US3980885A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Diagnosis by proton bombardment
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1974-09-06
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Granted: 1976-09-14
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Expires: 1994-09-06
Abstract
Abstract Beams of monoenergetic protons or other charged ions are passed through the living human body to detect abnormalities and obstructions in body tissue, which abnormalities and obstructions are visualized as density variations in the particle image emerging from the body part under investigation. The particles used are preferably protons having an energy of 100 to 300 MeV, more especially 200 to 300 MeV. The method is of use in detecting inter alia tumors, blood clots, infarcts, soft tissue lesions and multiple sclerosis in patients without exposure to high radiation dosages.
Inventors
- 👤 Vincent William Steward
- 👤 Andreas Martin Koehler
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 16:16
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B6/00; A61B6/42; A61B6/4208; A61B6/4258; A61B6/40; A61B6/4064; A61B6/4092
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
152 words
A new use for charged ion particle beams in the field of diagnostic radiology comprising the steps of: selecting a region of the living human body for radiological study, producing a monoenergetic charged ion particle beam, said beam exhibiting a peak in ionization towards the end of the charged ion particle range in the average number of ion particles produced per unit distance along the beam, locating said region of the living human body upstream of the position of the peak in the average number of ion particles produced per unit distance along said monoenergetic charged ion particle beam, passing said monoenergetic charged ion particle beam through said region of said living human body, producing an image of said monoenergetic charged ion beam subsequent to its passage through said region of said living human body; and diagnosing abnormal conditions in said region of said living human body in reliance upon said image.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
152 words
A new use for charged ion particle beams in the field of diagnostic radiology comprising the steps of: selecting a region of the living human body for radiological study, producing a monoenergetic charged ion particle beam, said beam exhibiting a peak in ionization towards the end of the charged ion particle range in the average number of ion particles produced per unit distance along the beam, locating said region of the living human body upstream of the position of the peak in the average number of ion particles produced per unit distance along said monoenergetic charged ion particle beam, passing said monoenergetic charged ion particle beam through said region of said living human body, producing an image of said monoenergetic charged ion beam subsequent to its passage through said region of said living human body; and diagnosing abnormal conditions in said region of said living human body in reliance upon said image.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
A new use for charged ion particle beams as in claim 1, wherein: said step of beam producing includes the step of generating a beam of monoenergetic protons having an energy between 100 and 300 MeV.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
A new use for charged ion particle beams as in claim 2, wherein: said step of image producing includes the step of forming an image which distinguishes between normal and adnormal density states in the human body.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
67 words
A new use for charged ion particle beams as in claim 1, wherein: said step of selecting includes the step of choosing the human brain as said region, said step of image producing includes the step of forming an image of density variations within the human brain; and, said step of diagnosing includes the step of distinguishing between blood clots and infarcts in reliance upon said image.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
64 words
A new use for charged ion particle beams as in claim 1, wherein: said step of selecting includes the step of choosing the human head as said region, said step of image producing includes the step of forming an image of density variations within the human head; and, said step of diagnosing includes the step of detecting multiple sclerosis in reliance upon said image.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
64 words
A new use for charged ion particle beams as in claim 1, wherein: said step of selecting includes the step of choosing the human heart as said region, said step of image producing includes the step of forming an image of density variations within the human heart; and, said step of diagnosing includes the step of detecting heart attacks in reliance upon said image.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-09-14 | 1980-03-15 | 1980-09-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-09-14 | 1984-03-15 | 1984-09-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-09-14 | 1988-03-15 | 1988-09-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |