US4679221A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
CT X-ray collimator including a reinforced collimator blade assembly
Assignee: Toshiba Corp
•
Filing: 1985-08-08
•
Granted: 1987-07-07
•
Expires: 2005-08-08
Abstract
Abstract A collimator blade assembly for a computed tomographic X-ray scanner comprising a blade of X-ray beam stopping material having an aperture for passing X-rays and an X-ray penetrable member closing at least a portion of that aperture to reinforce the material and thereby minimize collimator blade/detector clearances while preventing undesirable collimator blade vibration.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas P. O'Brien
- 👤 Richard T. Bernardi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 03:14
CPC Classifications
G; G21; G21K; G21K1/00; G21K1/10; A; A61; A61B; A61B6/00; A61B6/06; G21K1/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
110 words
A collimator for a computed tomographic X-ray scanner including: (a) a plurality of generally rectangular blades of X-ray beam stopping material each having a longitudinal slot for passing X-rays from a source to a target, said plurality of blades being mounted in star-shaped configuration lengthwise along a rotatable axle; (b) motor means for rotating said star-shaped configuration of blades; and (c) means for minimizing vibration of said blades while maximizing the proximity of said slots to one lengthwise edge of each of said blades, said means comprising an X-ray penetrable reinforcing member affixed to each said blade to extend transversely across at least a portion of each of said slots.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
110 words
A collimator for a computed tomographic X-ray scanner including: (a) a plurality of generally rectangular blades of X-ray beam stopping material each having a longitudinal slot for passing X-rays from a source to a target, said plurality of blades being mounted in star-shaped configuration lengthwise along a rotatable axle; (b) motor means for rotating said star-shaped configuration of blades; and (c) means for minimizing vibration of said blades while maximizing the proximity of said slots to one lengthwise edge of each of said blades, said means comprising an X-ray penetrable reinforcing member affixed to each said blade to extend transversely across at least a portion of each of said slots.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
85 words
A collimator for a computed tomographic X-ray scanner including: (a) a plurality of blades of X-ray beam stopping material each having a longitudinal slot for passing X-rays from a source to a target, said plurality of blades being mounted in star-shaped configuration lengthwise along a rotatable axle; (b) motor means for rotating said star-shaped configuration of blades; and (c) an X-ray penetrable reinforcing member affixed to each said blade to extend transversely across a portion of its slot and thereby rigidify each of said blades.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
85 words
A collimator for a computed tomographic X-ray scanner including: (a) a plurality of blades of X-ray beam stopping material each having a longitudinal slot for passing X-rays from a source to a target, said plurality of blades being mounted in star-shaped configuration lengthwise along a rotatable axle; (b) motor means for rotating said star-shaped configuration of blades; and (c) an X-ray penetrable reinforcing member affixed to each said blade to extend transversely across a portion of its slot and thereby rigidify each of said blades.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
67 words
A collimator for a computed tomographic X-ray scanner comprising a plurality of blades of X-ray beam stopping material, each blade having an aperture for passing X-rays and an X-ray penetrable member closing at least a portion of said aperture to reinforce said blade, said plurality of blades being mounted in star-shaped configuration lengthwise along a rotatable axle, and motor means for rotating said star-shaped configuration of blades.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
67 words
A collimator for a computed tomographic X-ray scanner comprising a plurality of blades of X-ray beam stopping material, each blade having an aperture for passing X-rays and an X-ray penetrable member closing at least a portion of said aperture to reinforce said blade, said plurality of blades being mounted in star-shaped configuration lengthwise along a rotatable axle, and motor means for rotating said star-shaped configuration of blades.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
A collimator of claim 3 wherein said aperture is fixed in size and shape.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
A collimator of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said X-ray penetrable members are each affixed to an exterior surface of a corresponding blade.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
A collimator of claim 1, 2 or 3 including two of said X-ray penetrable members for each blade, one affixed to one exterior surface of each corresponding blade and the other affixed to an opposing exterior surface.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
A collimator of claim 6 wherein said exterior surfaces are substantially flat and said X-ray penetrable members each comprise a flat plate of X-ray penetrable material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
A collimator of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said X-ray penetrable members each comprises X-ray penetrable material selected from the group consisting of: plastic, beryllium, graphite reinforced epoxy, and aluminum.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
A collimator of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said X-ray penetrable member absorbs X-rays in a selected energy region of the X-ray spectrum.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
A collimator of claim 9 wherein said member comprises X-ray penetrable material selected from the group consisting of copper, stainless steel, and titanium.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
A collimator of claim 2 wherein each said blade has two lengthwise edges and said slot of each blade is located closer to one of said lengthwise edges of said blades than the other.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
A collimator of claim 3 wherein each said blade has two lengthwise edges and said aperture is located closer to one of said lengthwise edges of said blade than the other.
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) | 1990-07-06 | 1991-01-05 | 1991-07-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-07-06 | 1995-01-05 | 1995-07-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-07-06 | 1999-01-05 | 1999-07-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |