic and three-dimensional reconstruction of said object; and viewing means for direct orthoscopic, three-dimensional viewing of the reconstructed x-ray and gamma-ray emitting object.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
112 words
An instrument for obtaining quantitative, three-dimensional and tomographic information relating to x-ray and gamma-ray emitting objects; and for the orthoscopic viewing of such objects, comprising: means for forming incident x-rays and gamma-rays emitted by an object into an array of substantially nonoverlapping mini-images of said object; means spatially displaced from said forming means for converting said x-ray and gamma-ray mini-images into visible-light mini-images; means coupled to said converting means for intensifying said visible-light mini-images; means to digitize said intensified visible-light mini-images; computing means for processing said digitized mini-images for tomographic and three-dimensional reconstruction of said object; and viewing means for direct orthoscopic, three-dimensional viewing of the reconstructed x-ray and gamma-ray emitting object.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
The instrument of claim 1 wherein said forming means is a pinhole array.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The instrument of claim 1 wherein said digitizing means converts the output of said intensifying means to digital words relating to the position and intensity of said mini-images.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The instrument of claim 1 wherein said digitizing means is a visible-light digitizing videocamera optically coupled to said intensifying means and wherein said intensifying means provides a visible-light output.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The instrument of claim 2 wherein said computing means processes said digitized mini-images by inverting said digitized images about their respective pinhole position
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
The instrument of claim 1 wherein said intensifying means converts the output of said intensifying means to digital words relating to said energy of said x-rays and gamma-rays in addition to the position and intensity of said mini-images.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
The instrument of claim 1 wherein said inverted mini-images are converted to analogue signals and said analogue signals are processed into a transparency with an appropriate grey-scale corresponding to said signals, said transparency being part of said viewing means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
49 words
The instrument of claim 1 wherein said inverted mini-images are converted to analogue signals and said analogue signals are'processed into a false color transparency where the colors correspond to the energies of said x-rays and gamma rays of said emitting objects, said transparency being part of said viewing means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
63 words
The instrument of claim 1 wherein said inverted mini-images are converted to analogue signals and said analogue signals are employed to drive a television type display with an appropriate grey-scale corresponding to said signals, said display being part of said viewing means, and comprising a color terminal with its colors corresponding to the energies of the x-rays and gamma-rays emitted by said object.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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